Occupy Buffalo Meet to Discuss Contract | News

Buffalo, NY --  The permit allowing Occupy Buffalo protestors to occupy Niagara Square is expiring, and now they are waiting to find out what happens next.

Occupy Buffalo members and city officials began a meeting late this afternoon regarding the future of the group's encampment at Niagara Square. 

"We'd like to come up with a renewal, or a process toward renewal, which is consistent with the agreement that we have with the city already," said John Curr III, an attorney with the ACLU who is working on behalf of Occupy Buffalo.

Speaking with 2 On Your Side on his way to meet with city lawyers (along with three Occupy Buffalo leaders) Curr said he was optimistic about obtaining a renewal, and thereby an extension of the existing permit which allows for the group's encampment.

"If you look around the country this (the Buffalo Occupation) has gone exceedingly well. It's been more than four months now and there have been no incidents to speak of. it's still a good day in the city of Buffalo for the first amendment and for the citizens of Buffalo," Curr said.

It has been four months since Occupy Buffalo protestors took over Niagara Square, and although their presence there has been generally peaceful, one participant told 2 On Your Side that contract negotiations with the City have been difficult.

Wednesday, the deal between the members of "Occupy Buffalo" and the City will expire.

Hundreds of tents were set up at the height of the Occupy Buffalo movement when dozens of people made themselves at home in Niagara Square.

Since then, the numbers have dropped drastically, and as of Wednesday morning, their agreement with City Hall says all of the tents must come down. Unless a permit extension can be reached, their protest must be taken elsewhere.

Mayor Brown told 2 On Your Side so far there's nothing but positive discussions between the two parties, but as Channel 2 News continues to hold people in power accountable, Reporter Patrick Moussignac asked Brown the question that's on everyones minds.

Moussignac: "If the contract ends tomorrow and they've been here since October, why not have them honor their contract and say 'Hey look, you're time is up. You gotta go'?"

Brown: "Well as part of their contract there is the potential for renewal, but again we are talking. The talks are going very well. There has been a very positive communication with the City's Law Department, special events division and the occupiers from the very beginning and we feel that this will go forward in a very positive fashion."

Occupy Buffalo spokesperson Albert Brown told us both sides met late Tuesday afternoon before the occupiers were to hold a meeting of their own to discuss their next move.

Mayor Brown did say the peaceful protest here in Buffalo and the amount of time allowed to the protestors to stay in Niagara Square has been a model for other protest movements around the county. So there is a chance the protestors will be allowed to stay.