What's Next for Occupy? | News

BUFFALO, N.Y.- Protestors with Occupy Buffalo promised Thursday the public has not seen the last of them.

It comes after city officials forcibly removed the group after more than four months in Niagara Square.

"I think our presence in city hall is going to be a lot more often, and you're going to see us in Niagara Square," said Robert Albini, one of the protestors at City Hall while Mayor Byron Brown updated the media on the forced removal of the Occupy Camp.

DEBATE:  Was Force Necessary to Remove Occupiers?

Some city leaders have suggested the protestors occupy one of the city's vacant homes instead.

"Make it an Occupy Buffalo house," said Fillmore District Councilmember David Franczyk, "fix it up, make it a think tank, make it a place of intellectual energy."

But fresh from an early morning eviction and failed negotiations, its an idea at least some have not warmed to.

"I'd say that I personally, don't want to work with the city any longer," said Albini.

And then there's the square itself: Mayor Byron Brown said the city has talked with protestors about covering costs to plant new grass and fix a broken pole; he said he anticipates those costs will be minimal. Plus, he says the occupiers owe the city about $900 for electric usage.

"Occupy in the past has offered to provide resources to the city to address these concerns, and we are hopeful that they will continue to do that," said Brown.

We were unable to find anyone from Occupy willing to comment on whether the group will honor that promise. It was also outlined in the original agreement. A person who answered a call to the number listed as a contact on the group's website said they would; but he wouldn't give his name, or further comment.

Pierre Albrecht-Carrie is Vice-Chair of the WNY Peace Center, and he says he was at Occupy's most recent meeting, Thursday at noon, after their encampment was broken down.

"Before today, I would have said it would likely they would help out," said Albrecht-Carrie. "After today, I wouldn't be surprised if it were a much harder sell."

 Web extra:

See a slide show of the Occupy Buffalo eviction.