This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Nov. 4, 2011 - St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay is signaling that the Occupy St. Louis encampment at Kiener Plaza may soon need to fold up its tents, at least at night, although he's not clear how far the city will go to press the matter.
Slay posted a lengthy blog item today in which he wrote that "we will reach an accommodation that allows Occupy to use Kiener Plaza, to exercise its First Amendment rights, but to follow city ordinances and regulations."
Jeff Rainford, Slay's chief of staff, said in an interview that "we're in the planning stages of how we're going to enforce the law."
That means ending the overnight camping, he said.
"The park belongs to everybody, all the 99 percent,'' Rainford said. "They don't just belong to the 40 people" who have been staying permanently at Kiener.
Colleen Kelly, a member of Occupy St. Louis' media committee, said that the group's general assembly -- there is no formal leadership -- had voted last weekend to reject a proposed permit that the city had drawn up.
Rainford said that city officials had drawn up the permit because Occupy activists had failed to submit a permit on their own.
Kelly said the general assembly's chief objection dealt with the permit's stipulation of a 10 p.m. curfew. "Occupy St. Louis maintains that free speech is covered 24/7,'' she said. "Not just the hours between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m."
The city has not enforced the curfew since a confrontation a month ago that led to almost a dozen Occupy participants being jailed overnight for refusing to vacate the park after the curfew.
Since then, city officials have sought to accomodate the protesters, who also have gained a powerful ally -- the local labor movement.
Labor activists joined with Occupy St. Louis for a major downtown march Oct. 14. Another such union/Occupy march is slated for Nov. 17.
Rainford emphasized that the concern centered on the Occupy St. Louis' encampment -- not its point of view or regular marches.
On Friday, for example, Occupy activists marched to the downtown branch of Bank of America, to the St. Louis office of the Missouri attorney general, then on to City Hall. They were protesting some of the banking giant's policies.
Occupy activists can march all they want, Rainford said, but "they can't spend the night in parks. There's a city ordinance against it."
Slay Chief Says Occupy Encampment 'Unsightly...it Smells'
Slay, a Democrat, has written or stated that he shared many of Occupy's concerns about economic inequality. At the same time, he has emphasized that the protesters have to comply with city ordinances and regulations.
Kelly said that Occupy activists have been in regular communication with the city's parks department, but have yet to hear directly from the mayor's office.
She added, however, that activists have been monitoring Slay's blog and weren't entirely surprised by Friday's entry. "We've heard through the grapevine,'' Kelly said.
Rainford said that City Hall has been increasingly receiving complaints about the appearance and condition of the Occupy camp. "Some call it ugly and unsightly. Some say it smells,'' he said.
The city is willing to help any homeless activists to find shelter, as they do for anyone, Rainford said. But those with permanent housing will soon be asked to go back home -- at least at night.
Rainford emphasized that the city has received no reports of violence within the Occupy encampment and hopes to close down the tent community "without arrests. We hope to do it in a voluntary way."
The city's preparations come as some communities elsewhere in the country have forcibly evicted Occupy encampments. The fracas involving Occupy Oakland, in California, has touched off controversy -- particularly among progressives who sympathize with many of Occupy's general concerns.
Rainford said that Occupy St. Louis campers can be assured of no surprise police action. "We're not going to rush in at 3 a.m. in the morning,'' he said. "They will get plenty of notice."
Durbin Calls for Occupy to Remain Politically Involved　
Meanwhile, across the river in Granite City, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., emphasized his sympathy with the general Occupy movement.
In an interview with reporters, including the Beacon, Durbin said, "First, the Occupy movement has stressed the income inequality and income insecurity in America. They are so right."
Durbin also said the movement is focusing on the power of "special interest groups" in Washington, particularly financial institutions.
But beyond that, Durbin added, "It's kind of hard to pin them down on exactly what they stand for."
"I told them the toughest job they have now is to go to the next level," Durbin said. "Beyond anger, beyond emotion, beyond marching -- what do you stand for? What will you do in the next election? Will you support candidates that support your point of view when they become a political force? Or will you walk away? They have to decide that."
Jason Rosenbaum, a freelance writer, contributed information for this story.