Zucotti Square: Post-OWS Occupation

I stopped by Zucotti Square this morning and was happily surprised to see the place completely cleaned out. Other than the continued beefed-up police presence and barricades that fully encircle the park to keep the Marxist Occupiers from returning, it looked pretty normal.



Just a few tourists milling around, and a small stream of gawkers strolling by checking out the scene that is no more.

There was a very small and insignificant band of OWS cultists in attendance. But the tents, mind-numbing drumming, and disgusting odors were gone.

A cop I spoke with said that the barricades and police presence were going to be a semi-permanent fixture until further notice. The owners of the park also hired their own private security patrol.

There was even a family taking photos in front of the park Christmas tree.

The shantytown is gone, but the place will forever be a magnet for political street theater. Like this fellow who is a retired Philadelphia police officer.

It is a far, far cry from the Bloomberg-created nightmare that it was. But for some reason it felt tense and unsettled, like the place was bracing itself for another onslaught of insanity.

Full list of my trips to OWS:
Day of Rage: Occupy Wall Street - September 17, 2011

Occupy Wall Street Revisited - Zucotti Square: Biohazard Colony Emits Weapons Grade Odor - October 9, 2011

Occupy Wall Street - Zucotti Square: Day 53 & Counting - The Crazy Has Set In - November 9, 2011

Press Conference: New Yorkers and Local Business Owners Against OWS Zucotti Square Squatters - November 14, 2011