Zuccotti Park protest running out of space

Yesterday morning brought a routine altercation to Zuccotti Park -- police told protesters to move a handful of tents closer to the trees and away from the sidewalk. But the occupiers, some calm, some fuming, had trouble complying with the request, as they had no space to move.

"It's horse rubbish," said Louis Daniel, 31, refusing to pack up.

Whether victims of Manhattan real estate realities or their own success, Zuccotti Park's residents have run out of space. Colder weather drove most occupiers to supplement their sleeping bags with tents or at least tarp overhangs, leaving walkways but not much else. Demonstrators are talking about replacing individual tents with larger, communal ones and expanding from the park into yet-unoccupied spaces.

The demonstration "is definitely outgrowing Zuccotti Park," said Jesse Torres, 23, who came from central California to join the occupation. "And the cops aren't helping by pushing us back." Police told him to move his tent but he hasn't found another spot.

Most of the tents sprang up in the past two weeks, with a strong surge over the weekend. On Friday and Saturday nights, new occupiers wedged their tents between the stairs and the sidewalk on the park's contested western edge. This prompted arguments between protesters and police officers.

Occupy Wall Street's general assembly discussed the crowding issue at its Saturday meeting and agreed to buy large, military surplus tents that can house more people in a smaller space. Four of the new tents went up Saturday although only one is being used for residential purposes. Only women are allowed inside, to give them a safer place to sleep.

Last week, police arrested a 26-year-old man on charges he groped an 18-year-old female at the park. Brett Rothstein, 24, who works the protest's press table, said more large tents are on the way if enough occupiers can be persuaded to pack up their lodgings and move in with roommates. Most demonstrators think that it will happen.

"I'd hate to think that people living under tarps taped together wouldn't want to move in," said Ian Schipman, 18, from Alabama.

Still, the protesters have acknowledged that larger tents will be just a temporary solution. If the movement continues to attract supporters, sooner or later, no one else will be able to occupy the park.

Though nothing official is on the table, conversations abound on where the occupation can expand. Rothstein said protesters are considering renting some nearby properties and possibly expanding into other parks. A one-day occupation of Central Park is scheduled for Nov. 11 but protesters are looking at other options.

"I'm trying to pass word around; maybe we can occupy Battery Park next," Daniel said.