Zuccotti Park protesters clean sidewalks

Some Wall Street occupiers in Zuccotti Park experimented with being good neighbors by going on a cleanup mission yesterday.

"We are taking ownership in the community," said Julien Harrison, a member of the protesters' 10-person sanitation committee.

Carrying brooms and pails, two dozen volunteers moved down sidewalks near Zuccotti Park and on Broadway. They put litter in trash cans and swept debris into the side of the road for Department of Sanitation trucks. The action was coordinated by Occupy Interfaith, a coalition of about 50 religious leaders and their congregations in New York City.

The Rev. Vince Anderson of the religious group Revolution NYC said the cleanup could become a regular event if yesterday's pilot project is successful.

Harrison added that the cleanup would probably be a weekly or biweekly affair. "We are sustaining a village here," he said. "We want to show that we stand for rebuilding communities."

The mayor's office did not return calls requesting comment.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bid last month to bring sanitation crews into the park, which would have temporarily forced out the protesters, failed when park owner Brookfield Office Properties withdrew its cleanup request. Since then, the city has left responsibility for cleanup largely to the protesters.

However, many local businesses have criticized protesters, accusing them of dirtying the neighborhood, littering, relieving themselves in public and driving away customers.

"They're disgusting," said Jenny Yip, manager of a Chinese food restaurant on Liberty Place, near the park. "They urinate in front of my steps." She then chastised some protesters waiting inside the store, telling them that the restroom was only for customers.

Anderson and Occupy Interfaith have visited Zuccotti Park once a week since the protest began, providing religious services to protesters. "We feel that this movement gives voice to the voiceless and that's a religious mission, somewhat," he said.

Before beginning yesterday's cleanup, the crew gathered in front of the sanitation team's new bright orange tent, where they were given some ground rules: keep moving, stay on the sidewalk and don't block any pedestrian traffic.

Protesters, interfaith group members and supporters have expressed hope that yesterday's cleanup project will overcome criticism about the occupiers' sanitation.

"We set the tone for how people are able to live together," said state Sen. Eric Adams, who held a news conference across the street from the cleanup crew.