‘Occupy Colorado Springs’ To Seek Permit

After talk of a signed agreement in the ongoing dispute between city officials in Colorado Springs and the local version of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement, both sides instead reached a compromise Monday.

Occupy spokesman Jason Warf said the group will go to the city planning office on Tuesday and apply for a right-of-way permit allowing them to demonstrate at Acacia Park indefinitely. The group now is in its second week at the park.

Warf met at the park late Monday afternoon with police Officer M.J. Thompson and code enforcement Officer Ken Lewis. Thompson and Lewis declined to be interviewed after the brief meeting.

However, Warf said a permit would allow only a few tents at the park to be set up for information and medical purposes, and that anyone erecting a tent for sleeping or other purposes will be cited or arrested. Police handed out several citations last weekend after claiming the demonstrators are in violation of the city’s no-camping ordinance.

Warf said officials seem more concerned about tents than about demonstrators lying in sleeping bags at night.

“They didn’t really address (sleeping bags),” said Warf. “It is legal, according to (police), to sleep in your car. The majority of us will appease by that. This is a long-term occupation, and we’d like to work with the city, to the best of our ability.”

Warf said he’ll investigate whether a permit would include portable restrooms. Many demonstrators have been using restrooms at surrounding businesses. Warf said he also hopes to meet Mayor Steve Bach to further discuss the situation.

Finally, Warf said it’s disappointing that the demonstrators have spent more time in dispute with city officials and less time promoting the Occupy message of improving life for Americans.

The Occupy group swelled to about 100 during the weekend but has a core of between 10 and 20 people.