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Speculation about an alleged police crackdown on protesters in Pioneer Park drew Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank to the Occupy SLC camp Thursday to set the record straight.
"Access to the world and the downtown is right here," Burbank said of the park's location, adding that the city would allow the group to continue to camp there as long as it complies with permit guidelines, including a no-drug and no-alochol policy.
The anti-corporate greed Occupy movement, an off-shoot of Occupy Wall Street that set up camp in a New York City park on Sept. 17, established itself in Pioneer Park two weeks ago.
Scores of Occupy groups have proliferated around the nation and globe, decrying the influence of wealth on politicians and public policy.
The Salt Lake City group legally camps in Pioneer Park by obtaining 24-hour permits from the city. But protesters didn't bargain on the conflicts they'd encounter with the homeless population that has long occupied that public patch of ground.
Some SLC Occupiers fear the camp's focus has shifted to dealing with the needs of the park's homeless. However, some ask whether moving the camp would solve that problem.
"Because we're sort of creating the legal umbrella to put up tents, a lot of people who are here for that reason would just come with us," Aharon Ben Or, 37, said Thursday, adding that the camp has turned into "a de facto community for the underserved."
Tara Bueche, a 26-year-old real estate agent who is part of Occupy SLC, said that city personnel recently told the group that no permits would be issued to camp in other city parks.
"People would have to know there was the risk of getting arrested if we move to another park," Bueche said. "Right now it's just up in the air."
Burbank told campers Thursday that their presence in Pioneer Park has changed how his officers do business, making it harder to track dangerous activity.
"Usually we don't leave the restrooms unlocked [at night]," Burbank said, "because we've had some significant problems with overdoses and violent attacks."
And there's a reason that tents are not allowed in Pioneer Park, Burbank added.
"They can go inside there and we can't see the behavior taking place," Burbank said. "They now have somewhere to hide, and that is some of the attractiveness of your group to these individuals."
With winter coming on, Burbank has additional concerns. Although some parks have firepits, no fires are allowed in Pioneer Park.
"I don't want to find anyone dead in this camp, nor do you," Burbank said. "But every single year, as the weather turns nasty, we have homeless who die on the streets — and that should not happen."
Depending on the night, 100 to 150 protesters camp in the park. The Occupy Salt Lake City Facebook page has grown to almost 8,700 members.
Friday at 7:30 p.m., Occupy SLC will conduct a general assembly to discuss strategy and vote on whether to move the camp.
Twitter: @catmck —
Will Occupy SLC relocate?
P At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Occupy SLC will conduct a general assembly to discuss strategy and vote on whether to move its camp.