The recent Occupy Wall Street protests that have broken out in urban centers all across America are a direct challenge to the urban planning policies of the past thirty years. Starting in the 1980s local and federal governments began a sale of public lands that is still going on today and that has left cities across the country virtually bankrupt of public property.
As these recent protests have proven, the loss of public space has serious implications for the social fabric of our society, and should not be taken lightly. When interviewed, participants in the Occupy Wall Street movements have frequently remarked the feeling of community is a major source of support among protesters for the continuation of the Occupy movements. Some have even stated that they have joined solely because of the desire to feel a part of the community. Suburban sprawl, urban renewal, public-private partnerships and other neo-urban policy hallmarks are all direct attacks against the vibrant communities that were a major contributor to American culture in the 20th century.
Today, we live in an increasingly disconnected 21st century world where social networking has replaced community gatherings, where security cameras have replaced neighborhood policemen, where office buildings have replaced public parks, and where the freedom of speech expressed through rallies and protests is prisoner to the goodwill of private companies who own what used to be public lands. We live in a world where the very sidewalks we walk on are private property. Even Zucotti Park, the now infamous site of New York’s Occupy Wall Street protest is ironically owned by Brookfield Office Properties, a real-estate development corporation.
Public expression should never have been relegated to the private realm, and parks, sidewalks, and more generally American communities should not go down without a fight. In a functioning democratic system, decision-making is supposed to be by the people, and we should not allow public space to disappear unopposed. Let Occupy Wall Street be a wake-up call that public place has an important role in the social fabric of American society. Otherwise, we will live in a world, very soon, where the only opportunity for expression of public opinion will be that “allowed” at the behest of corporate giants.