Forum Post: Would like to provide porta potties
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 8, 2011, 12:47 a.m. EST by wmspecialist
(26)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I work for a sanitation firm and would like to commander a few of our porta potty units (we have so many unused due to slow construction startsand my manager said if I and a colleague would take responsibility for maintenance it would be okay). Is there a process I have to go through to get some individual(s) to approve and find a place for them or can we just show up with the units? None of us have been able to come to wall street yet but we are excited to!
Showing up with and dropping off units would be an issue you'd likely have to deal with based more on the city concerns than the rally's, but try the channels on the main page through "contact info"- the boots on the ground would have a better idea on what to do than anyone here.
I tried that and got no answer, I figure they're probably flooded with messages in any case so repeating my emails will just make things more difficult for them. After seeing the daily show clip on the bathroom issue I can't wait to do this, it could eliminate or at least mitigate one of the only legitimate criticisms and help us gain substantial public support.
Try going to livestream.com/globalrevolution ask the mods in chat there
Please vote up my first comment so hopefully it will show on the front page and the right people will see
Thank you for your replies. It's good to see that "FuckNYSE" isn't (definitely at least) typical of the attitude taken here
I feel you man, and thanks for the interest.
On a personal level, a lot of people don't have any conceptual understanding of the logistics that need to be emplaced in order to ensure sustainability- proper sanitation being one of the MOST important.
But, to play devils advocate for a sec, based on what you said about your boss giving the green light it doesn't sound like there's a budget already approved for the continual maintenance of the shitters- meaning with that many people in the vicinity they'd all be full to the brim on day 1 without a honey pot truck scheduled for pick up pump, you know? If that's the case, it may not be worth it to your company to have your name on the outside of something that could potentially just be a standing biohazzard fairly quickly, nor would it benefit the movement to have that to contend with.
But the spirit itself is fuckin exactly what's needed right now: small businesses taking a step forward to aid in the cause.
My suggestion- follow the contact advice people are dropping right now. If you're not able to get a hold of someone authorative, please just make sure you have a maintenance plan scheduled before dropping the portos off.
Also we would not have our company logo on the units. No offence meant but there are definitely some people who would be less than excited about the publicity if it were to be too obvious. Trucks are relatively discrete as well so that's also a nonissue.
Biggest thing is having access and establishing a point they can be dropped off and accessed (relatively) easy from the street for servicing/pumping. This is why I need to get into contact with someone who could clear/isolate a space that would be workable (as opposed to a random corner nobody has decided to use yet bc its so inconvenient)
Good luck with the contact hunt then, I wouldn't have any idea where to refer you that you couldn't already figure out.
Plan is for me and one of the maintenance guys to service them as we already service a number of sites in Manhattan for the rides they would hit the park as well I'd just come along to help. Everyone is pretty chill (pretty small company and we're running under capacity anyway due to slow construction as I mentioned.) Maintenance is the easiest element since our trucks are always running around the Twin Towers sites especially.
Well dude, if you have that area resolved already...good to go right? Thanks for stepping up.
Are there any law students involved? Main concern re: legality is whether or not the "owners" of the park (not the city if I read correctly) would object although I don't see how they could practically (maybe just to make life harder)
Since there's not a centralized structure in place yet it's hard to say- there ARE law students, as well as lawyers, involved already, but there's not an organizational element in place to locate and utilize a resource in that manner yet. Social media will fill that gap as this continues to progress (obviously, though it doesn't help you presently).
Is there anything we can do or that I can do or that anyone reading this can do to help me fill that gap? This seems to be the point where the movement collapses under the weight of disorganization or becomes a sustainable development; I think (I'm biased obviously) that what I want to do is key to that (I can't imagine that daily show clip I've seen is far from the truth as it just makes sense when I think abt how my friends would act/need to act if they were there)
Bringing up the need for a logistical structure is something that you're either going to have to start a new thread for or find some search function on here to find the relevant info (I couldn't, but I'm drunk) through, but chances are this thread is titled in a way that you're not going to be able to naturally find that info.
If you've already tried all three of these: Help & Directions: +1 (877) 881-3020 General Inquiries: general@occupywallst.org Press Inquiries: press@occupywallst.org ...and no one's gotten back to you, wait for it while you pursue the other avenues.
guess my only real pressing issue is if i dont have this ready to go monday morning it's a no go. very limited time window i was allowed (i was told i can take them but i can only have the truck that does dropoffs (not the regular service truck) and the driver for monday morning before 6 am meaning it all has to be back at the yard at that point
On the plus side, if you're not able to donate the units your wasted ability to contribute will have a stronger impact on whatever arises as the organizational structure as long as the annectdote reaches them.
I'd rather make an actual impact than be a story of a failed attempt but I suppose I agree.
Even if the storyy of a failed attempt has an even greater ultimate impact?
We're on the same page though, I would much rather be able to help in the first place also.
There can't be an impact if this all goes to shit because nobody has a place to shit in 30 degree weather :)
The impact would come FROM there being no place to shit in 30 degree weather when there could have been.
Not preferable, obviously, but something to have as a abck up at least.
Only obstacle I have is having a space available for the units to be placed in which meet certain criteria (primarily relating to servicability) and having a contact person (or persons) who could take responsibility to ensure that they will be treated responsibly as the units are very costly and while I'm sure we can spare them in terms of our inventory (we're actually renting out storage space due to overcapacity) if they get destroyed or something it's going to come down on me and I can't afford that
Totally, I know what a bitch hand reciepts can be.
You made a good point earlier about the reasoning behind the block in communication (organizers being flooded), but I know for sure if you can't get something definitive you can walk down there and find someone in the flesh that can point you in the right direction.
Would love to but I can't make my 10.75 an hour from there :) ; need to do as much as I can before showing up and minimize time there to make rent/make sure my girlfriend can still subscribe to HBO (bitchwhipped)
Gotcha, we're all ultimately wage-slaves until we transition from a money-market economy to a resource based one. Dunno man, call up one of the kiddos in the area and send them on an emissary recon mission.
Please vote up my first comment so hopefully it will show on the front page and the right people will see
How do you do that?
As both a former construction worker and Iraq vet I appreciate the value of a good clean shitter more than most.
What you're doing is totally something I support, drop me the info on how to vote or whatever.
with these arrows i think
This is possibly the most serious and important thread on here. Good luck, friend.
Thank you, if you can please try referring it to the people who would be able to help me coordinate this, I am trying the methods outlined by others here (power to the people and madhu have had good ideas) but I'm not hopeful based on my previous attempts (and I have to be at work in 8 hours so I have to balance trying to help out here with keeping my [crappy] job)
Please respond? Need to have details sorted out by Sunday. I can provide my cell # if a leader responds to this post
Yes, contact thru the emails or phone numbers on the front page.
Those didn't work at first, would it be worth trying again? Can they send me a PM through here or something as I imagine they have too much filler to see my messages
Also Twitter OccupyWallstNYC
There are a lot of trolls and impersonators around so yeah. Not representative at all.
Is there any way to verify that whoever responds as a mod is in fact who they say they are? Don't really want to show up with a plan and end up causing trouble bc I was misled by a troll.
my man let me say thank you for many who have not. I am not staying at the park but I beleive this what you are trying to do is great! so I am delighted to hear this posts from yourself! now I think what you need to do is simply try. when you get there just pick a good spot and tell people move to the side pls here come a potty for all. they will move. if fear there is something illegal about it check with a cop first. how ever do not see why anything like this could be illegal. the owners are allowing and occupation so why are the pottys inconsistent or worst than this for then? to the contrary they will be the first ones perhaps happy about it. the cops can use then too! btw. dont stress over it! if it works it did if it did not; you tried.there is no permission to seek (other than your boss's and you have it) in my opinion. You see a way to help and you go there and do it and that is the "the end" as far as I am concern. Plenty of folks would appreciate this and thank you again cuz this really helps. No small donation.but essential services. gbu!
In the livestream chat, the mods can pause the chat and talk with you.
The occupywallstnyc Twitter account is one of the actual zucotti park occupiers.
Also, there's a contact form here for laundry/showers that might get a timely response http://nycga.cc/groups/committees/comfort-working-group/laundry-and-shower-donations-form/
And lastly, maybe you can contact the city first and get a response? You're in construction you probably know who to contact about the permissibility of brining the porta potties down.
Permissions run through contractors in charge of the site (they bring us on as a subcontractor) the city isn't really involved on our level (I suppose only on the level that they authorize the project). Thanks for the links will try those.
Sorry to inconvenience you. But fuck off, we don't need donations from you.
I'm sorry but what's with the attitude? I have a low level administrative job at a construction support firm and access to resources which from the daily show clip I've seen being spread around could help out. Is this attitude typical of the people down at the site?