Discussion of Civil Relations and Winter Preparation at OWS

Yesterday afternoon I was at a meeting on civil relations and winter prep at the Occupy Wall Street encampment. Upshot of the beginning discussion (before I had to leave) was that negative race and class relationships did not have to be replicated in the community. A representative for the homeless asked that they not be "criminalized", making the very good point that "we were here long before all of you ". If any know how to survive a New York winter on the street-

Some notes on shelter elaborations seen in response to cold- casual use of rigid- foam insulation in the openings of some of the tents. Plastic pallets to elevate tents from ground (more of both, apparently, are on the way) and some double walled, used US Army tents seeming recently back from Iraq (some with remnants of sand still in their folds).