In the last two weeks following the occupation of the City Hall, we were quite busy indeed despite the fact some of the planned direct actions did not work out. This is partly because we have been trying to catch the President of Warsaw, unsuccessly, since we failed to meet her at her office. Apparently she is rarely there, even when it is not election time. Instead, there have been many actions related to concrete cases, organizing meetings, meetings with bureaucrats and politicians and chasing politicians around during their campaigning. In addition, one of the members of ZSP helped open two squats.
On the day after the City Hall occupation, we had another meeting with the city bureaucrats would had wanted to organize fake social consultations. This time, all of the heads of relevant offices were present and were quite shaken by our promises to come visit them all. We also got a concession from them: after our direct action, when we delivered leaked documents to all buildings with reprivatization claims started in court, the city finally decided it is better to publish some information on the internet than have ZSP delivering it to people with the notice that the city is suppressing this information. We know that they can still play some tricks, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, but it is an important victory for those fighting for years to get access to such info.
There were also some other meetings - for example, again with Vice-President Jakubiak... this time with his legal advisor by his side. Despite the fact that he had somebody whispering in his ear, he either was not able to give correct information about city policies, even when presented on paper, signed by the President of Warsaw - or he was just lying again. Luckily we will not have to see this clown again after elections as he will get a high-paying and cosy job managing a bank instead,We also found that the main left social-democratic party would like to make some political capital on the desperate situation of people who cannot pay their rent and are either on strike or take part in other protests, Not from us - we consistently shoot all the politicians down and follow them around the neighbourhood, asking them difficult questions until they run away. We were invited for a meeting with leaders of the social democrats who tried to gain our support or at least silence with empty promises - they even put some of our "more reasonable" postulates into their political program to give themselves left credibility. However we have a long memory about how their politicians actual voted and confronted them with this, warning that we cannot be bought off or co-opted.
Finally we received a tip about where the President would be FOR SURE. The most important electoral debate, with her two main opponents, would be broadcast live on TV and, although we had less than 24 hours notice, some activists have been on call to appear at short notice. Our comrades prepared a special surprise, but unfortunately.... someone she got the word and, as is tradition, when she hears we might be in the neighbourhood, she does not come. It doesn't seem to matter how important the event. Instead of the President of Warsaw, we bugged the other candidates a bit, including one of those social democrats leaders we had met with a few days early. And instead of the debate with the president broadcast live, people got to see us.
There was also an action under the bridge. Amongst the people on the action were about a dozen people who were either evicted from their homes or have eviction notices. To reflect the consequences of the city's poor housing policy, we decided to set up a little homeless estate under the bridge, surrounded by the expensive new investments of our city (the bridge, the new science center and the National Stadium) - all made while at the same time decimating public housing.Photos, link to videos:
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