We've heard the protesters, but it's time for them to go

Without question, the single greatest danger to President Obama’s re-election is the economy, and the approximately 15 million people out of work.

People are growing restless. I understand — we’re all upset.

However, it’s time for the nonsense and increasingly deplorable and unsafe behavior at the Occupy Wall Street rally in Zuccotti Park to come to an end. It’s time for Mayor Bloomberg to put an end to the protesters’ hostile takeover of the park. If they refuse to leave, then the NYPD should remove them.

When the protest began, I believed that there was some legitimacy to the movement. The message against bailouts, corporate greed and the unemployment rate led me to believe that the movement might gain momentum. People have a right to speak out.

Unfortunately, since then the message has been severely tainted by the freeloading criminals, drug dealers and vagabonds who now also call the park home and get free meals. It has also had a negative financial impact on the small businesses in the community.

The actions of the protesters, who are now in their seventh week of holding the park hostage, have forced city officials to question the sanitary risks of allowing people to remain in the park. Not to mention the laundry list of complaints by neighbors, including constant drumming and tambourines, yelling and screaming, public urination and defecation, drug use and lewdness.

Ironically, while these protesters are screaming in the streets about the unemployment rate, they are actually costing hardworking Americans and business owners their jobs and livelihoods. The barriers, the intense noise and the inappropriate behavior of the protesters have made businesses in close proximity undesirable locations to shop or eat.

Jason O’Brien, owner of Trinity Place Bar and Restaurant, commented, “We’re down about 30 percent. We feel like we’re still in August, when everyone is away.” Doug Smith, owner of the Business World Trade Art Gallery, said his sales have ceased and his employees feel uneasy about coming to work due to the protesters screaming at them and even trying to break into the store.