Watch CBS News

Mayor Lee Pays Visit To Occupy SF Camp

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee visited the "Occupy SF" encampment at Justin Herman Plaza for the first time Tuesday morning and said he was "a little disappointed" with the conditions at the camp.

Speaking to reporters at City Hall after his monthly mandated appearance at the Board of Supervisors meeting, Lee said he stopped by the encampment around 8:30 a.m. to see firsthand what was going on there.

Photo Gallery: Bay Area Occupy Protests

Demonstrators with "Occupy SF," the local version of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement that started in New York in September and has spread nationwide, have been camping out at the public plaza at the foot of Market Street for several weeks.

Lee said he was disappointed that campers "have not complied with our wishes" concerning public cleanliness and the size of the encampment, which he said has spread up Market Street and into the plaza's bocce ball courts.

Related Coverage:
Displaced Occupy Oakland Members Camp Out In San Francisco
Deadly Dog Virus Feared Spreading At Occupy SF Encampment

He said he did not go into the encampment because "I haven't gotten the full clearance from our Department of Public Health," which he said informed him "that there are not only fleas but also health risks and risks to animals."

Lee said he did not meet directly with any campers Tuesday, but plans to meet with leaders of the "Occupy SF" movement on Wednesday and will discuss "whether or not they wish to comply with our conditions, and we'll move forward from there."

After the "Occupy Oakland" encampment across the Bay was dismantled early Monday morning, speculation has grown that a raid might be imminent in San Francisco, but Lee said there are no immediate plans being formulated.

However, he said his visit to Occupy SF on Tuesday led him to believe that the previous concerns he has expressed to members of the encampment are not being addressed.

"We communicated that very clearly last time, so if they aren't going to adhere to that, then we will take action," Lee said.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.