L.A. offers Occupy protesters office space, farm to close camp

Occupy L.A. protesters said Los Angeles officials have offered them office space and farmland to end their encampment at City Hall.

The proposals eceived with a mix of excitement, anger and disbelief among protesters, many of whom did not know that members of the camp were in negotiations with city officials.

"I don't appreciate people appointing themselves to represent me, to represent us," one woman called out during the assembly. "Who was in those meetings?"

"It's divide and conquer," another protester said.

The details of the proposal were revealed Monday during the demonstration's nightly general assembly meeting by Jim Lafferty, an attorney with the National Lawyers Guild who has been advocating on behalf of the protest since it began seven weeks ago.

Lafferty said city officials have offered protesters a $1-a-year lease on a 10,000-square-foot office space near City Hall. He said officials also promised land elsewhere for protesters who wish to farm, as well as additional housing for the contingent of homeless people who joined the camp.

A spokesman for the mayor would not comment on the proposal, saying only: "We are in negotiations with organizers of Occupy L.A."

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--Kate Linthicum

Photo: Jim Lafferty, who has been negotiating with city officials on behalf of Occupy L.A., addresses protesters. (Robert Lachman, Los Angeles Times / November 21, 2011)