,A ,VISIT TO ,AM/]DAM 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,COL9 ,W>D 

,TEXT 3 

  

,PHOTO BY ,SYLVIE BURR1 ,PUBLIC ,DOMA9  
,EXPLA9+ ! ,BRITI% POLITICAL CLIMATE TO ,LEWIS ,MUM=D 9 ! SUMM] ( #a#i#d#e1 ,FR$]IC ,OSBORN WROTE ?AT 0,9 ! LA/ FEW WEEKS !RE HAS BE5 ORGANIZ$ SQUATT+ 9 EMPTY MANSIONS1 ) 5\< PUBLIC APPROVAL TO =CE ! GOV]NM5T & ! AU?ORITIES 9TO MORE ACTIVE REQUISITION+ -- A SCORE = ! AN>*I/S04 ,NE>LY A QU>T] ( A C5TURY LAT]1 SQUATT+ WAS REVIV$ 9 ! ,LONDON BOR\<S BECAUSE ( ! SC&AL ( PUBLICLY-[N$ H\S+ LEFT EMPTY = YE>S AWAIT+ FUTURE R$EVELOPM5T ?AT FREQU5TLY FAIL$ TO HAPP54 ,IT WAS MET ) RU?LESS MAYHEM BY 'BAILIFFS' EMPLOY$ BY C\NCILS & ! DELIB]ATE WRECK+ BY C\NCIL EMPLOYES ( HABITABLE H\SES4 

,!N SOME LOCAL AU?ORITIES AIM$ AT A MORE CON/RUCTIVE POLICY4 ,IT IS SIGNIFICANT ?AT ,RON ,BAILEY1 ONE ( ! 9ITIATORS ( ! #aifh SQUATS1 D$ICATES HIS REC5T BOOK ,HOMELESSNESS3 ,:AT ,CAN ,BE ,DONE8 TO A ,CONS]VATIVE LOCAL POLITICIAN 09 ADMIRATION ( ! A/ONI%+ C\RAGE & VISION HE %[$ 9 5T]+ 9TO ! FIR/ LEGAL AGREEM5T ) SQUATT]S 9 #a#i#f#i01 & HE GOES ON TO SAY ?AT 0AS A RESULT ( HIS ACTION1 T5S ( ?\S&S ( HOMES ?AT W\LD O!RWISE HAVE /AY$ EMPTY HAVE BE5 BR\<T BACK 9TO USE & HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S ( HOMELESS PEOPLE GIV5 NEW HOPE & DIGNITY04 

,?IS PROVIDES 9T]E/+ 9SI<TS 9TO ! '?RE%OLD ( TOL]ANCE' ( POLITICIANS1 = S9CE ! E>LY #a#i#gS GOV]NM5TS ( BO? MAJOR P>TIES HAVE S\<T TO UPDATE ! LAWS ( #a*a & #afbc RELAT+ TO SQUATT+ & TO %IFT IT FROM ! REALM ( CIVIL LAW TO ?AT ( CRIM9AL LAW1 F9ALLY 7SO ! GOV]NM5T ?9KS7 SETTL$ BY ! 9CLUSION ( A CLAUSE AB\T ,AGGRAVAT$ ,TRESPASS 9 ! ,CRIM9AL ,JU/ICE ,ACT ( #a#i#i#d4 

,IT IS ALWAYS USEFUL TO MAKE 9T]NATIONAL COMP>ISONS & ! FIR/ ( !SE ?AT OCCURS TO MO/ PEOPLE IS ?AT ( ,COP5HAG5 :]E ! BIG >EA N[ CALL$ ,*RI/IANIA HAS BE5 A SQUAT = ALMO/ A QU>T] ( A C5TURY4 ,A VISIT TO ITS V>IEGAT$ SITE IS BY N[ P>T ( ! T\RI/ AG5DA4 

,BUT IT IS ,AM/]DAM1 = MANY PEOPLE ! MO/ 5JOYABLE CITY 9 ,EUROPE1 ?AT PROVIDES ! MO/ 9T]E/+ LESSONS AB\T SQUATT+4 ,AS 9 ,LONDON1 !RE W]E ALWAYS PEOPLE :O W]E SQUATT]S 'ON ! QUIET'1 NOT WANT+ TO BE SE5 AS UN(FICIAL 9HABITANTS1 BUT ! PUBLIC PHASE BEGAN ) ?AT 9T]E/+ MOVEM5T1 FIR/ CALL$ ,PROVO & !N CALL$ ! ,KAB\T]S1 :O PIONE]$ ! OCCUPATION ( EMPTY PROP]TY 9 ! OLD CITY4 

,MU* MORE REC5TLY ,$W>D ,W4 ,SOJA1 :O TEA*ES URBAN & REGIONAL PLANN+ AT ! ,UNIV]SITY ( ,CALI=NIA1 CAME TO ! ,UNIV]SITY ( ,AM/]DAM AS A VISIT+ PR(ESSOR & 9 A LECTURE SPONSOR$ BY ! ,CITY AT ! ,C5T] = ,METROPOLITAN ,RESE>* !RE1 HE TALK$ AB\T ! ,/IMULUS ( A LITTLE ,CONFFESION4 ,HE TOOK ?IS PHRASE FROM AN ACC\NT ( ! ,NE!RL&S BY ,H5RY ,JAMES 9 #a#h#g#e1 & AS HIS TEXT A PASSAGE FROM ,SIMON ,S*AMA'S GREAT BOOK ON ! EVOLUTION ( ,DUT* CULTURE4 ,S*AMA SAYS 9 EXPLA9+ HIS HI/ORICAL !ME3 

',:AT1 !N1 IS ! ,DUT* CULTURE (F]$ H]E8 ,AN ALLEGIANCE ?AT WAS FA%ION$ AS ! CONSEQU5CE1 NOT ! CAUSE1 ( FRE$OM1 & ?AT WAS DEF9$ BY COMMON HABITS RA!R ?AN LEGISLAT$ BY 9/ITUTIONS4 ,IT WAS A MANN] ( %>+ A PECULI> -- V]Y PECULI> -- SPACE AT A P>TICUL> TIME 444 ! PRODUCT ( ! 5C\NT] BETWE5 FRE% HI/ORICAL EXP]I5CE & ! CON/RA9TS ( GEOGRAPHY4' 

,IT IS 9 ?IS LI<T ?AT ,SOJA SEES ,AM/]DAM'S SQUATT]S1 0A REM>KABLY SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE ( G5TRIFICATION BY ! Y\?FUL POOR01 & HE NOTES ?AT3 

0444 ! SQUATT] MOVEM5T WAS MORE ?AN JU/ AN OCCUPATION ( AB&ON$ (FICES1 FACTORIES1 W>EH\SES & SOME RESID5CES4 ,IT WAS A FI<T = ! RI<TS TO ! CITY ITSELF1 ESPECIALLY = ! Y\NG & = ! POOR4 ,NO:]E HAS ?IS /RUGGLE BE5 MORE SUCCESSFUL ?AN 9 ,AM/]DAM4 ,NO:]E HAS IT BE5 LESS SUCCESSFUL ?AN 9 ,LOS ,ANGELES40 

,BUT AS \R FAILI> PROP]TY BOOM & ! LU/ = LUCRATIVE R$EVELOPM5T HIT ,AM/]DAM TOO1 PRESSURE = LAW-&-ORD] CAME FROM ! DEVELOPM5T 9DU/RY4 ,9 #a#i#h1 :I* WAS CORONATION YE> 9 ! ,NE!RL&S1 /REET BATTLES BETWE5 POLICE & SQUATT]S BR\<T A GREAT WAVE ( PUBLIC SYMPA?Y1 NOT = ! /ATE'S OV]-REACTION BUT = ! Y\NG & LAWLESS4 ,9 ! ,C5TRUM1 SQUATT]S DISPLAC$ BY NEW (FICE BLOCKS W]E PROVID$ ) ALT]NATIVE SITES 09 AN ACCOMPLI%$ GIVE & TAKE TRADE(F ) ! URBAN AU?ORITIES01 & ,SOJAPRAISES ! NEW ACCOMMODATION BETWE5 ! CITY & ITS SQUATT]S1 :I* HE CALLS 0HI<LY REGULAT$ URBAN AN>*ISM04 ,?IS IS PRECISELY ! K9D ( DEAL ?AT ,RON ,BAILEY ATTRIBUTES TO ! WISDOM ( ! LATE ,C\NCILOR ,H]B]T ,EAMES ( ,LEWI%AM4 

,9 /EPS ANO!R WITNESS4 ,DAVID ,C>R-,SMI? AS SP5T FIVE YE>S WAT*+ SQUATS 9 AB&ON$ 9DU/RIAL BUILD+S 9 ,AM/]DAM1 NOT 9 ! C5TRAL ,SPUI/RAAT DI/RICT /UDI$ BY ,SOJA1 BUT 9 ! WAT]SIDE EQUIVAL5T ( SAY1 ,LONDON'S ,DOCKL&S1 FULL ( VA/ BUILD+S \TMOD$ BY ECONOMIC *ANGE4 ,ON #b#h? ,NOVEMB] AT ! ,UNIV]SITY ( ,NOR? ,LONDON1 HE DAZZL$ AN AUDI5CE ( DESIGN]S BY %[+ #b SLIDES TO DEMON/RATE ! ES!TIC QUALITIES ( ?IS IMPROVIS$ >*ITECTURE1 :I* PROVIDES 0! VITALITY ( A MOD]N URBAN-V]NACUL> BAS$ ON RECYCL+ ( RI*-CITY REFUSE1 IMPROVIZATIONAL 9TELLIG5CE & 9DIVIDUALI/IC SELF-9T]E/1 5ABL$ & SU/A9$ BY ITS CONTEXT ( COOP]ATION04 ,HE W5T ON TO ILLU/RATE H[ !SE BUILD+S HAVE 5G5D]$3 

'444 AN A/ONI%+LY RI* V>IETY ( SELF-9V5T$ >*ITECTURE3 LIV+-PLACES1 AP>TM5TS & 9DE$ :OLE H\SES BUILD )9 ! VA/ & SIMPLE OR LABYR9?9E FACTORY SPACES4 ,IMPROVIS$ FROM BASIC CON/RUCTION PRODUCTS & ! DETRITUS ( !IR SITES & ! SURR\ND+ CITY1 !Y EVOLVE FROM SIMPLE 5CLOSURES ?R\< /AGES ( 9CREAS+ COMPLEXITY -- SOME BECOME 'EXPRESSIVE' ESP\S+ D>+ /RUCTURAL 9V5TIONS1 O!RS DEVELOP 9TO 'ES!TICALLY SUP]B CITY-AP>TM5TS' OR COMPLETE LITTLE 'FAMILY-HOMES' BIZ>RELY NE/$ )9 ! IMP]SONAL FACTORY SPACES40 

,HE %[$ PICTURES ( ,TETT]ODE AS A PLACE :]E ! SQUAT HAD EVOLV$ FROM HUGE LIV+-SPACES 9TO SELF-CONTA9$ FAMILY DWELL+S AS ! OCCUPANTS HAD *ILDR5 & W]E AL]T TO !IR NE$S4 ,BO? SIDES 9 ! >GUM5TS OV] SQUATT+ HAD LE>N$ FROM ! BATTLES OV] ! SITE N[ OCCUPI$ BY ,HOLIDAY ,9N1 & ! UN(FICIAL OCCUPI]S ( ,TETT]ODE WON A COLLECTIVE #e-YE> LEASE ) COLLECTIVE MORTGAGE T]MS 9 !IR FAVOR4 

,& HE %[$ SLIDES ( A SITE ( LONG =M] RAILWAY %$S NE> ! C5TRAL /ATION :I* HAD BE5 CONV]T$ BY ITS OCCUPANTS 9TO A WAT]SIDE IDYLL ( LITTLE H\SES1 & ( ANO!R HUGE GRA9 W>EH\SE1 ,SILO1 TRANS=M$ 9TO 0AN 5ORM\S W>R5 ( CAVE-LIKE SPACES04 ,DESPITE ! LESSONS ( ! PA/1 !SE SITES >E ?REAT5$4 ,C>R-,SMI? HAD SE5 ! MEMB]S ( ! ,CITY ,R$ESIGN ,TEAM WALK+ >\ND ! NOR!RN $GE ( ! CITY )\T NOTIC+ !SE CREATIVE TRANS=MATIONS S9CE !IR M9DS W]E FIX$ ON R$EVELOPM5T PROPOSALS1 AS 9 SIMIL> >EAS ( ,BRITI% CITIES1 = (FICE BLOCKS1 UPM>KET RESID5CES & APPROPRIATE B\TIQUES & RE/AURANTS4 ,HE DOESN'T 5VISAGE ! CONFRONTATIONS ( ! PA/1 BUT ?9KS ?AT V]Y 9ADEQUATE ALT]NATIVE SITES WILL BE (F]$ TO !SE CREATIVE SQUATT]S4 ,9 ,BRITI% T]MS1 ! V]Y ?\<T ( NEGOTIATIONS ) SQUATT]S BELONGS TO ! PA/ -- 'LIC5S$ SQUATS' & %ORT-T]M H\S+ CO-OPS & ,RON ,BAILEY'S NEGOTIATIONS ) C\NCILORS4 ,GOV]NM5T HAS SETTL$ = ! ,CRIM9AL ,JU/ICE ,ACT4 ,\R ASSUMPTIONS AB\T ! NATURE ( URBAN LIV+ HAVE BE5 %RIVEL$ D[N TO ! QUICK-BUCK CULTURE ( ! PROP]TY DEVELOPM5T 9DU/RY1 & IT IS LEFT TO ! DIS9H]IT$ Y\NG TO PROTE/ AGA9/ ! LOSS ( ! /IMULUS ( A LITTLE CONFUSION4 

,N[ ,I'M AW>E ( C\RSE ?AT !RE >E AN>*I/S >\ND :O REG>D$ ,RON ,BAILEY & PEOPLE LIKE HIM AS R5EGADES = 5T]+ 9TO DEALS ) LOCAL AU?ORITIES = LIC5S$ SQUATS1 EV5 ?\< !RE >E H\S+ CO-OPS 9 ,LONDON TODAY :I* GREW \T ( !M4 ,!SE CRITICS W\LD RA!R ?AT ! SQUATT]S HAD GONE D[N FI<T+ UND] ! BANN] ( ',NO ,SURR5D]'4 ,MAYBE !Y HAVE !IR EQUIVAL5T 9 ,AM/]DAM TOO4 

,I DON'T %>E ?IS VIEW4 ,:5 ,BAILEY HAD ! *ANCE TO WRITE A BOOK ON ,! ,SQUATT]S HIS PUBLI%]S1 ,P5GU9 ,BOOKS1 CUT \T HIS *APT] CALL$ ',9 ,DEF5SE ( ,DIRECT ,ACTION' :I*1 NO D\BT1 !Y ?\<T WAS ONLY ( 9T]E/ TO A P>TISAN AUDI5CE4 ,HE EV5TUALLY GOT IT PUBLI%$ 9 #a#i#g#d1 & 9 IT HE EXPLA9$ ?AT3 

0,9 ! SQUATT]S MOVEM5T ,I HAVE WORK$ ) ORD9>Y NONPOLITICAL PEOPLE = ADMITT$LY SMALL GA9S1 & WE A*IEV$ A L>GE MEASURE ( SUCCESS4 ,ORD9>Y PEOPLE ACT$ & WON2 & ORD9>Y PEOPLE MANAGE ! H\SES 9 :I* !Y N[ LIVE4 ,SO :5 C\NCILS (F]$ TO H& OV] H\SES1 WE ACCEPT$ !SE RA!R ?AN FI<T OV] !M UNNECESS>ILY4 ,& ,I MAKE NO APOLOGY = ?IS1 = A NUMB] ( REASONS3 FIR/ IT A*IEV$ ! IMM$IATE AIM ( ! SQUATT]S1 A DEC5T PLACE 9 :I* TO LIVE1 & SECONDLY IT A*IEV$ MORE -- ADDITIONAL H\SES W]E H&$ OV] TO ! SQUATT]S4 ,:AT DO ?OSE :O CLAIM ?AT !SE DEALS W]E A SELL\T SUGGE/ WE %\LD HAVE DONE8 ,%\LD WE HAVE REFUS$ TO ACCEPT ! H\SES & SO LEAVE !M EMPTY8 ,OR P]HAPS WE %\LD HAVE 9SI/$ ?AT ! SQUATT+ 9 !M REMA9$ UNLAWFUL SO ?AT A CONFRONTATION C\LD OCCUR40 

,HIS BELIEF WAS ?AT ! SQUATT]S' MOVEM5T ( ?OSE DAYS 0DEMON/RATES DAILY ! MESSAGE ?AT BADLY H\S$ PEOPLE >E CAPABLE ( ORGANIZ+ !IR [N LIVES4 ,?IS IS ! K9D ( MESSAGE ?AT REVOLUTION>IES %\LD BE SEEK+ TO GET ACROSS DAY AFT] DAY MON? AFT] MON?04 

,BAILEY WAS WRIT+ TW5TY YE>S AGO1 & ! APPALL+ ?+ TO MY M9D IS ?AT PUBLIC ATTITUDES T[>DS ! SQUATT]S HAVE %IFT$ 9 H>MONY ) ?OSE ( POLITICIANS & BUREAUCRATS4 ,MY ,DUT* FRI5DS ALWAYS *IDE ME = HAV+ TOO OPTIMI/IC A VIEW ( ! CULTURE :I* 5JOYS ! /IMULUS ( A LITTLE CONFUSION4 ,BUT ?AT'S BECAUSE !Y HAV5'T EXP]I5C$ ! DESC5T 9TO CLAU/ROPHOBIA ( ,BRITI% POLITICS 9 ! #a#i#iS4 ,!Y HAV5'T EXP]I5C$ A PIECE ( LEGISLATION LIKE ! ,CRIM9AL ,JU/ICE ,ACT4 

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,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JULY #b#c1 #bai 3 ,A ,VISIT TO ,AM/]DAM -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #c1 #bbb 3 ,A ,VISIT TO ,AM/]DAM -- ,UPDAT$4 

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