The National Park Service is launching its own assessment of the McPherson Square Occupy camp in response to a letter from Mayor Vincent Gray asking the agency to clear the park of protesters so a rat infestation can be dealt with.
The Park Service's Office of Public Health will conduct an "immediate assessment" of McPherson, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis wrote. He asked the city to join the Park Service in evaluating the camp.
The District Health Department has already inspected McPherson, and its report to the mayor, issued last week, detailed a slew of problems, including a rat infestation, hypothermia concerns and unsanitary kitchens.
Gray asked that the Park Service "at minimum" to clear out McPherson Square and move protesters to the other Occupy camp at Freedom Plaza, but he said in a statement to The Washington Examiner that he was "pleased" with the response. He'll also meet with the Park Service to discuss federal reimbursment of Occupy-related costs, which are now well past $1 million.
