By Christina Hoagand Geoff MulvihillThe Associated Press

los angeles» Anti-WallStreet demonstrators in LosAngeles and Philadelphia de-fied orders to leave theirmonths-old encampments,making it through the dead-lines without the acrimonythat marked earlier forced evic-tions in other cities.

Protesters chanted “we won,we won” as Los Angeles policeclad in riot gear left on Mon-day, though there were four ar-rests. Occupy L.A. supportersasked a federal judge to bar thecity from tearing down their en-campment.

In Philadelphia, the campwas mostly quiet amid a heavypolice presence, and on Mon-day morning a handful of peo-ple marched down one of thecity’s main business corridorsbanging drums.

When the camps would becleared after officials in bothcities ordered their removalwas unclear.

“There is no concrete dead-line,” Los Angeles Police ChiefCharlie Beck said after hun-dreds of officers withdrew with-out moving in on the camp. Hesaid he wanted to make surethe removal would be safe forprotesters and officers.

“With as little drama as possi-ble,” he told reporters.

Police and protesters have

clashed in recent weeks, mostnotably in Oakland, Calif., as of-ficers sometimes used pepperspray and tear gas to shuttercamps that officials say havegrown more dangerous for pub-lic health and safety.

Some of those encampmentshad been in use almost sincethe movement against econom-ic disparity and perceived cor-porate greed began with Occu-py Wall Street in Manhattantwo months ago.

Elsewhere, nine people werearrested in Maine after protest-ers in the Occupy Augusta en-campment in Capitol Park tookdown their tents and packedtheir camping gear after beingtold to get a permit or move

their shelters.In San Francisco, protesters

shouted and chanted as they dis-rupted a University of Califor-nia board meeting, forcing offi-cials to move to another room.

The meeting comes after vid-eo footage that captured a UCDavis police officer pepper-spraying peaceful protestersdrew outrage, not just at theschool but around the world,and set off a debate about the ap-propriate use of force.

In Los Angeles, about half ofthe 485 tents had been takendown as of Sunday night, leav-ing patches of the 1.7-acre parkaround City Hall barren ofgrass and littered with gar-bage.

Occupy Denver. City calculates cost of police overtime for protest. »1B

OCCUPY WALL STREET MOVEMENT

L.A., Philly camps defiant; cops back off

for Neenan.Newman said Neenan of-

fered an outside review afterproblems surfaced at Meeker’sschool, which was closed lastsummer when school officialslearned it was built to thewrong safety codes and at riskof collapse in extreme weather.

Newman said the Monte Vis-ta high school was built to thecorrect occupancy code.

Neenan did not agree withthe proposed fix in Monte Vis-ta but agreed to carry it out any-way, Boian said. He said thatneither Neenan nor the outsidereviewer — ComputerizedStructural Design — consid-ered the situation a “life-safetyissue.”

“This revolves around a dif-ference of opinion, and we opt-ed to go with the recommenda-tion of the peer review engi-neer firm,” Boian said.

Neenan president Randy My-ers is scheduled to appearThursday at a Monte Vista

school board meeting, part of aweek-long goodwill tour of 16communities in which Neenanhas done school and medicalbuilding business.

One stop will be tonight inMeeker, where the schoolboard will get an elementa-ry-school update and possiblyvote on repairs, which Neenanhas agreed to pay for.

Boian said he recommendedMyers make the tour “to reas-sure these boards their schoolsare safe.”

Boian said Neenan will ex-pand the number of pastschool projects subject to inde-pendent peer review of struc-tural engineering. He said oth-er projects will get that scruti-ny “on a case-by-case basis,” in-cluding those under construc-tion.

Neenan also said Mondaythat it will review and confirmthe credentials of its licensedengineers and architects afterthe disclosure last week that ithad hired a structural engineerwith a lapsed license in 2007.

The state Department of Reg-ulatory Agencies reprimandedthe engineer, Gary Howell, andlast week opened an investiga-tion into his work on the Meek-er school.

Neenan fired Howell thatsame day. A different Neenanengineer worked on the MonteVista project, Boian said.

Because of the problems inMeeker, the company had pre-viously announced other re-forms — including third-partypeer reviews of its structuralengineering designs and draw-ings on new projects.

“I am disappointed in the er-rors we made in constructingMeeker Elementary School,and I want to assure everyonethat we will take any and allsteps necessary to make itright,” Myers said in a state-ment.

Neenan has become a majorplayer in Colorado school con-struction in the past decade.

In Conejos County, the San-ford School District has a plan-ning agreement with Neenan

but has not chosen a builderfor a major renovation that haswon a BEST grant, said Super-intendent Kevin Edgar.

Edgar said “of course” he isconcerned about problems atthe Meeker school, but Neenan“has been great to work withthrough the master-planningprocess.” The district is amongthe stops on Myers’ tour thisweek.

Neenan has done extensivework renovating and expand-ing a multi-grade school in thePrimero Reorganized SchoolDistrict RE-2, in western LasAnimas County.

Superintendent Duane Den-ny said the district has not for-mally requested a morein-depth review, but “we proba-bly will have them come do aninspection.”

Eric Gorski: 303-954-1971,egorski@denverpost.comor twitter.com/egorski

David Olinger: 303-954-1498or dolinger@denverpost.com

«FROM 1A

SCHOOL: Neenan disagrees with fix

An anti-WallStreet demonstra-tor moves into atree near City Hallin downtown LosAngeles onMonday. Despitea midnight Sun-day deadline toevacuate, policeturned back asmore Occupy L.A.protesters arrived.Adrian Sanchez-Gonza-lez, AFP/Getty Images

By The Associated Press

washington» SenateDemocrats are pressingahead on President BarackObama’s plan to cut in half ev-ery worker’s payroll taxesnext year — paid for by a 3.25percent tax surcharge on thevery wealthy. The $248 billionplan would trim Social Securi-ty payroll taxes from 6.2 per-cent to 3.1 percent in hopes ofpropping up the still-weakeconomy. It also would cut inhalf the 6.2 percent tax paidby employers on the first $5million of their payroll.

A spokesman for SenateMajority Leader Harry Reid,D-Nev., said Democratswould hold a test vote on theplan later this week.

The 2 percent payroll-tax

holiday enacted a year ago ex-pires on Dec. 31. Republicansare likely to oppose the planbecause it would post a per-manent surcharge on incomeexceeding $1 million, includ-ing income earned by manysmall businesses.

Reid’s move is the latest po-litical salvo by Democrats asthe two parties spar over thebest way to create more jobs.Monday’s move appearsaimed at drawing a distinc-tion between Democrats andRepublicans on taxes, withReid seeking to maneuver Re-publicans into opposing thepayroll-tax cut.

Indeed, the payroll-tax cutis unpopular with many Re-publicans who say the exist-ing 2 percent cut hasn’t donemuch to create jobs.

Dems press extensionof cut in payroll tax

DP-6704028DP-6704025

COLORADO’S POST-BANKRUPTCYHEADQUARTERSHEADQUARTERS

Mon. - Sat.9am to 9pm

HablamosEspañol!

*Credit approval based oncurrent credit pull rating.

See dealer for details.**Vehicles shown in ad are

not part of Price Point Line-up.

COLORADOCOLORADOChrysler•JeepChrysler•Jeep

THE DAY YOU DISCHARGETHE DAY YOU DISCHARGEIS THE DAY YOUR DRIVE!!!IS THE DAY YOUR DRIVE!!!

Collections? Foreclosure? Repossession?Collections? Foreclosure? Repossession?We Specialize In 2nd Chances,We Specialize In 2nd Chances,

And In Some Cases EvenAnd In Some Cases Even 3rd3rd Chance Financing!Chance Financing!

Got 30 minutes? Get approved today!! All creditGot 30 minutes? Get approved today!! All creditapplications accepted. Call 888.519.4741applications accepted. Call 888.519.4741

PRE-OWNED SUPER CENTERPRE-OWNED SUPER CENTER888.519.4741888.519.4741www.coloradochryslerjeeppreowned.comwww.coloradochryslerjeeppreowned.com

505 S. Havana St., Aurora, CO 1/4 Mile South of Alameda on Havana

9am

Every Day in DecemberEvery Day in December

is Christmas Dayis Christmas DayHere at the Giant Colorado Chrysler Jeep Pre-Owned CenterHere at the Giant Colorado Chrysler Jeep Pre-Owned CenterOnce you’ve gotten your best deal, Go to our Christmas TreeOnce you’ve gotten your best deal, Go to our Christmas Tree

and select an envelope that’s worth $250 to $1,000and select an envelope that’s worth $250 to $1,000additional trade allowance or discount.additional trade allowance or discount.��

08303918

Havana

225▲▲

N

E. Alameda Ave.E. Alameda Ave.Havana★★E. MississippiE. Mississippi

2005 Chevy Equinox 2009 Nissan Murano

2008 Jeep Liberty 2011 Dodge Nitro

2008 Grand Cherokee 2008 Ford Escape

y qy q

#10285C#10208C

#4688K-1

SPEAKSSPEAKSFORFOR

ITSELFITSELFGOESGOES

ANYWHEREANYWHERE

GREATGREATGASGAS

MILEAGEMILEAGE

#10299-1

GREATGREATMPGMPG

#786K-1C

AATRUETRUE4X44X4

#10200-2

SPORTYSPORTYANDANDFUN!FUN!

� Not valid with any other ad, promotion, advertised vehicle or new vehicles

You can feed a homeless person at Christmasand help change his or her life forever!$1.92

PLE A S E CLI P AN D MAI L WITH YOU R GI F T TODAY !

Costs are average and include the expense of preparing and providing meals. If gifts exceed expenses, extra funds will be used to care for the hungry, homeless and hurting throughout the year.WE NEVER SELL, RENT OR EXCHANGE OUR SUPPORTERS’ NAMES.

Our 119th year of providing hope to Metro Denver

☐ $19.20 Helps 10 people

☐ $38.80 Helps 20 people

☐ $57.60 Helps 30 people

☐ $76.80 Helps 40 people

☐ $192.00 Provide 100 mealsor other essential services

☐ $_____ To feed and care for as many as possible Please make checks payable to:

DENVER RESCUE MISSIONP.O. Box 5001, Dept. DP11CDenver, CO 80217-5001Location: 1130 Park Avenue West

Name ________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________ _____________________

City/State/Zip _________________________________________________

Phone ( _________ ) _____________________________________________

Email _________________________________________________________

To charge your gift by phone call 303.297.1815 or give online at www.DenverRescueMission.org

©Greg Hill 2011

On the money.

#B4763, B4764

2011 Lincoln Town Car

$27,981(Orig. 48,205 MSRP)

Choose from 2 at this low price. Beautiful Signature

Limited Series. Remainder of 4yr/50,000-mile Bumper-to-

Bumper protection plus 6yr/70,000-mile power train warranty.

We have NO added dealer fees and trades are always welcomed.

Suss Buick-GMC Corporate Fleet & Lease Return Center

1301 South Havana Street, Aurora

(303) 306-4001www.suss.net

6A» NEWS tuesday, november 29, 2011 B the denver post B denverpost.com 6