Occupying Public Space” by authors Franck and Huang mention that Zuccotti Park was near Wall Street, and had less restrictions compared to other parks. This made it the perfect area to occupy, hence the “Occupy Wall Street”. The term ‘negotiated use‘ is used in the chapter of “Occupying Public Space.” From analyzing the text the term negotiated use is defined as demonstrators being able to “legally occupy the space because of existing regulations about its use”( “Occupying Public Space” 2011 Franck and Huang, pg 17). The police monitored the park, and Brookfield Properties helped to maintain the park, which seemed to be part of the negotiation to occupy Zuccotti Park. In the other two articles by van Heeswijk and Golan, the phrase negotiated use is similarly used by both readings collectively saying that a community needs to be created in a space that allows freedom of expression, growth, and inclusion so citizens can become key players of shaping their community. Golan uses the term ‘The Office of the People’ which is very similar to ‘negotiated use’. The Office of the People is a common area where people can tell stories, share culture, and not be restrained. The people who are part of the community are ultimately negotiates how a space is used. For example, in Zuccotti Park, a library of books and resources were created in a tent for demonstrators and the public to access. The role of occupation of space can redefine it usage because like Golan says, “physical spaces tell stories”, and he goes on to further define the usage of space as, “the stories that are told by the spaces that surround us shape us just as much as we shape them.” Cultural interventions can be used to transform spaces by encouraging society to expand and grow. Cultural interventions in spaces invites diversity and inclusion so there will be less colonization and separations in communities.

-Danielle Ali