Syracuse, NY – Occupy Syracuse's little tent encampment looked a bit like base camp on Mt. Everest this morning with snow-dusted tents flapping slightly in the frigid 12 degree temperature shortly before 8 a.m.

The temperature didn’t faze Jessica Hartz, 26, who stays at the encampment full time. Temperatures had hovered around 0 a couple of weeks ago, she said.

The members of Occupy Syracuse have parked in Perseverance Park on South Salina Street in downtown Syracuse since Oct. 2.



Dressed in a coat and snowmobile pants, Hartz spoke this morning about her willingness to sleep out in the cold to bring attention to corporate greed and the need for economic equality.

“I’m not really one to stay out in the winter,” said Hartz, who lives with friends after arriving in Syracuse three years ago from Orange County. She said she was willing to give it a try in an effort to bring change.

About 15 people stayed in the encampment in Preseverance Park Monday night to Tuesday, she said. They slept in a larger army tent the occupiers call the “bunk” and in cluster of smaller tents using body heat and blankets to stay warm, Hartz said.

The group’s heating sources are limited because they’re not allowed to have flames in the tents, she said. They’re working on finding alternative heat sources, but Hartz could not say what those will be.

In the meantime, Hartz thanked the public for dropping by with blankets. “We take it so gratefully, with such gladness,” she said.

However, occupiers are still in need of warm socks, gloves, mittens, hand warmers and hot food, she said.

Read our previous coverage of Occupy Syracuse in words, photos and videos.