Will city give Occupy Buffalo the boot?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Occupy Buffalo protesters don't want to leave Niagara Square, but their deal with the city to stay ends at midnight on Wednesday.

Protesters still wants to occupy Niagara Square, even after their agreement with the city expires. Protesters have enjoyed a cooperative relationship with the city, but pressure has been mounting, says Common Council President Rich Fontana, to move the occupiers out.

"People of the City of Buffalo have been calling my office. They want this thing done. They want the square cleared out. They want it cleared up, and I think that's what should happen," said Fontana.

Mayor Byron Brown told reporters he won't reveal the city's position, even as the agreement deadline approaches.

He said, "I have a very clear sense of direction and those discussions are taking place right now."

Winterfest takes place February 11th and 12th, and Niagara Square will be part of it. Plans call for a hundred tons of snow to be dumped in the City Hall area for snowboarders. Occupy protesters would move to Lafayette Square during the festival, if their agreement is extended. One proposal would have the protest movement move to a rehabbed house in the city as a new headquarters.

Fillmore District Councilman David Franczyk said, "Why not negotiate the city for a sale or a donation from some private owner of a property and really fix it up and have that as an incubator of ideas and consciousness raising?"

But protesters have been counting on using Niagara Square as their base until at least the spring, extending the honeymoon with the City of Buffalo.