Chelsea co-op behind 12 foot fence: Republican National Convention Security Procedures

Someone I know lives at the co-op in Chelsea that runs from 23rd to 29th Street, six square blocks in between 8th and 9th Avenues. What follows are the security precautions he's heard they will be instituting during the RNC:

The city will be building a 12 foot fence around the perimeter of the co-op.

Residents will be able to enter and exit the co-op at only two places in those six square blocks. At these check points they will have to provide photo identification and proof of residence. The police will probably be manning the checkpoints, meaning residents will not be able to pass based on co-op security recognizing them. Many co-op residents want to leave town for the RNC, however, they are strongly discouraged from having house-sitters to feed pets. House-sitters must supply photo identification.

Any deliveries will be forbidden, whether that be UPS or pizza.

There will be "sharpshooters" (snipers) on the roof.

So pretty much the NYPD and assorted security forces will be occupying this residential area and cutting them off from the rest of the city. Residents have been told this is, of course, for their safety, and to prevent protesters from congregating on the lawns of the co-op property.

I also heard that FIT [Fashion Institute of Technology] students received a letter awhile ago telling them that during the convention they can have absolutely no visitors in their dorm rooms, whether they be parents stopping by for 5 minutes or overnight guests.*

These details were originally posted July 20, 2004:
No RNC Annoucement Listserve
No RNC Discussion Listserve

Submitted to Citizens For Legitimate Government
http://www.legitgov.org/
July 20, 2004

*note: edited for grammar; content not altered.