When Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said last week that members of Occupy L.A. “cannot continue indefinitely” to camp out, it set off a media backlash purporting that the movement had lost favor with city leaders.

The Occupy LA participants have shown no sign of leaving city hall. (photo by Adam Popescu)

Not so, said Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcon, 7th District. Alarcon, along with Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, 11th District, crafted the just-passed Occupy L.A. referendum, and holds steadfast to his support.

“Nobody has made a definitive statement that they must leave,” Alarcon said. “I think people should not lose sight of the concerns being raised by this group…my position has not changed since day one…as long as it’s safe — if anybody’s health is threatened, or not safe, my views will change.”

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, however, is a little more definitive in its stance on the occupation that started in New York, before spreading across the country and then globally. Of these Occupy movements, the Los Angeles movement has been markedly peaceful and cooperative with both law enforcement and city officials, something other Occupy groups cannot say.

“The city law is clear: camping or sleeping in city parks is not allowed after 10:30 p.m.,” Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office spokesman Frank T. Mateljian said.

Despite the passed referendum in support of Occupy L.A., the city attorney’s office referred to the Los Angeles municipal code, preventing overnight camping in public parks. Still, civic leaders like Alarcon are pushing for the preservation of the group.

“What they’re saying is important,” Alarcon stated. “In the time of our worst economy, I think people should not lose sight of concerns being raised by this group. It’s a reflection of concerns.”