There was a collective sigh of relief � and good riddance � from the residents and business owners surrounding Zuccotti Park yesterday.
After two months of impenetrable barricades, aggressive panhandling, public urination and seemingly interminable drumming � locals were beaming over getting back their lives and livelihoods after cops cleared the park.
�Its a glorious day. I take my hat off to the police,� said Marc Epstein, owner of the Milk Street Cafe at 40 Wall St., two blocks from the former encampment.
�I�m grateful to the police that they did it without any serious injury. There is a reason they are called New York�s Finest,� he said.
Epstein laid off 21 staffers two weeks ago as the raucous demonstrators coupled with necessary police barricades stifled breakfast and lunch crowds and cut his revenue by 30 percent.
(Source: NY Post)