Extra helicopters, police presence and a lot of career protesters make the normal throngs of looky-loo tourists that much harder to navigate today.
The protests so far:
The good:
1) Creating awareness about wealth disparity. Globally and nationally it is an epidemic that has preceded the great depression before and is building to it again.
2) Demanding more responsible profit:humanity ratio. Companies like Apple who utilize strategies that endanger humans consistently while posting record profits in an economy like this are abhorrent.
3) Keeps most of the crazier local population in one place. NYC has a significant population of borderline personality disorders, narcicists, sicophants who gravitate towards protests in an effort to win friends and identity, etc. It's easier now that they are off the subway.
The bad:
1) A lack of a singular, clear message or goal. (it is mostly bitching for bitching's sake. Want to make a difference? Structure, develop a unified manifest and apply political pressure through the channels that get things done. Right now the protestors are fapping off about a dozen wildly ranging topics to tourists and bored journalists.)
2) Getting lumped in with all the homeless who wear signs and shout absurd things to people who happen to pass by.
3) Want equality? How about you stop interfering with the working class' ability to get to work? If you really care about equality of opportunity you should stop skewing against those who are trying hard to make a wage.