We mentioned yesterday that a new showdown was brewing between the Oakland police and the Occupy Oakland camp as Mayor Jean Quan seems to be once again caving to pressure from the downtown business community and others to clean up the mess. Yesterday afternoon, a trio of Oakland city council members tried to stage a press conference at the bandstand over at Lake Merritt, backed by a group of local clergy and business owners, only to get overtaken by a louder group of Occupy campers and supporters.

City council members Desley Brooks, Larry Reid, and Ignacio De La Fuente faced off with the group, who were shouting "We are the 99 percent of Oakland!" The council members and businesspeople started shouting back "Occupy Oakland must go!"

According to the Chron (which we should maybe take with a grain of salt), Brooks has been the council member who has most "tried to work with the campers," but she's also now one of the most vocal opponents of the camp. She said yesterday, "The mayor needs to step up and do her job and get these people out of here. We will not be held hostage."

While this was all happening by Lake Merritt, Mayor Quan allegedly came out of her fortress and addressed some campers at Frank Ogawa Plaza, although some campers interviewed were not aware she had been there.

[Chron]