nevercomply (great name, btw), find out who the guy in the first (non-news) clip's boss is, and go over his head. if you guys have researched all the fema codes and whatnot, and there's really a precedent that makes it a go, there's no reason something can't be done. especially if they're letting people lease those parcels of land... like most civic employees, that guy is going into classic "shut it down before it becomes something i have to deal with" mode. notice he never had any responses other than doubletalk and bullshit.
they guy in the second clip seems pretty cool, though. the guys who actually work and take care of these types of areas are used to seeing bum camps, junkie leftovers, etc there, so when they roll up and see somthing positive, they're usually stoked as hell. you guys just made one less thing for those dudes to have to think about. they know what can and does happen in these disused spaces, and are usually powerful allies. having a few of those guys in your corner are HUGE.
and all the younger kids that skate there? find out what their parents do. i'm betting at least one has a lawyer or city worker of some kind as a parent, uncle, etc....
you guys are in a pretty similar situation as we were in the beginning. just persevere. worst case scenario, you'll have to start over.