Volume 78 / Number 4 - June 25 - July 1, 2008
To The Editor:
Having lived and worked in the Soho/Noho area for the past 35 years, I can say with virtual certainty that Robert Lederman and the street artists have done more (perhaps, unintentionally) to retain Soho’s “art scene feel,” than have all of the vocal detractors, civic groups and quasi-business improvement districts (Soho Alliance) combined. The galleries have mostly moved en masse to Chelsea, having been replaced by the most chichi of boutiques. The unrenovated lofts that once belonged to Soho’s longtime artist-residents — complete with dirty walls and a pulsing creative energy that could literally be felt in the streets below — now have been transformed into lavish, multimillion-dollar urban villas sold and rented to Hollywood’s acting elite.
I have witnessed Soho’s transformation during the last two or three decades, from an art neighborhood/art village that introduced so much new art and art trends into the most stylish strip mall in America.
If not for the street artists still there now, the closest one might come to an art installation would be in a window display in a boutique window.
I think the local residents and businesses that oppose the street artists need to get a grip and realize that complaining about street artists in Soho is like moving to the forest — and then ranting and raving that there are too many damn trees.
Yisroal Boaz Ginsberg
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Volume 78 / Number 2 - June 11 - 17, 2008 West and East Village, Chelsea, Soho, Noho, Little Italy, Chinatown and Lower East Side, Since 1933
The audacity of Gerson
To The Editor:
After having read through Council-man Gerson’s five new pieces of proposed vending legislation (three of which would directly affect street artists) submitted to the City Council two weeks ago, I am outraged at the proposals’ sheer audacity.
Having painted himself as a “First Amendment scholar with a proven record of support for free speech and the arts,” he submits a proposal (Intro No. 770) that “redefines” what is or is not First Amendment-protected material. The proposal attempts to eliminate all First Amendment protection from any art that has or might have a secondary “utilitarian use.”This myopic proposal would render some of the world’s most significant and important artworks, such as Duchamp’s “Bicycle Wheel,” Oppenheim’s “Fur-covered Cup,” Man Ray’s “Gift” and Picasso’s “Bull’s Head,” illegal to be sold on the streets of New York City and similarly would render these art-world geniuses “illegal vendors” subject to arrest and confiscation were they alive and selling these works today on the city’s streets.
It can only make sense when and if you understand the street-artist history and that Gerson’s No. 1 supporters are the Soho Alliance, whose director, Sean Sweeney, is quoted in The Villager as saying, “I would not want Picasso selling in front of my building” (“Police descend on Soho,” news article, April 10, 2002).It must simply boil down to be a case of Gerson giving his “handlers” what they bought and paid for.
Knut MascoMasco is a member, A.R.T.I.S.T (Artists’ Response to Illegal State Tactics)
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The Villager
Volume 77 / Number 52 - May 28 - June 3, 2008 West and East Village, Chelsea, Soho, Noho, Little Italy, Chinatown and Lower East Side, Since 1933
A new ‘Apprentice’?
To The Editor: Re “B.S.A. backs Trump Soho, setting stage for lawsuit” (news article, May 7):
This fight strikes me as eerily familiar to the opposition that the Soho Grand and Mercer hotels faced back in the mid-’90s. Sounds like the Donald has simply failed to come across with the proper “tribute” monies to the Soho Alliance as of yet, to quell their thirst for blood.
Perhaps if the Donald did, or if he were to, let’s say, offer Sean Sweeney a role as “The Apprentice,” this could all blow over and he might even find himself on the steering community of the Soho Alliance — just as the Mercer’s Andre Balazs did — rather than in court.
Yisroal Boaz Ginsberg
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Downtown Express
Volume 21, Number 3 THE NEWSPAPER OF LOWER MANHATTAN May 30 - June 5, 2008
Letters to the Editor-Donald’s new ‘Apprentice’?
To The Editor: Re “B.S.A. backs Trump Soho, setting stage for lawsuit” (news article, May 9 -15)
This fight strikes me as eerily familiar to the opposition that the Soho Grand and Mercer hotels faced back in the mid-’90s. Sounds like the Donald has simply failed to come across with the proper “tribute” monies to the Soho Alliance as of yet, to quell their thirst for blood.
Perhaps if the Donald did, or if he were to, let’s say, offer Sean Sweeney a role as “The Apprentice,” this could all blow over and he might even find himself on the steering community of the Soho Alliance — just as the Mercer’s Andre Balazs did — rather then in court.
Yisroal Boaz Ginsberg
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Downtown Express
Volume 20, Number 52 THE NEWSPAPER OF LOWER MANHATTAN MAY 9 - 15, 2008 Keep it Freed-free To The Editor:Re “Here comes the judge? Freed may go for broke in Council race” (news article, April 25 – May 1):
Am I supposed to feel bad that poor Judge Freed only makes $125,000 a year (more than double what most hard working people make a year) and can’t make the mortgage payments on her apartment in the East River Co-ops and getaway house Upstate?
Sounds to me like Judge Freed and long time sidekick Sean Sweeney (president of Downtown Independent Democrats and Soho Alliance) are nostalgic for the good old days. God help us all if Freed is re-elected to “her [throne] seat,” so she can once again go after all the things that make Lower Manhattan great, i.e. street artists, vendors, outdoor cafes, clubs, tourists, boutiques etc.
Knut Masco
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Here is the letter that I actually sent:
Letter to the Editor: Re: Here comes the judge? Volume 77,Number 47 April 23 - 29, 2008 By Josh Rogers
Am I supposed to feel bad - that poor Judge Freed only makes 125,000 a year ( more then double what most hard working people make a year) and can't make the mortgage payments on her apartment in the East River Co-ops and get-away house Up State ?
Sounds to me Like Judge Freed and long time side kick Sean Sweeney ( president of Downtown Independent Democrats and Soho Alliance) are nostalgic for the good old days. Days where they were able to fill there pockets in a double dipping shill game on the Residence and Galleries of Soho by pretending to be feverishly staunch opponents to large boutiques moving into the community, "strip-malling Soho",( Victories Secret , J Crew, Mercer Hotel, etc, etc, etc); raising untold amounts of cash in a fake attempt to stop them from moving in. Then turning around and shaking-down those very same boutique owners for untold amounts of payoff money to stop there rabid attacks.
G-d help us all if Freed is re-elected to "her (throne) seat" so she can once again go after all the things that make lower Manhattan great, i.e, Street Artists/ Vendors, Outdoor Cafes, Clubs,Tourists, Boutiques, etc,etc, etc .........
Knut Masco A.R.T.I.S.T
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Downtown Express
Volume 20, Number 51 THE NEWSPAPER OF LOWER MANHATTAN MAY 2 - 8, 2008 To The Editor:Re “Vendor bill still in the works” (Letters, April 25 – May 1):
I am a member of A.R.T.I.S.T. (Artists Response To Illegal State Tactics) and a plaintiff in both federal lawsuits that established artists’ full First Amendment rights when selling art in public spaces of N.Y.C.
I can speak from experience that it’s “First Amendment scholars” that the business improvement districts and wealthy landlord groups such as the Soho Alliance elicit and groom in hopes of defeating/overcoming or circumnavigating the aforementioned federal court rulings.
In 1993-97, it was Kathryn Freed (Lower Manhattan’s former councilmember), now a civil court judge, who spearheaded the arrests/confiscation policy against street artists; categorizing us as “illegal vendors” — “They’re parasites.” (Christian Science Monitor, July 14, 1994)
In 1998-2001, it was “First Amendment scholar” Thomas Rozinski (graduate of Harvard Law School, professor of law at the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Yeshiva University, and Baruch College and served seven years in the Giuliani administration as general counsel) who spearheaded the street artist arrests and confiscations in the N.Y.C. parks system.
Councilman Alan Gerson’s proposed vendor bill is the “Final Solution” to the street artist/ vendor “problem.” It is an affront that will — if passed — affect and diminish all people’s First Amendment rights, be it artists, citizens, tourists, and the free press of this city.
Knut Masco
