WHO DO I WRITE TO?
Alessandro G. Olivieri, General Counsel, Department of Parks &
Recreation, The Arsenal, Central Park, 830 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10065, by April 23, 2010.
You may also send your letter to this email
address: alessandro.olivieri@parks.nyc.gov
and you should also send the same email to the
Parks Commissioner, Adrian Benepe.
His email address is:
Adrian.Benepe@parks.nyc.gov
WHAT SHOULD I WRITE?
Here is a sample letter to use as a guide. Ideally, put it in your own words. If you can’t, just use this as your letter. These letters will all become evidence in any lawsuit we end up filing to stop these rules, so please use common sense. No cursing or insults. Just make it very clear that you oppose the new rules.
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Commissioner Benepe and Mr. Olivieri,
I am a [where you are from and what your relationship is to park artists - Example: "a resident New Yorker who often frequents Union Square and delights in the artists found in the park every day"]. I have read the proposed Park rules for artists and strongly object to them. No new laws or rules are needed. The existing NYC vending laws and the existing Parks Department rules are not being enforced. If there is a problem with vending in Parks, it makes sense to use the existing laws and rules. These proposed rules favor non-First Amendment vending concessions, Holiday Markets, corporate promotions and Greenmarkets over the rights of First Amendment protected artists. I ask you to stop harassing the street artists of NYC and to not pass these proposed rules.
Sincerely Yours,
(Your name and email or address)
———
You can also attend the public hearing, which will be held at 11AM on April 23, 2010 at the Chelsea Recreation Center on 430 West 25th Street.
The A.R.T.I.S.T. organization is organizing a protest before the
hearing, at 10AM. I will be there.
Thanks so much for your time and consideration.
Yours,
Marty