Letter
to Commissioner Jonathan Greenspun Concerning Street Fairs. The
Mayor's Community Assistance Unit is reviewing guidelines for street
fairs.
Hon. Jonathan
Greenspun
Commissioner
Mayor’s Community Assistance Unit
100 Gold Street
New York, NY 10038
Dear Mr. Greenspun;
The Greenwich Village Block Associations (GVBA) is a community wide coalition
of organizations dedicated to preserving and improving the quality of life
for residents of Greenwich Village. As arguably the most directly democratic
organizations to represent residents of our historic community, the block
associations have also become — sometimes unwillingly — experts
on the value and impact of street events in a neighborhood that hosts so
many of them.
The GVBA believes that a concerted re-evaluation of street events, the permit
application itself and the permit process that governs street events is both
timely and necessary. We trust that the discussion and its results will improve
the existing situation. Please bear in mind that there are many types of street
events and street fairs. Genuine neighborhood gatherings should be facilitated
and encouraged as long as balance, appropriateness and equity are reasonably
achieved. We would like the following points to be considered.
• Several areas in the Village are overburdened with street events. Events
that are presently held in those areas should be re-evaluated. Organizations
with
global agendas, no matter how worthy, should not use neighborhood streets for
an event without the consent of the site specific local organization most directly
affected by its event.
• New
York University’s impact and its use of the streets surrounding Washington
Square Park should be more carefully monitored and regulated.
• The
GVBA opposes a moratorium on the granting of new street permits as an
extreme measure that will not solve the current dilemma. Another city agency — the
Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting — routinely
issues permits for film streets that are de facto street events. If
a street can be closed several times in a month for filming, it is
patently unfair to deny the local block association the use
of its own street for the benefit of its own residents. Local groups,
particularly those who develop and
manage the event themselves, should receive special consideration in
the granting
of permits.
• Better
communication between local residents and the Mayor’s Community
Assistance Unit would enable the CAU to more expertly assess events
after they have taken place and to better evaluate new application
permits. People who
liveand work on a street know it best and may have pertinent suggestions.
Many problems
can be resolved through common sense and good will.
While the GVBA supports the re-evaluation of the street permit process, we hope
that the CAU will perform this task with due diligence. Moving towards greater
balance and fairness in the process is key to its acceptance and success. Block
associations and other neighborhood groups are knowledgeable on conditions in
our streets and impacts on local residents and businesses. The GVBA suggests
that the CAU establish a more direct line of communication with those groups
so that permits can be issued with more sensitivity. The GVBA and its members
are available to assist the CAU as it explores possible specific changes and
improvements to the process. Thank you.
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