1st Amendment Vending, NYC
The following is an email I received from Robert Lederman on June 3rd, 2009, Mr. Lederman is President of A.R.T.I.S.T. (Artists Response To Illegal State Tactics).
I (Ned Otter) am a dedicated member of the ARTIST group.
FAX #'s for the City Council Consumer Affairs Committee; Phone, Email and Fax them today!
Below are the fax numbers, email addresses and phone numbers for the Consumer Affairs Committee members. They are still undecided on Intro # 846-A, a law that puts vending under the control of BIDS (Business Improvement Districts).
We have significantly shaken their plan to pass this law, but it is still up for grabs. As recently as yesterday a key councilmember was about to change his vote.
Why care about this bill?
Do you want stores, landlords, banks and real estate interests to be in charge of your First Amendment right to sell art?
The more faxes, calls, emails etc they get, the better. For politicians it's all about the numbers. If they get 10 calls or faxes in support of this bill, and 1,000 against, that makes a big impression.
If you already did some of this, thanks but you can do more. You cannot overdo it no matter how many you send.
When you call, leave a very short, very clear message. If a secretary is taking it down, make sure they get it straight and don't write that you SUPPORT the bill.
EXAMPLE of a very short concise message:
"I'm an art lover and I am 100% against Intro # 846-A."
Don't leave a convoluted 20 minute explanation of your specific objections, because they won't bother to listen to all that. You should mention the bill by name, "INTRO #846-A". You can also get your friends, family, customers etc to call, fax and email. You DO NOT need to be a constituent of theirs to have an effect.
Here are the numbers
(the main sponsor of Intro # 846-A and the Committee Chairman) Councilmember Comrie Councilmember Leroy Comrie 212-788-7084 comrie@council.nyc.ny.us
District Office Phone 718-776-3700
District Office Fax 718-776-3798
Legislative Office Phone 212-788-7084
Legislative Office Fax 212-788-7093
Councilmember John Liu 718 888 8747 212 788 7022 liu@council.nyc.gov District Office Phone 718-888-8747
District Office Fax 718-888-0331
Legislative Office Phone 212-788-7022
Legislative Office Fax 212-788-8964
Councilmember G. Oliver Koppell 718 549 7300 212 788 7080 okoppell@council.nyc.gov District Office Phone 718-549-7300
District Office Fax 718-549-9945
Legislative Office Phone 212-788-7080
Legislative Office Fax 212-442-7827
Councilmember James F Gennaro 718 217 4969 212 788 6956 jgennaro@council.nyc.gov
(CM Barron openly opposes Intro #846-A. Let him know you support him) Councilmember Charles Barron 718 649 9495 212 788 6957 barron@council.nyc.gov District Office Phone 718-649-9495/9496
District Office Fax 718-649-3111
Legislative Office Phone 212-788-6957
Legislative Office Fax 212-676-8595
(James was a co-sponsor but has since taken her name off the bill thanks to your letters) Councilmember Letitia James 212-788-7081 james@council.nyc.ny.us
District Office Phone 718-260-9191
District Office Fax 718-260-9099
Legislative Office Phone 212-788-7081
Legislative Office Fax 212-788-7712
Councilmember Sara Gonzalez 212-788-7372 gonzalez@council.nyc.ny.us
(Christine Quinn is the Speaker, or "boss" of the entire City Council. If she is for this bill, it will pass, and she loves BIDs. Let her hear from you.) Christine Quinn
District Office Phone (212) 564-7757
District Office Fax (212)564-7347
Legislative Office Phone (212) 788-7210
Legislative Office Fax (212) 788-7207
Write to ALL these councilmembers today, before it is too late. Send them each an individual email and call their offices. (SEE email and phone #'s for each above)
Desperate to pass a bill giving BIDs control over vending the Consumer Affairs Committee of the City Council is forging ahead with this train wreck, Intro #846-A.
BIDs have no legal or moral right to dictate ANYTHING to artists OR disabled war veterans. It is not a matter of how many spots or which avenues they will ALLOW us on. If you have actual rights (and you do) it is 100% in your own long term interests to keep BIDs from having ANYTHING to say about street artists' rights.
Councilmember Comrie (the main sponsor of this bill) described it as, "A pilot program for the entire city." If passed they plan to make a version of this within EVERY BID, and in every PARK.
They have slightly modified it in a pathetic attempt to divide disabled vets and artists, and to convince artists that BIDs (Business Improvement Districts) are trying to "help" them. If passed this bill will destroy your right to freely sell art.
ARTIST remains 100% against any turning over of vending to BIDs.
Call and write all the councilmembers noted above. Immediately let them know we will never follow ANY law giving BIDs ANY control over our rights. Please do not leave it up to a handful of ARTIST members to fight your fight for you.
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Tell then you totally oppose Intro #846-A in any form because BIDs should never get to regulate freedom of speech. Feel free to put it all in your own words, personalize it with your own story etc. That's what free speech is all about. Have your friends, family and customers write them. The more letters they get the bigger the effect. RL