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Did anyone actually think a Michael Jackson birthday celebration hosted by Spike Lee wasn't going to be publicized? The free event was set to be held on August 29th in Brooklyn, but The Local reports they're looking to move it after “The mayor’s office has conceded that now that this has been publicized, Fort Greene Park is just not big enough to accommodate the kind of crowds that are foreseeable." The date may also be changed, and incidentally, Jackson's funeral date was also pushed back (originally the 29th and now the 31st).
The blog also posted the official NIMBY response from Abby Weissman, Web master of the Fort Greene Park Conservancy Web site (he totally likes Michael Jackson, by the way. And Kurt Cobain, in case you were wondering). He says that "Over 1.2 million people requested tickets to the Jackson Memorial at Staples Center in L.A. last month. Fort Greene Park has no real connection to the man or his music, and may be too small for such a large talent like the King of Pop." Granted, this event wouldn't be as star-studded as the Staples Center event, and people have probably grieved the performer's death by now (there have been so many other deaths since then!) and don't feel the need to be connected via group gatherings.
He goes on to discuss crowd control, clean-up, taxes, police presence, MJ having no Brooklyn ties, yawn yawn rant... but wait! He finishes up with a zinger, saying that Spike Lee and Marty Markowitz—who don’t live near the park—are using this event for their own publicity. A shocking accusation! Where is the sarcasm font! He declares, "This whole thing is really Spike and Marty’s big ego trip. Spike and Marty should move their Mike ego trip to a larger, more appropriate site—and split the bill. And, coincidentally, Spike Lee has a new movie coming out this week."
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Thanks Jen Carlson, now I know where NOT to be on August 29th.
What do you mean MJ doesn't have a Brooklyn connection?
Part of The Wiz was filmed in Brooklyn. And he filmed the music video for Bad at the Hoyt/Schem subway station. One of his final photo shoots was held at the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
http://www.mtv.com/photos/michael-jackson-in-the-december-issue-of-ebony-magazine/1573616/2654073/photo.jhtml
I wrote a fuller response on my blog
http://umbrooklynborn.blogspot.com/2009/08/community-is-bigger-than-one-person.html
but in short:
The people opposed to the party have a right to be opposed to everything (and quite possibly are), but they’ve exaggerated the hypothetical dangers of this neighborhood event, created by neighborhood residents, inappropriately depicted the event because it doesn’t match their idea of what the neighborhood is. And now they are pressuring the city to succumb to your view of things.
I saw on facebook (of all places) where Abby responded to a pro-party person calling them a Fascist. Before you get with the name calling start with the man in the mirror.
My opinion, if this event is moved somewhere else, if the city succumbs to the misinformation being put out there then an irreparable wedge will be permanently driven into the heart of the neighborhood which has still managed to be united by the good intentions of diverse neighborhoods despite the arrogant sense of entitlement that represents the downside of gentrification.
People’s concerns should be addressed. One view of the neighborhood should not be able to bulldoze other citizens and in fact history.
Er, have you actually been in Fort Greene Park? It's teeny-tiny and on a steep conic hill, with a distinct front side and a back side, which means every line of sight is very short. There's a great reason there are no large events there - they don't fit! It's about the size of Union Square Park. How many people could you possibly fit in Union Square without them hopping fences and trampling flowerbeds and wrecking the greenery? It is expensive to restore landscaping. The Park would look horrible afterward, and you'd be paying for it, instead of the event organizers.
Spike Jones used to live in a firehouse next to the park, and I think MJ visited him there once, or something? What a weak connection.
Take this to Madison Square or another real venue, where the taxpayers won't be left paying for the messy aftermath of another ill-thought-out event. We don't want another one of these in our parks: http://gothamist.com/2009/07/21/park_1.php
Terrible venue choice. It should definitely be moved.
Spike Jones? Wow, you're misinformed.
Spike LEE used to live across from FG park. His dad still does. He had his first office for 40 Acres on DeKalb, right across from the park. The park has also been host to dozens of concerts over the past 10-15 years, right through this summer. As far as wrecking the greenery, that park is used for football on a daily basis, and has been for years.
If you don't like it, don't go. Or move back to Iowa. Don't rain on others parades, or memorials in this situation. If they have the appropriate papers in order and can handle clean up and security, let it roll. Its not like there will be live music; just djays and speakers, which is what happens throughout the summer.
Whoops! Clearly I have nothing useful to contribute here after mixing up a name. Discount my viewpoint based on that if you like, I expect you're not interested in an actual discussion in the first place.
As for wrecking greenery, that was a reference to Union Square, which has lovely flowerbeds, which would be trampled if a huge event were hosted there. Which is why the Parks doesn't allow enormous parties there.
The lovely Fort Greene has less meticulous landscaping, granted, but the park can be torn up by too much foot traffic at events. Central Park always looks quite poorly after huge concerts, and takes a great deal of work to restore. You've noticed the large bald patch on the south side of Fort Green Park, due to the football, right?
I wasn't planning to go - and Iowa is so humid this time of year. If they the organizers (Who was it again? Spike-someone?) do handle clean up and security well, by properly predicting the number of attendees in order to be prepared and choose a large enough venue, more power to them. I'm just concerned FG will be too little for a larger-than-your-average-block-party turn out. I'm not saying block parties there are bad. Building community is great!
Do you think this event will be the same size as a regular block party? I think folks will appear in droves from all over Brooklyn, based on it being a Michael Jackson-named event. You don't think so?
Union Sq Park is about 4 acres whereas Fort Greene Park is roughly 30 acres.
But there is no parking around FG park and most people will probably drive there, and the proj side is usually a parking mess anyways.
No, I don't think that people will appear in droves to hear MJ's music, unless he's going to make an unscheduled appearance. I don't think Fort Greene's location would make it available for anyone to drive either (which MOST PEOPLE are you referring to grandzu?). I wouldn't go- I hate crowds and piped in music. But I don't think it inappropriate for a community to celebrate a loved one. Who cares that MJ never lived in BK and that Spike left almost a decade ago?
The Soul Summit parties are always crowded (I hear) and when I lived across from the park, BAM and NYC dept of parks always had concerts scheduled. If people want to get together and dance, get the permits and let them grieve.
Spinna rocks. I was looking forward to this, and FG is a great park for a dance party. Soul Summit for example. Don`t see what the fuss is about!
I think it's funny that spike lee wants to throw a party for a black guy who wanted to be white his entire life. You know spike was saying crazy shit under his breath about mike the last couple of years.
Why Brooklyn? Why not Newark? There are far more dermatologists and phony medical clinics on the 'La Toya side of the Hudson'.
It's now in Prospect Park, in the Nethermead area.
Can't wait for the mess that'll take a week to clean up, and the Parks Department will look the other way.