MTA Gives MJ No Love Underground... Yet

City Councilwoman Letitia James won't stop til she gets enough ... rejection from the MTA? She's still lobbying for the Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway station to be named after the late King of Pop, or for a plaque to go up recognizing he filmed his video for "Bad" there. She told the Daily News, "The Transit Authority has already said, 'Beat it,' literally" since MTA guidelines prohibit plaques and memorials in subway stations for some reason. As for renaming the station, the organization is still developing the guidelines for station naming rights. Earlier this year, however, the MTA agreed to sell naming rights at Atlantic Avenue-Pacific Street to Bruce Ratner for $4 million (over 20 years). So James wonders, "if the Michael Jackson foundation offered them $10 million for naming rights they'd consider listening." Not that the foundation has offered that, but if they were the MTA should definitely consider it. In the meantime, James is starting a petition drive at the singer's 51st birthday celebration. If you've never seen the full 16-minute version of the Martin Scorsese-directed video, you can watch it here (part 1) and here (part 2).

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on August 27, 2009 1:29 PM

Comments [rss]

skipgates

There's already a Jackson Ave. stop in the Bronx, just pencil in the first name. Done deal.

wiseguynyc

I have to agree with interlard. The guy was not a good person - besides his incidents with children he was a drug addict who'd been on a downhill slide artistically since Thriller. Oh well....

interlard

Is City Councilwoman Letitia James trying to prove how utterly useless she is? Child molesters? Really? And PEOPLE VOTED FOR YOU??

ides_of_march

Maybe they'll name a child day care center after him too.

jaycjay

Naming rights to the Atlantic Avenue station weren't sold to Bruce Ratner, but to Barclay's Bank. Which also bought, from Ratner's firm, the naming rights to the planned arena.

That is why that sale by the MTA makes sense. If the arena is, as proposed, called the Barclay Center and the stop is renamed something like Atlantic Avenue/Barclay Center, it makes sense and will provide clear information to people making that trip. The MTA would probably rename that station anyway (as they did with "Mets-Willets Point," a change the Mets didn't pay for) so sure, get some money for it.

Naming stations after people, though, is just confusing.

flynn110

during our troubled economic times I can think of no better idea than spend who-knows how much money to change/update EVERY sign/map that used to point to Hoyt. this reminds me of the renaming of the Triborough Bridge. MJ had almost nothing to do with NY except this video. did he even own an apt here?