MTA Continues To Refuse MJ Tribute

mj0909subway.jpg Don't expect any subway lines to be renamed the Neverland Express anytime soon, but Councilwoman Letitia James will get Michael Jackson some sort of tribute underground even if she has to break in Poster Boy style and do it herself. As we all know by now, the King of Pop's epic 16-minute video for "Bad" (directed by Martin Scorsese) was filmed in the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station in Brooklyn, and the MTA (because of some such rules that exist) refuse to rename the station after him, or even give him a plaque. That's just not how they roll. So James has come up with an alternative: a mural. The NY Post reports that she is trying to work with the MTA to commission an art contest honoring the performer, saying, "I think it would be a big tourist draw for the cash-strapped transit authority." But the MTA says they only add new artwork to stations undergoing rehabilitation, which isn't happening at Hoyt-Schermerhorn for at least five years. Could it be that someone at the organization just isn't a fan?

Email This Entry


Comments (17) [rss]

user-pic

Could it be someone at the organization actually has more than two brain cells in their head and realizes this is a stupid idea? What is with this woman? Does she think if she let's it go she'll be embarrassed? news flash: too late.

user-pic

I hope the MTA holds their ground and doesn't get pressured to change it. There is no need to rename a subway station for anyone past or present.

Wow, the MTA is doing something that makes sense unlike spending $4 million to needlessly rename a bridge.

somebody please get jen a new story to write about.

stop reposting this every other day.

who gives a shit?

Good for the MTA.
Even if this was a tourist draw (which I doubt), it would not gain the MTA any more revenue.

I bet the people who voted for her feel like she's spending her time in office wisely.

All they gotta do is paint "FREE CANDY" on the sign and we'd forever remember the child molester.

This woman is pathetic. Celebrity worship is imbecilic enough; when a politician starts brown nosing the carcass of a dead celebrity, it's downright insane.

user-pic

YAWN. They don't name stations after people, and certainly not after pedophiles. End of line.

YAWN. They don't name stations after people, and certainly not after pedophiles. End of line.

Enough Michael Jackson already.

Why not name the MTA after Michael Jackson? They both laid down some shitty tracks...


Ba-dump.

Letitia James needs a new job. Vote this imbecile out of office.

user-pic

I have to imagine it costs a lot of money to rename a subway station, what with new signage and new maps and all that. This is enough reason not to rename the station right now, regardless of anyone's feelings about Michael Jackson.

"Nasty Child-Molesting Drug And Surgical Addict Memorial Subway Station" -That has a nice ring.

this wasn't news the second time it was posted, either.

& the posthumous glorification of michael jackson still doesn't make any sense to me, unless everyone feels guilty for having made nonstop pedophile jokes about him while he was alive. seriously all the street stands i see selling exclusively michael jackson t shirts, with various quantities of rhinestones? wtf

Post a comment (Comment Policy)

Tips

Get your daily dose of New York first thing in the morning from our weekday newsletter, now in beta.

About Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York. More

Editor: Jen Chung
Publisher: Jake Dobkin

Newsmap

newsmap.jpg

Contribute

Latest Tip:

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence comes to New York tomorrow, Monday, November 30, 2009, on
[more]

Latest Photo:

Subscribe

Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.

All Our RSS

Follow us