Video: Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation Bullying Artists

L-R: Jeffrey Sandgrund, Regina Myer, artist E.K. Buckley

[UPDATE BELOW] As the DUMBO Arts Festival took over the neighborhood this past weekend, three artists (a husband and wife, and their friend) headed to Brooklyn Bridge Park to sell their own artwork. Chris Johnson (one of the artists) contacted us today pointing out his blog post about what happened next. He writes:

We got to the new Brooklyn Bridge Park at 11:20 am September 25th and began to set up the display. Within minutes, we were confronted by Regina Myer, the president of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation, and Jeffrey Sandgrund, the Director of Park Operations. They told us that we were not allowed to set up in their park, and that we would not be allowed to sell artwork.

These days artists are used to being bullied out of parks, so they promptly presented their certificate of authority to collect sales tax, and explained their rights. Myer and Sandgrund had their own interpretation of their rights, however, and attempted to bully them off the grounds. This was all caught on video by Johnson, where you'll hear, amongst other things, Sandgrund claiming that the law enforcement officers working at the park do not know the law.

The park does have private rules posted (there's a whole 17-page PDF), but Johnson questions how they could override the Supreme Court of New York. We've contacted the BBP Corporation for comment, and will update when we hear back.

UPDATE: Ellen P Ryan, the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Brooklyn Bridge Park, has sent us the below statement regarding art vending in the park.

Brooklyn Bridge Park operates under a set of rules and regulations that were recently adopted by its board of directors on September 22nd. These rules are adapted from NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and also include provisions in place at the Hudson River Park, specifically those that concern waterfront use. Brooklyn Bridge Park rules include all NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Rules.

Ryan specifically cites 7B. Unlawful Vending: It is illegal for any person to sell, offer for sale, hire, lease or let anything whatsoever within the park, except under and within the terms of a Permit for such activity issued by BBPC. She then goes on to address the specific incident on September 25th documented above, saying:

On Saturday, September 25, two artists set up a table and display to sell artwork at Pier 1. Citing Brooklyn Bridge Park rules, the artists were asked to dismantle their display. Further consultation with Parks Enforcement Patrol clarified the overriding rules on the sale of expressive matter, which is protected by the Constitution’s First Amendment. In accordance with new NYC Department of Parks & Recreation rules (see below), the artists were then asked to relocate their display away from the main entryway of Pier 1 and the adjacent park furnishings to ensure reasonable entry and enjoyment by all park visitors. The vendors complied and made work available for sale for the remaining part of the day.
As of July 19, 2010 new rules were issued by the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation concerning the sale of “expressive matter,” including art, photography, reading material and sculpture in City parks. Brooklyn Bridge Park will comply with these new rules. It is the intent of Brooklyn Bridge Park to create and maintain a democratic public space in which the fully protected rights of expression of the individual are balanced with the park’s mission to provide a welcome respite for all park visitors.

When asked, Ryan pointed us to the Brooklyn Bridge Park permit application on their website, and told us "we have not had any applications to date from artists that I’m aware of."

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

By Jen Carlson in News on October 1, 2010 2:36 PM

Comments [rss]

DUMBO_cyclist

The River Cafe, in Brooklyn Bridge Park, pays $1600 a month to lease prime real estate:

http://gothamist.com/2009/05/04/river_cafe_owner.php

That's less than most people pay in rent for small apartments.

Who are the parasites here?

The corporate development corporation who wants to turn this into a riverfront mall? Or artists selling drawings and paintings?

dumboguy

That would be fine as long as we can stand there and throw your "art" into the flames. Would you please start the fire with that crocheted kids bicycle ("art") that's chained to the fence?

Brainwash

A $25 non-refundable processing fee? So if they say "no" they get to keep my $25? That makes me want to hit someone with a heavy object.

dumboguy

"That makes me want to hit someone with a heavy object."

Maybe that is why it is a good policy to keep people like you out of the park. Go to Battery Park and sell the crap you guys make over there....just don't do it over here. APPLICATION DENIED. Thanks for the $25.

Brainwash

That kind of reply makes me want to burn your park with fire.

mistermarkdavis

so it's a private organization that gets to use publicly funded parks department officials to police their own private policies? That doesn't sound like a legit use of public funds.

John L

So they "own" the park?

This is a private park now?

And that's acceptable to people on here?

Amazing.

butterbutter

Correct me if I'm wrong but the Brooklyn Pier Parks are not City owned Public Parks, as governed by the public parks department. They are private parks fully funded by private means working in conjunction with the city. Not taxpayer money. So they have a right to make their own rules.

If they want to ban vendors, that's great.

I personally think vendors are an eyesore, and I would love a place in NYC that I'm not bombarded by people trying to sell me shit or bug me for something like in Central Park. 99% of the vendors are selling crap anyway.

Please do us a favor and don't allow vendors in that park.

Chris

"the artists were then asked to relocate their display away from the main entryway of Pier 1 and the adjacent park furnishings to ensure reasonable entry and enjoyment by all park visitors."

This part is inaccurate. We were actually asked to relocate into the entryway, since we were too close to a bench.

As the troll in the thread pointed out (hi Jeffrey!), the PEP officers were cool - we said so in our blog post. It was the BBPC that tried to abridge our rights to sell expressive matter.

Yes, the BBPC is a private corporation. But they don't own the park, they just act like they do.

Lastly, you don't need a permit application to sell expressive matter in the public parks on on the streets of New York, just certificate of authority to collect sales tax.

Here are the basics on the legality of selling art in public places in NYC:

http://knol.google.com/k/selling-art-on-the-street-the-basics#

thefacts

"you don't need a permit application to sell expressive matter..., just certificate of authority to collect sales tax. "

What good is having a sales tax certificate, when you don't collect sales tax or pay income tax on your sales?

You parasites want everything for free, don't you:

- Free rent

- Pay no taxes to the State you just moved to

- Pay no Social Security taxes

- Pay no Federal taxes on your sales

Yeah, you're an artist alright. A bullshit artist!

JacqueMehoff

welcome to bloombag's legacy, even the parks are private.

follow the money, who's getting the money. money for everything but the homeless.

sj

Ah but it may not be their right. Isn't the BBPC a private organization (as opposed to the city or state parks departments that are public agencies)? If so, the BBPC absolutely has the right to tell these guys to take a hike.

Shamhammer

let them sell, it is their right. Public land and such.

theboneranger

how much does it cost to get permission to sell in that park?

don't they sell stuff at the festival?

how much money is the arts festival making for the park? what happens to that money?

thefacts

"they promptly presented their certificate of authority to collect sales tax,"

ROTFL

They may possess and present the tax certificates, but these parasites NEVER collect sales tax, and this deficit-ridden state and city suffers.

Nor do they contribute to Social Security.

Forget about Consumer Protections like offering receipts or refunds!

We go to parks to get away from the commercialism of the city, not be confronted by it.

Plus, Jen, what kind of journalist describes a citizen who tries to keep our parks free of commercialism as "bullying".

I watched the full video. The citizens and PEP officers were very polite in the face of these two arrogant street peddlers

Clearly, any bullying done here is done by the two (bullshit) artists.

More arrogant newbies who want to leech off the city.