Video: UWS Fuming Over Fashion Week Generators

Five days after ending, Fashion Week is still pissing people off. A few Upper West Side residents are complaining that generators have been spewing smoke and fumes into their air, and that a few are still going even after the Fashion Week tents have gone. Amsterdam Avenue resident Ruth James said, "They have these big machines on the side of the street blowing out gas and all of that. And my windows are here and I'm breathing this stuff." And neighbors10023 wrote on Youtube, that video (below) of the generators shows "a stark contrast to what Fashion Week's marketing effort on its supposed commitment to going green."

MyFoxNY reports that as of yesterday evening a few generators are still running. The Mayor's office said in a statement, "The ultra-low sulfur diesel generators at Fashion Week meet federal and citywide emission standards," and Fashion Week producers IMG said that they sent a memo to local residents with a hotline about the generators and they didn't get one complaint. We've contacted the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District about the situation, but residents seem confused as to why these generators are meeting emission standards while cigarettes are still public enemy #1. Perhaps Fashion Week was just trying to remind everyone that surgical masks are totally in vogue.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on February 23, 2011 3:47 PM

Comments [rss]

lisanyc

why not biodiesel? it shouldn't be have to be so difficult to solve this problem.

xsquatchx

changing the source of the fuel does not change the results of combustion

spiv

That plume of smoke is actually coming from the dressing rooms of all those models Bllomberg got green cards for - they subsist on cigs and smack to stay so thin and lovely!

Nicholas Orton

Lincoln Center is a temple to high culture in New York City. And now twice(?) a year it gets invaded by this gaudy festival to consumer culture. Fashion week should be in times square.

Nicholas Orton

Lincoln Center is a temple to high culture in New York City. And now twice(?) a year it gets invaded by this gaudy festival to consumer culture. Fashion week should be in times square.

Steven H.

Why can't they use the power from the power lines

Unkle_Bob

Temporary events like this nearly always have their own power supplies. The work involved to tap into city power is not trivial. Plus, as was said, they're likely contractually obligated to be self sufficient.

spiv

These shows require massive power and their contract states that they have to be self sustaining on location. If I'm correct LC is actually state property and the city gets cut out of the deal, but Bloomdouche lobbied for it anyway.

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

I think because they're in tents. The Big Apple Circus uses generators, too. don't know if there were any complaints about their generators.

lisanyc

actually big apple circus doesn't use generators..as far as i know, they use electricity for the circus. that's why these generators for fashion week are even more annoying/unnecessary

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

What does the mayor's office have to do about the generators at a private show event?
sounds like favoritism. per usual for the mayor's huge PR staff of spokespeople.

josephb76

That area is in the same district as Gale Brewer, the councilperson that authored the recent smoking ban bill. Maybe she should stop by and gasp a little. Oh, no... will Fashion Week be banned too? ...just another indicator of the absurd notion that clean air exists in this city.

spiv

Not to mention that that housing back there is public housing which I'm sure is full of older residents, and poor families with kids - soon to be asthmatic kids.