Crackdown On Chinatown Park Musicians Pleases Some, Outrages Others

The NYPD says it's investigating the rough arrest of a 64-year-old man for playing a fiddle in Chinatown's Columbus Park last month; you may recall the YouTube video showing an angry crowd of senior citizens surrounding mace-wielding cops as they handcuffed the bloodied musician, who appears to have resisted arrest. The incident occurred when officers took action on a rarely enforced rule against amplification in the park, where for years a group of senior citizens have gathered to sing songs and make music. The crackdown has outraged many of the park regulars, but some locals say they're glad the music died.

The best reaction comes from Anthony Maruffi, who runs a parking lot near the park. "If they want to do it, they can turn it down a bit — you don’t need the whole neighborhood to hear it," Maruffi tells City Room. "If I can’t smoke in the park, they can’t play with mics in the park. That sounds fair to me." Another local tells City Room the noise from the park was "just incredible," with up to five groups competing "to see who's louder."

But the music lovers say they need amplification because many seniors in the audience are hard of hearing, and without a microphone the high-pitched vocals can get drowned out by the instruments. The performers are required to get two permits for the weekend concerts, one for assembling and one for amplification. They say the assembly permits are only allotted once a month, and wonder what they're supposed to do about the other three weeks—go smoke cigars in the parking lot with Tony Maruffi?

On Sunday, the arrested man, Wu Yizhou, finally returned the the park, where the music continued, albeit without vocals. Yizhou didn't play yesterday, and said that after his arrest he spent the night in the Tombs. His disorderly conduct charge was dismissed, but the D.A. says he still faces charges of making “unreasonable noise” in a city park and resisting arrest.

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By John Del Signore in Arts & Entertainment on June 1, 2011 1:28 PM

Comments [rss]

Eric

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

JerrytheMouse

Like a lot of non-Chinese people, I suspect, I personally go to that park just to hear it.

It's not like it's booming into everyone's windows at 11pm! It's a nice Sunday concert.

JerrytheMouse

I also think that Chinese opera being sung in a Chinatown park does not really constitute ANY kind of "noise disorder." Tony Maruffi needs to broaden his horizons, and enjoy the music even without smoking.

JerrytheMouse

I don't really think that there's ANY reason for roughing up a 60-year-old man. "Illegal" amplification of music should be dealt with by giving people summonses, and then fighting it out in the courts.

HymietownHero

Wow, just like in China!

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

I have a solution, how about we put them on the West side of the park, that way those prisoners get some entertainment or torture.
And, to that lady in the NYT article, I hope you clean up after your dog. I'll be watching.

Colonel_Ingus

Apparently the vast majority of you guys have never heard this shit.

Forget about it, it's Chinatown.

AScoutingLife

Seriously, we're all defending the right to illegally amplify music in the park? To try to play louder than the other musicians surrounding you, complete with "high-pitched vocals"? This has nothing to do with newcomers arriving in the city and complaining about the conditions. Do you people really want someone blasting off-key music outside your window?

Spirit of 76

You're taking the word of one person who claims they're competing with each other. And how do you know the music is off-key?

AScoutingLife

Ever been in that park? The amps are cheap and tinny sounding, and I have personally witnessed the competing music thing happen.

Spirit of 76

Yes, I've been there, although not when the music's going. It's still pretty raucous with kids playing in the playground and basketball courts. Anyone who expects peace and quiet around that park is dumb. It's no Central Park or even Sara Delano Roosevelt Park. It's a small park in a very dense neighborhood and almost every square foot is in use. If the amps are cheap, they can't be very loud.

AScoutingLife

There is a substantial difference between the sound of kids playing in a park and bad amplified music. The fact that it's a small park in a dense neighborhood is all the more reason to not allow amplified music.

Spirit of 76

They've been doing it for ages. One whiny busybody keeping the complaint number on speed dial on his cell phone is ruining it for hundreds. I don't know about you, but I rather like NYC for its diversity. Chinatown is dirty, noisy, smelly and packed. Which is fine by me. If I want to experience a quiet, clean neighborhood, I'll visit Forest Hills Gardens.

NlGGAZ

I think they are defending the right to not get bloody fucked up over illegally amplifying music in the park.

AScoutingLife

Odd then that most of the comments seem to specifically mention the music. If the police roughed him up for no reason then they should be punished accordingly. As there is no video of that and vastly conflicting stories I wouldn't presume to comment on that.

PhotoHarris

Someone should tell Anthony Maruffi that the musicians can't smoke in the park either. He's not getting special treatment. He's not making music, either. He's just a self centered, egotistical jackass. The city would be a better place without people like him.

FU Boy

"a self centered, egotistical jackass. The city would be a better place without people like him." - But what would New York be without New Yorkers?

Spirit of 76

Anyone want to bet on whether it was Maruffi who made the call that got the old man roughed up and arrested? "If I can’t smoke in the park, they can’t play with mics in the park. That sounds fair to me." Say what? What does one have to do with the other? What an idiot. No wonder he works as a parking lot attendant.

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

They do know there's the Tombs and the Bernie Kerik correction facility are there, right?
That means bad guys and people who pick up bad guys out on bail go through there 24 hours a day. Complain about that, not some weekend musicians.

FU Boy

"Excuse me, sir - do you have a frolic permit for your child? Yes sir, it's mandatory. I'm sorry, you and your child will have to come with me, now."