Mayor Bloomberg met with non-NYPD affiliated police today, when joining a press conference with Sting & Co. The band announced that their final performance EVER will be right here in New York, later this year. From the press release:
We kicked off our very first American tour at CBGB's in 1978 and this summer, thirty years later, our journey will come full circle as we play our final show here in New York City," said The Police. "We are honored to partner with public television and have a deep respect for their commitment to arts and culture."
The concert will benefit local public television, but that's not all the band is giving back. Bloomberg was on hand to help announce a $2 Million contribution to MillionTreesNYC (a donation split 50/50 by The Police and the city). The program hopes to hit their goal by the year 2017; the trees planted will be part of an effort to reforest 2,000 acres of parkland across the five boroughs, reducing greenhouse gases and lower energy costs.
During the conference, Bloomberg noted that "The Police have demonstrated their commitment to greening our City." Sting added that the band was "pleased to contribute to this powerful and historic initiative that will undoubtedly improve the quality of life for future generations," and applauded Bloomberg "for boldly confronting the City's environmental issues and are excited to support their goal of creating a healthier, more sustainable City."
Tickets to the final show will be made available online via the Thirteen/WNET and WLIW Web sites at a later date. No word yet on where the show will take place.
UPDATE:The Post calls out the local arm of Sting's Rainforest Foundation as being "rated one of New York City's worst charities," and less than half of the money that came in from his 2006 Carnegie Hall benefit actually funded tree-saving programs.
