Some New York City officials are up in arms about presidential candidate Howard Dean's decision to speak in front of a wall of graffiti at Bryant Park last week - mainly Republican officials. They feel it portrays NYC in a negative light, graffiti is a part of NY's past, while Bryant Park is beautiful and has been restored through the city's efforts. Gothamist understands Dean's desire to seem "street" and does agree that graffiti is a part of NY's culture but it is stupid to just have graffiti and no Bryant Park - why have it at Bryant Park, then, any vacant field/large indoor space in the city would have worked.
