Frederick Wiseman Special: Central Park

We can go in and try to do that. Now do you wait. You want to do that. Sure. What is an. Issue. Is that we have to show that we have a teacher. You. Know if it's $15 somebody wants one you'll be given one for free. If they don't give a donation and make. A donation of size it's a small amount for any group. There was a permit to with the official T-shirt with the people breaking the rockets the bombs that. Said. All the stuff that's hanging in the breeze has to go. Yes it is. You are allowing the regular shirt of the day to be. Yes. Now how can you say that one should it's OK to be sold. I don't know. The organizers. Of the. One. We negotiated with them. Said These are the items that are going to this. These are the items that we want. Allowed to. They showed us and showed us that. We. So everything else you were missing. It. Wasn't by the money.

But I mean the parks department does Reggie does allow. For those shirts to be you know that were negotiated ahead of time. Before. It was. Done It. Wasn't done before. Wasn't done. At. This moment. It was and when we sat down to negotiate. From. Saryan. Like I said in. My best interest. Not to sell them because. I know what the event is about. Know. I understand. That you have to understand. This. We. Sat down. In. Good Faith and negotiated at that time that. We. Came here. We found something we didn't expect. They. Would have told us ahead of time. It would have been negotiated at this point. But it is not literature. It cannot be sold. And. Leave. Unbelieve. Is Absolutely. Genuine. They will. Be. Left with. The. What. City.

And that's what I would like to know. Why doesn't the city bend. Why don't you have compassion or any kind of humanity. No one is doing this for personal gain. We're all doing this because we believe in peace and very strongly do. This is just outrageous to me. You know this is a piece event. It's not personal vendetta personally profiting from this thing. I mean you know something I'm always reminded of the Nuremberg trials where the Nazis stood up and said. Hey I was just doing my job. When do you guys stop saying but the colonel said. No that's what I heard. I heard that you negotiated. Who is this person that negotiated this. Demonstration. When they applied for their permit. They were told what could what could not be done in the park today. Is. It one of the things that was said could not be done. Why. Because we don't allow vending in the park. Since there is no bending in the park. None. We have legal benches in the park. Why you don't have a right to sending. Events because your organization. Didn't make that one incident. And therefore you're going to follow the letter of the law. And

you're going to make sure that all of this is destroyed what's being attempted today. It's a beautiful day. Of course it is. This is part of the culture and the character of this event. The point. Is that the. Dream it was made. Was. When. You organized a rally. Come. To. Make. It rise up. And when they came they couldn't say we want to allow bending the ball. They said wanted. To allow. Literature. There is. A right to sell literature. We couldn't if we wanted to. We don't. Prevent the sale of literature at a rally. Right. But they did not say we want to sell teddy bears. We wanted to sell earrings. Wants some necklaces. Right. If they had done those things they would have been in the same position as everybody else who's just been the. Central part of negotiating the sale agreement that. Concessions agreement. With. The. Revenue because. They could have gone that route. They did not go that route. They then. Went into a. Hotel room essentially sold

you the right to set up table right which they hadn't negotiated. They negotiated something else. All right to be angry as far as support yes for. Yes it does play dates for. The key weren't. In the wrong. They may have been in the wrong but there's something called flexibility. Why. And. Why. Do. We have any problem sitting down now negotiating a new central park Central Park. Just. Like. Every one of them wants to set up literature. Right. In addition to that. Any number of organizations would like to do it even when there are no. So this is a policy. For. The situation. Right which is hard which is not just this time is OK how is it is done right to protect. The park by eliminating all of these things. Hi. How are we not

permitting on limited sale. Of. Items which are commodities. Here is mine. OK. So basketry I told her that removing all these things we have T-shirts with that is we came here because we have these items. It's possible that you can sit down now and renegotiate. Because OK you want teddy bears out I can eliminate. We came here because besides as an organizer. This was discussed with about 20 minutes ago and. She. Said no I haven't he thought it should be a like. At least I think you should give us at least one hand off by talking with the organizer of the third time the way we were discussing because the discussions of negotiation of a solution could never come just between us because there is a missing link which is disorganized. You know if we're going to sit down. You. Know. What we

do. I said that woman with the green shirt with a. But I think we should talk and three has a great body. Never. Let me. See. Your. Face. And. That's. Why. It's. So. Close. I don't. Know. What. Happens the time. The question is are these T-shirts. These are from. What's happened pressure on some who knows what kind of distance as we are concerned. Other. Literature here. These people should be absolutely allowed to say this is outrageous that this has happened. This is

confiscating is a surprise. This is happening. In America. I don't expect that to happen. It happens when they decide what laws are going to be enforced. Laws are going to be passed with the mayor. How does one get hold of. The right. One. I think there's all kinds of evidence. I mean it's mostly people know that other people here are really incensed about really incensed about this. T. T. T. T.

Oh hang on. Oh nothing. D. D.

D. D. D. N. D. I. Don't. Mean. To

be. See. Me. It's.

Not of this can be done if we don't have the money to do it. The city gives us some crazy out there we got to build a 57 Street West Side and so. And so we're going to talk to each one of the buildings. Pat. Has talked a great many people kind of come back at you because. It's going to be time for us to. Start collecting those and not. Good. Because. He's in the process of doing right now. I wanted. One I want to have your hands by September. What we talked about is having a plan so that you'll see what's going to happen all the way up on the east side all the way on the west side. On the south. Possibly how much it's going to cost us and what we need from the private sector for the buildings along the perimeter. To get it accomplished because that's the important for starters. A lot has been done but a. Lot more has to be done. And I know your people have questions. Pat and I both. Be happy to come and talk to the board if you need it. If you can't do it.

That's fine. But we're we're here. We're available. We just wanted to put faces and Pat if you have anything else to say. Well one thing I think is important is that so many of the people I've spoken to. Had no idea. What the perimeter Association did and they all felt that from the wall out was the city. And that it had nothing to do with Central Park. And what I think is important for all of you to stress to your building is that. It is what your building looks out at on the park. It is the curved sidewalks the wall the benches and all the perimeter trees and planting and shrubs which have to be trimmed and sprayed and so it's much more of them. Than they realize. I think also all the entrances. We say it's a frame to a beautiful picture. And the picture. Most many pictures really need a frame to make it as beautiful as it should be. And the perimeter is just a beautiful frame of this APS-C glorious picture that we're so lucky to have. In this wonderful city of ours. And I see it every. Day

every day especially when I come here. For you. But please tell them all things you know from the tree to that wall. And it's a very important part of the park. And one that they probably look at. More than. Anything else is the perimeter of. Our buildings. On the park so we hope you will spread the word here board to all the members of your. Building. And any other building or any one know another building has. Any ideas or suggestions were available to go see at your board meetings to learn. Whatever we can do. I feel. We should. Go a little beyond where we are now. And. What do you think of each building hosting either a luncheon are a cocktail reception for. A group of us so we can explain and show this short film do you think that would be advantageous. Because we really want to get everything to perfection. And. The one

question we had earlier were the park benches and I think that the way to get everyone. Interested in keeping it perfect and we've learned it from with inside the park is to keep it pristine because people have respect for it. And people didn't believe that originally. But you don't see a lot of people laundering you don't see a lot of people with the graffiti now because they're keeping it perfect. And I think if we get our sidewalks really spruced up really beautiful. We're going to find that people are proud of games. And. What is life about if it's not being to fight for who you are or what you're doing and. What's happening to your city because and I think that they're proving that in the local schools by taking these. Programs in local schools it's making the children excited about. Keeping things nice and perhaps beach fielding could give a reception for us or have a block captain and have. A. Reception for us so that we can explain to them and create the enthusiasm that's so important to

keep the city. Excited about itself. And proud of itself. I may be totally wrong. But. To me that's New York and to me that's. What we're all about and the great Americans have been. Interested in helping our fellow man. I know it's the reason I work for charity is to try to make things a little bit better. And. And that's selfish because. I like to see the nice and wonderful. And I hope all of you feel that way. Am I wrong in that. Feeling. Do you think that would be. The way to go about it. I. Suggest. The. Last couple of years is not just assessing the buildings. The thousand dollars the building around the perimeter get to go in and get each apartment in that building and assess them the way they do on Park. That would really instead of getting a thousand dollars it's not really. We have 85. Percent of the revenue we would get if after we get. Our idea was.

Launched Rockefeller when he started this whole program. His idea was the first two years get him interested it was a thousand dollars a bill and. Actually get him interested. Then you can. Go and. Get to meet. And. Get. A big. Apartment. Building. So. That would be unbelievable. The number buildings that bit more than money it's the enthusiasm it's the excitement it's because it's the team spirit. And you know it's our front yard. How many people have a front yard and you don't have to pay for mowing. And I go through the headaches you see in the other room I have some roses and things and the spraying is bad and. The headaches and here we have it all right. There for us because Betsy started it 10 years ago and. It has been miraculous. And I talk to people that like a couple of weeks ago in Europe and they said I can't believe I went to New York the other day and I walked to Central Park. And what's happened there in the last couple of years is absolutely ridiculous. How is that. Coming about.

Well there's a lady Betty Barlow and there's a few of us who were working here. Trying to make it perfect 50 years old. OK. Well. One. Thing. We've. Got to have you got to it. And now I can't imagine ever do without. I cannot imagine I can't either. We thought about moving to get a bigger apartment because you can move a few blocks and get twice the apartment for the same but it's true. When you say open the window that's going to be somebody else over there looking up a whirlpool or something. You know it's just always what you do and all the number of people that are in the park using them for so many leaders joggers bicycles and sail boats. I don't know if you will see what the Lascar.

Now that's Alaska. I mean there's so much that you can get away from. Children's things. Writing for children is organ constantly every day. Specially these past January. Now I got a program about all the fruits of clarionet programs in concerts and it's just an endless feast. Really. What is cross-country skiing this winter it was really like being at a resort and it was just beautiful the first day and. Actually all weekend were just really like being away. It was just like. Something. I think it was better than for mine. You were only minutes away from your. Across the street. So that was. Know. You mentioned you have to.

Work. But you know it's amazing that it has survived in its size and it's almost constant state of condition. All these years with all the pressures of New York and everything but what's amazing is that anyone who can foresight that much space available available when you see them now is real. Well. There are. Lots. Of people are very responsive to your health. Care. So. I don't think we could survive with that especially with. Young children. I think it's really. Essential. This is essential for us. Our building is just it's full of old people whose real name is Joy. And they use it almost every day. They go to the park and they use the benches around them it's almost like therapy is for these people. We walked up to the conservancy Garden today so many people sitting in the benches

under the trees because it was nice and cool. Probably half a million people who don't have air conditioning and don't live and. Have the joy of going to a place like that. So you find this fountain of flowers and trees just look is a very very a beautiful gorgeous farm I. Was. Telling. Betsy when we came in we took my mother to your mother's day and she can't believe that there's a whole lot less. She loves her garden and we took her in there and she was truly astounding. Wonderful beautiful. You don't feel like you're in New York. Still. Maintain. You recently woke up a little bit before you can easily forget that your local bus is trying to run over you two blocks away. Well today we went from a great deal and took the real tour and we went play in most places we couldn't see one building. It was as

though you were in the. Forest of Vermont. But. There's even another son. And my husband and I used to play tennis before the kids were born. To. Play up to the. 96 street and have all these stories around you and still see the city and think it's exciting. Horseback riding horse back riding and tennis. And. You. Just want to know what happens to the money because you get so many requests for money and the city bus. The problem is you can't turn around with somebody's house unless there's a bit of fear even that the conservancy is privately funded that this really is the city and we all know how the city throws money. So this thing about the conservancy. We used the money. So all those things are here. That's why it's so easy to show specifically what's

been done. Because. If if if people have the impression that the city is somehow involved they. Might think well see who knows what's going to happen. That's right. Come on. Excuse me my husband. OK. So he's picking your husband so it's nice to be nice to meet you and you'll let us know because we were ready. I'd like to talk to the board board and they say the website should be thirsty. Historic sites that we're talking Great South so pork Okay Okay bye bye. Thanks Tony. It's great. To. Hear.

From. You. It. Is. A. Bad word to many people in front of this story and it's no wonder don't you. It's certainly worth waiting on. Ladies and gentlemen to start. The mayor of the city. Came up where we're doing the project because for me this is number one. This is the best race that we have all year round. I'm not saying that to make you feel good. It's just the way it looks the size of it being in Central Park. So

God bless you. I'm glad to be with you. I'm. Doing. Pretty. Good. Get. On your. Mark. I got to get out of here. I've never been. A. Designer.

I. Want you to see here just like. Renditions of a renovation of the house. And incorporating the concept of this beautiful house that we now have which is perfectly side in. This house. The architect that did this. You were exactly what he was doing. He sat in his house so that you can view

the entire Central Park Tennis Court. There was no necessity as the architect from the Parks Department has told us who are moving it up five feet closer to the tennis courts so that you can sit there and have tennis balls bounce off your head. We have to move the house in order to give a new perspective to build a new house in order to say we've done something different. I think that's rather bad planning. I think this house is just perfect just the way it is. And the architect of 60 years ago knew how to save this house. Football going to demolish tons of. Hollywood one clear and convincing voters to some of the central question and wonder why is it necessary to tear down the turn House into those new York Newsday reporters are saying the current Daily News quote I'm not sure. Our role is. In a position outmoded and out of college for Central

Park unquote. Does this convince you. I'm not sold on relic for home alone all the time those blows up protection against the destruction of the house the morning Copperman of the tennis courts don't. Play tennis inside the building. Even if it was constructed for 18 karat gold. And how much of the taxpayers money will have to be spun for a new building. How does a responsible public official responded to this essential question come can this board in good conscience so that the new tallest building is in the public interest. Both are tennis players. What. If nothing was done. To the general public especially to return. To. A perfectly sound attractive

structure whose picture can be viewed from here. Thank you for your consideration. What other speakers have said don't take your remit is that you just say I agree with the last speaker it would be helpful to the board. I don't think it's right to use private and public funds for unnecessary projects. I sincerely hope that you agree with me and with a vast majority of tennis players who use the facility. Please say no to this wasteful proposal. Our very own citizens how many glaring valid needs for assistance. We cry out for the homeless may cause calls for them. We tennis players do not need a new tennis house when their present facility is adequately filling the needs of the playing public. Just got to add one more thing and that is that I personally am a product of public education. Public recreation and park programs and I

have a terrible feeling deep inside of me that tennis in the park is going to be referred to an elite situation. Tennis has always been. We'd like to see the house remain as it is. We like to see programs to teach tennis to kids in the city. I also in the city. Keep it up. Like I say don't. Make it only play tennis in this country needs to be a public place. Our country needs it all. School stadiums are fine. But if you're really going to repeat the same arguments we've heard more come on let let's let's just say it because we have a long agenda tonight. Maria Marion or Marion Sheneman you want to speak now. Marry I just want to explain I express my feelings about the tennis house. I've been here

living in this community for approximately 32 years. I am an activist not only in tennis. Somehow some of the people here that we've been speaking to give the impression that all we do is play tennis. I been in the peace movement. I'm an activist and political clubs I belong to the club my political club for as long a time and longer in this community I've been a worker and a nice person so tennis has been my one activity and it's been very important to me in the park is important to me and the clock for people is important to me. So I ask you all to have consideration and understand that this is not something separate from the gentrification of the rest of the city. It has to do with the gentrification of the whole the park is a part of our. City and here we do have a chance to say something and you do have a chance to say something because Albar president expressed the desire to get

your feelings expressed here and he will accept those feelings. So be aware of that. When I left the tennis courts this morning. A group of student time happened to be back but the students knew I play tennis and the class came to the park to take advantage. Of. A clinic that was offered for the child. It was a sight. To see a few citizens and two tennis players taking advantage of course. Which should be maintained. But. No need for a fancy club perhaps. I am going to repeat that crispier is common. Cause very well. Oh before. The courts very well made all the points necessary.

No need for a new club perhaps. However they did not stress enough for making. The calls. That's what we do up. One. Other point. I would like. To. Add. And began tennis courts etc.. This isn't the way things are. What. I. Suggested was made up feasibility study. As to whether. The rest of the nation would. Be all right. That right or. Wrong. I hate to take issue with Commissioner Stern when he said that this bill in today's news day. He said that the tennis house is a relic of the Walker

administration. Inefficient outmoded and out of character for Central Park. Well if it is you fix it. You don't tear it down. I cannot understand why or why. I can understand the problem with the new tenants who was booed before and I tried to understand those who are against it was that the site was in the wrong place. Now the site has been changed to where everyone seemed to want it and I can understand members of the board why their objections to have an attractive plus and tennis hell. So why do we have to have this ugly block blockhouse cement block house that was done by Jimmy Walker that has no redeeming value of any kind. And if you don't believe it just come on over and see it it's just an awful awful place. So I also would like to see the courts kept well and so on. I am concerned about their being shut down but I can understand why we're opposed to have a new tennis court a tennis puzzle.

I tried to explain briefly and I don't. Want you. I'm sure you've heard a lot about this from a lot of people. Why we think the new building is an enormous improvement over the old building and I think the drawing has shown. That point very clearly. We want a terrace house for the future. We want a tennis house that's accessible. We want a tennis house with equal opportunities for the sexes. We want a tennis house where people can intervened and we didn't open and you know an area in ample areas instead of being relegated to the locker rooms to do that with the porch and we want something that will be an adornment and a thing of beauty Central Park rather than a relic of the 1930s the early 1930s which is it is neither homestead nor Moses. It is a period which is not noted for any distinction in park design and certainly this building although I'm sure it served its purpose is at the time and provided many happy hours for many people

and deserves honorable internment. The new replacement will provide even more joy for more people for a longer period of time. And I predict that if it is built and I very much hope it's filled and I urge this board to approve it. But even the people who are opposed to it will come to use it and enjoy it. And in years to come will Legion be reconciled to this enormous improvement for the park. What. Amount of public funds do you anticipate. Will be put into the budget to supplement the private funds. What proportion of what some specifically. No one can be certain of the exact cost of any. Public improvement. Until bids are offered to bid to receive. And then you were in with a fairly close parameter. I would anticipate roughly a. 50/50 sharing. Of course between the private sector. And.

The government. No matter what the cost is. Always the insurgency. Most recently. That there is one point five million dollars in private funds. There was a private Gere's which was projected for these two million dollars. That is an enormous amount of money to go into a public facility. If it turns out to cost more I'm sure there will be an undertaking to raise more. It depends. For example one additional cost when the one turns out to be the cause of the additional cause. But can I promise. First that such excesses be met by private funds and not by public money. No I can't and I wouldn't be here if I did unless it the money that I was undertaking to spend. OK. Well we think the new building nestled into the slope as it is is much more congenial to the old building which just stands up straight and

stark and out of the environment. And it was designed with respect to it to be used to say something that has not yet been saying this to me it was as something. Was. Being suggested as repetition is really. Day we see a lot of negative talking rather than positive. The place is horrible. It's a junction inside surface of course are beautiful you have 31 hard to tell test. What. They are 36 they are. Always to for. Private facilities. This. Is. Right here in Central Park. This. House. Is atrocious. Just like things like dungeons. I would take a shower

there might be afraid I it. Just. All. The rain. Has been pushed back 15 so it's going to fall pretty nice. Nobody does that when the other sides spoke. And let's be polite and let's be fair. The building has been used in use. Well. God bless it. Something else sauf now. Wants. To take that place. Thank you so much. It's not going to take away anything from anybody else. You have got to tell. What's out there. Why shouldn't we here in New York City when we play. The plate kind of. Yourself. With. Such a good time. On.

Average you're. Going to be if they can not use it. There are many many diamonds that play baseball and softball the leader leaves baseball and so long timers all show that are very pretty bad conditions there. That money should be allocated for those documents in case if they don't use it in the. I.

Mean. In. The. Can.

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One. These. Kids that was good. Well. What's. Funny is after you say no I'm really. Pleased to. Hear more like it's high production of. Ways that they'll put. To. You earlier so that when they get up and go. Still see. The. Little girls going away. Why. Do. You. Think that the girls can stretch out their eggs will.

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