The Police and 475 Kent Ave. Williamsburg, NY

From James Wagner

www.jameswagner.com

January 27,2008 

“Whatever the bureaucratic, commercial or political story which lies behind the human tragedy of New York City’s dreadful and totally irresponsible eviction of over 200 men, women, children and their pets from their homes in the darkness nine days ago on one of the coldest nights of the year, if this doesn’t radicalize New Yorkers, we deserve whatever we get.”

“But there is no acceptable outcome to this particular tale other than the quick return of these people and a proper accounting of the official malfeasance which resulted in their removal in the first place.”

**Over 150 residents of 475 Kent Avenue in South Williamsburg were evicted from their homes and studios on one of the coldest nights of January. According to FDNY and the Building Department there were numerous fire code violations including grain storage silos in the basement. Well we at QWB have to say, Remove the grain Silos, fix the code violations and let the people return to their homes and art studios. Take a look at James Wagner’s site and on it you are able to see photos, and read more about the plight of these artists. Just click on the archives for January 26, 2008 and then click on 475 Kent: the insanity of N.Y. housing policy.

We only have to look into our own art history here in Hartford to recall how this city, the developers, and landlords have chased artists from their working and living spaces all over downtown and how our art galleries have suffered the same. Now they have all the artists lumped in one building near the railroad station with rents that are going sky high so pretty soon the only people who will be able to live there will be people who want to live like artists in artists lofts. (thats a real estate term now, like raised ranch). I often wonder where the artist who lives and works in NYC and surrounding boroughs are going next? What a game they play with us.

*This was reposted after a hacker got into our site.