Sunday, July 15, 2007

Subway Musicians

And so I find myself blah blogging about this same topic again. Are my blog topics repeating themselves? The harassment of New York City subway musicians, with or without a permit. And so I heard the same story happened again yesterday and may happen again and again with no end in sight. Again, is the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority becoming the New York City Metropolitan Terrorizer Association? My friends are members of the Music Under New York program. Their music rocks and will get you grooving. Their band plays their music, horns, drums, bucket drummers and shakers at the Times Square 42nd Street subway station weekly and just about every other time they show up to play, they are harassed, threatened, shut down and yesterday, physically ejected from the subway station by New York City transit cops, police policies and polizei. It's almost as if they are on the New York City subway most wanted list for that subway station, for yesterdays reason of the day was "Terror alert" and it seems as if civil liberties are disappearing at the speed of light in the name of security, terrorism and now the latest trend, "Plots". Again, what can one do in this situation except complain. I believe subway musicians are harassed daily more or less in the New York City subway system for noise volume, traffic congestion and various other reasons. Is there a support group for the trauma drama of subway musicians, a subway musicians union? As MUNY itself provides no support for this purpose. And so I did yet another goggle search. There is a really great resource website, City Lore that offers information about the rights of subway musicians (if you really have any), your rights and responsibilities, court decisions in your favor,(which by the way, should courts be boycotted?), that's a whole another blog post, the transit police, transit police fact check, subway station managers, legal assistance, performing on the streets and in the parks, our views, what do you think?, confrontation sheets and other sources. Since when is art a crime and what does this have to do with a No Police State? Have a great day.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm glad I don't live in the City of New York because I would have to call you to post my bail. And I'm sure that if it's happening in NYC then it's happening elsewhere. Bah! If you would like I can call Micheal Bloomberg and tell him to get off his bfa and end the harassment - whatever happened to of the people, by the people, and for the people. I have to stop ranting - I feel an embolism coming on. Peace.

Anonymous said...

Music Under New York is what makes taking the subway system more interesting.

It is a shame they cannot practice their art in peace while entertaining the many NYers and tourist that enjoy it so.

It is unfortunate but I get harassed just for being me. And I don't play an instrument.