From DNA Info:Borough President Helen Marshall is pushing to replace a controversial statue on Queens Boulevard with a public plaza to honor New York City women.
The Triumph of Civic Virtue statue, which depicts Hercules with the sirens of Vice and Corruption, has been standing in Kew Gardens since 1941, after Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia moved it from City Hall Park. Known as “Fat Boy” or “Rough Boy,” the monument, fashioned by Frederick MacMonnies in 1919, has been denounced by some as sexist and in recent years fell into disrepair.
And now that the artwork is moving to Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, Marshall says the space should be used to honor the city's women.
The statue should be replaced, she said, by “a public space that will honor outstanding women that have contributed in one way or another to the city of New York.”
The names of women may be inscribed on the base of the statue, which could remain along with a fountain in the proposed memorial, Marshall said. The redesigned space would also feature seating and landscaping.
Marshall's vision of the public plaza is in the early stages, however. Her chief of staff, Alexandra Rosa, said the borough president has discussed the idea with the Parks Department, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the Mayor's office.
It was too early to put a price tag on the plaza, Rosa said. Still, the mayor's office was "receptive" to the idea, she said.
I picture a Mount Rushmore-style monument featuring likenesses of Marshall, Stavisky, Shulman and Meng...
Here's info about a rally today at Borough Hall:
Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr. will join Community Board 9 Chair Andrea Crawford, District Manager Mary Ann Carey and residents of Queens at a rally protesting the City Design Commission’s recent ruling to permanently relocate the Triumph of Civic Virtue statue to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn from Queens Borough Hall. The cemetery has stated that the statue may be moved in the next week!
The Design Commission ruled on November 13th to move the statue without input from the public, despite most Queens residents wanting the sculpture to remain in the borough. Community Board 9, which has always supported keeping Civic Virtue in Queens, is also greatly disappointed by the decision and the lack of consultation with residents and community leaders.
WHAT: Triumph of Civic Virtue Rally
WHEN: Saturday, December 8th, 11:30 AM
WHERE: In front of statue, next to Queens Borough Hall (120-55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens)
10 comments:
Bye bye baby Helen.
Hello Tony.
It's nice to see you go. (Not soon enough)
The hurricane posed a record amount of devastation, and the cemetery in addition to the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the NYC Design Commission, and some "public servants" are working collaboratively to cart away a famed public work of art from Queens, while ignoring the citizens who pay their fair share of taxes. It shows NYC citizens where the priorities of some organizations, some city agencies, and some elected officials actually are. Where is our civic virtue these days??
A women only tribute? Who said sexist??
Helen please go away. You wasted our time and money and you did absolutely nothing to better Queens County during your reign of terror .
Peter Vallone is for preservation?
Wow, now that is news.
No one pol is responsible for more tear downs of historic buildings in his district than Junior Vallone.
Of course if its a swimming pool or a cemetery (in other words something that cannot be built upon) he will reluctantly agree to preserving it - adds meaningless numbers to the borough's pathetic total.
But when we see him declare his love of history on the steps of the Steinway Mansion (something that he has come out publicly should be a club or cartering hall) don't believe this.
The really pathetic thing about this is that a man with the kind of record is actually taken seriously by those who undoubtedly know what he is about.
Says all that we need to know about preservation in Queens - and why the stature got to this point - and why it should be sent to a place with people who know how to take care of it and appreciate it.
Queens doesn't deserve this statue.
The city CANNOT give away this statue permanently: It is only on long term loan:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/artcom/downloads/pdf/11-13-12_public_agenda_corrected.pdf
The Design Commission cannot make loans of indefinite term. The maximum is 3 years, so there is a chance to get the statue back once the ogre Marshall retires from screwing the borough.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/charter/downloads/pdf/citycharter2009.pdf
(page 215, para. g)
(
"Smile, Helen, smile."
I can't wait to celebrate dim wit Helen's departure!
Peter Vallone is only for preserving his own dynastic privileges. He's a power hungry SOB!
La famiglia di Vallone has been living the good life while screwing Astoria for decades!
Is it just me, or does Helen look like the homeless guy that the cop gave free boots to?
Hey, you think they like the idea of civic virtue?
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