The above video is from July 19, 2012. There was also a press conference February 25, 2011 calling for the removal of the statue and a subsequent March 11, 2011 NY Times article about Greenwood's interest in it.
If elected officials were really serious about keeping Civic Virtue in Queens, they wouldn't have waited until December 8, 2012 - nearly 2 years after this nonsense started - to have a press conference/rally, after it was announced that it was a done deal that it was being moved to Brooklyn. The fact that the Johnny-come-lately rally was led by Council Members Peter Vallone, Jr. and Liz Crowley is actually quite comical in light of their anti-preservation records.
The deliberate and uneducated actions of certain Queens elected officials (specifically Marshall, Ferreras and Weiner) and the deliberate inaction of all other Queens elected officials is what exiled Civic Virtue to Brooklyn. Ponder the symbolism for a moment.
The way preservation works in Queens is that electeds allow whatever is going to happen get to the point of no return and then they hold meaningless last-minute rallies to try to save face as the ship sinks. Pathetic preservation suckers fall for the charade every time, too.
The more I think about it, the more I believe Civic Virtue belongs in Brooklyn, which still has a few burning embers of civic virtue, and at Greenwood Cemetery where it will be restored and properly cared for. Getting anything fixed or preserved in Queens has unfortunately become a really unfunny joke, with the joke being on us.
30 comments:
And what sayeth the 4th estate? The editorialists? I'm waiting with bated breath.
If Civic Virtue, the statue and the ideal, gets carted off, get your cameras and immortalize this schlepp as it crosses from Queens to Brooklyn. Those images will be iconic.
...and just how does any considered relocation transpire? It gets put into a taxicab for the journey? Hauled off in a mule cart? Who pays for this? How much does it cost? Work done at 2AM when we are all asleep? I assume a crane will be needed at the Queens site and the Brooklyn one. Bids went out for the work? Or maybe it gets stored with the St. Saviour's wood components?
Who - WHO - is in charge here?
Leaving soon - throwing in the towel. Why don't they yank up everything else and move it out. Sell Flushing Meadows Park annex the Rockaways etc.
Don't ya love Queens politics?
Why not put it in the front yard of the Steinway Mansion? Rebuild St. Saviour's there as well.
I love Queens. Proud to tell people I live there.
WTF was that grey matter-challenged hack Dizzy Lizzy Crowley doing there?
I've heard that Vallone's record on preservation is spotty, but I will give credit where credit is due on this particular issue for his willingness to speak out, and increase public awareness long before the move was a "fait accompli." Those cameras would not have been there if he had not issued the press release.
Crowley however, has some nerve to keep silent (as she was told?) on this issue, after she was already contacted about it many weeks ago, only to come out and mooch off of the press coverage once the statue had already fallen victim to the furtive bureaucracy. She even told Vallone at the rally not to let me hold up my sign, "Only to the eyes of the corrupt is CIvic Virtue intolerable" lest it be taken to offend any of Them In Charge who rammed this through the Design Commission under the radar. The people of Queens are not stupid, Crowley!
-Jon Torodash
P.S. This hoodwink has inspired me to run against Koslowitz, who let this happen right under her office window, on an independent ticket come 2013. Stay tuned...
Greenwood is paying for the move and maintenance after it is repaired. The City is on the hook for only the fabricated armature to prepare it for the move and the one time cost to repair it.
Dizzy Lizzy said not to hold up your sign? Did you listen to her?
Myth
I've heard that Vallone's record on preservation is spotty ...
REALITY
ITS NON EXISTENT
Myth
... but I will give credit where credit is due on this particular issue for his willingness to speak out
REALITY
HE IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE - THIS IS A PANDERING EXERCISE TO CONFUSE THE ADDLED SENIORS AND THOSE ELEMENTS OF THE 'ARTS' COMMUNITY IN QUEENS THAT EXCEL IN POLITICAL PLATITUDES AND GOOD PHOTO OPS BUT ARE SO-SO AS ARTISTS.
Myth
... and increase public awareness long before the move was a "fait accompli."
REALITY
IN HIS COMMUNITY THERE IS NOT SO MUCH PUBLIC AWARENESS AS PUBLIC APATHY OF LUMPENPROLETARIAT PEASANTS.
Myth
Those cameras would not have been there if he had not issued the press release.
REALITY
ONE OUT OF FOUR IS NOT BAD.
IN QUEENS 'TRUTH' AND 'REALITY' ARE FUNCTIONS OF A POLITICIAN'S SOMEWHAT LIMITED SOPHISTICATION AND WORLD VIEW.
"Dizzy Lizzy said not to hold up you sign. Did you listen to her?"
Actually Vallone told him not to hold up his sign at the point that Torodash started to loudly enunciate that he was considering running for Council. Vallone told him that that - Torodash's future political plans - was not what the press conference was about. Vallone kept the rally "on message".
"Who - WHO - is in charge here?"
We want names. The name of the Queens official who will sign the paperwork. The name of the police official who will keep public order at the statue's dismantling. The name of the dispatcher of the trucking outfit. The name of the gatekeeper at Green-Wood.
Names, names. We want names.
The Crowleys -- Dumber Than Dirt. Liz Crowley can barely put a sentence together. I'm sure she has to be reminded that she lives in Queens. Joe doesn't even live in the state that he represents. He phones it in and is available if there is a photo op. Yet, both Crowleys still get elected. You get the government you deserve. That's why Queens has turned into the third world, with real estate being sold off to the highest bidder.
But the sign was on message.
Civic virtue left Queens decades ago!
The editorialists were busy writing against the soccer stadium. Maybe next week.
Most of the Queens "Civics " are in the control of former NYC public union members. One does not expect "VIRTUE" from that background.
Most of the Queens "Civics " are in the control of former NYC public union members. One does not expect "VIRTUE" from that background.
--
If you're talking about civic associations in Queens, that's one of the nuttiest things I've ever heard.
Civic and homeowner associations in Queens are run by people from every walk of life - teachers, lawyers, doctors, police officers, senior citizens, restaurant owners. The list goes on.
Neighborhood organizations are made up of the people who live there, whatever job they may have.
Unfortunately, a goodly number of our borough's politicians are little more than liars, when it comes to really caring about historic preservation in Queens.
However, they do care plenty about getting re-elected--and that's why they're all here grabbing photo ops in front of "Civic Virtue"--at the 11th hour.
After about 30 years of involvement with the historic RKO Keith's Flushing Theater, I could tell you plenty about a few of our elected officials, and their lousy track record of protecting Queens' historical treasures!
I have also served 2 consecutive terms as a trustee of the Queens Historical Society as well as a board member of the Fort Totten Conservancy, etc. etc. etc.
Let's hold up on listing my other appointments and volunteer work.
I've only brought the subject up, to let you readers know full well, that I speak from experience.
There are 2 main reasons Queens keeps on losing its history:
#1.
Most of its historical societies are afraid to speak up for fear of losing their funding.
#2.
It's elected officials get big campaign donations from developers.
For example:
Peter Vallone Junior--why aren't you spearheading a drive to push NYC to acquire the Steinway Mansion?
It's one of our most important architectural treasures and the asking price is cheap enough.
Elizabeth Crowley--we already know how well you "stood up" for the creation of a St. Saviour's Park in Maspeth. You sold out the community! it's a matter of record.
Yet I must admit that it's amusing to see all of the usual suspects going through the motions of caring about "Civic Virtue". How easily these Crocodiles shed their tears of concern.
When can we expect some real action, after you all are finished posing for the cameras?
Or will it be all talk and no walk?
Photo Op. Photo Op. Photo Op - No more, no less.
If you have such keen eyes, then get your story fully straight: it was Crowley who motioned to Vallone not to let me hold up the sign, and Vallone who then consented. Since numerous members of the press had already asked me why and what motivated me to get involved and star the website, I made mention that I planned to run against Koslowitz, as a big part of that motivation was Koslowitz and the other Queens council members' deaf ear to the issue.
Out of respect for Vallone's efforts in rallying the press, and my intense interest in this issue, I agreed that then was not the time to say anything further on the matter. And that's how it went down.
Or, you can believe some poster who won't leave his/her name.
BTW,
where's our borough historian, Dr. Jack Eichenbaum?
Does he have an opinion on the matter?
Shades of Sunset Boulevard!
Can that be Gloria Swanson in the Leopard fur?
"I'm ready for my close up now, Mr. De Mille".
LOL!
More VALLONEY BALONEY!
Nothing more...nothing less!
Don Pietro Junior,
wants to be our next borough president!
Then all the "wise guy" developers can build to their hearts' content with the blessings of Don Ciccio!
"Eichenbaum"
The translation from the German: "Eichen" = "Oak"... "Baum" = "Tree"
"Eichenbaum" . . . Solid as an oak tree.
Really?
(I'm pretty sure that it will be pointed out on many future "tours" that "this WAS the site of Civic Virtue".)
Civic and homeowner associations in Queens are run by people from every walk of life - teachers, lawyers, doctors, police officers, senior citizens, restaurant owners. The list goes on.
WOW SOUNDS LIKE A CAPRA FILM. THE REALITY IS THAT THEY TOE THE LINE AND PROVIDE THE POLS PHOTO OPS OR THEY GET IGNORED BY THE POLS AND THEN BY THE PRESS.
STAMPS FOR MAILING, OFFICIATING AT SWEARING IN, YOU NAME IT, THEY ARE A DEPENDENCY OF THE MACHINE. IF THEY ACT UP TOO MUCH THEY GET CUT AND IGNORED.
Neighborhood organizations are made up of the people who live there, whatever job they may have.
YEA, LIKE THE COMMUNITY BOARDS.
i challenge someone to research and print the names and former and present employment of the civic assoc. and C.P.B., members.
wouldn't that be SPECIAL ?
I challenge someone to research and print the names and former and present employment of the civic assoc. and C.P.B., members.
wouldn't that be SPECIAL ?
Gramps - do you have a brain tumor or sumthin? Seriously, this is getting weird.
Gramps has been swimming in the Newtown Creek for too long.
That should explain things.
Dizzy Lizzy Crowley = waste of space
Can't wait to dump this bimbo once and for all.
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