Artists on the streets is a work in progress
The artists on the streets idea is being put on hold until money can be found to fundthe project.
It's a shame because it seemed like such an easy thing to do, but I guess nothing is so easy anymore.
At yesterday's Merchant's Meeting, board member, Felice Dubin, asked City Manager Pete Hernandez, who was present, if he could come up with some city funding. He promised to look into it. That's Mr. Hernandez above right with board members, at left, Steve Licata and Felice Dubin. Commissioner Marc Sarnoff was also present.
It's nice to see that Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Sarnoff show up at the Merchants Meetings, while many of the merchants don't even show up. Also present were many county officials, police officers, Haydee from the NET office and others, who didn't have to be there, but were, on a cold 35 degree morning.
posted by Tom Falco at 1:30 PM
YOU MAY NOT LIFT THE PHOTOS & TEXT. IT'S COPYRIGHTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU CAN HOWEVER SHARE A STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY USING THE LINKS HERE.
For linking to this one story, just click on the time it was posted & just this story will open for sharing - only through social media. Not copying and pasting.
32 Comments:
Call me naive, but what money? The artists come, they bring their chair and easel and paints, they do their thing, they leave. You have them sign a waiver that says they won't sue the City if anything happens, and voila, artists in the streets. Let them keep the money from the work they sell and provide activity and ambiance to our streets. Someone already paid by the City could do the scheduling of the locations. What else is there?
Agreed, funding for artists on the street is one of the 5 dumbest things I've ever read in my life. Here's the cheap way to handle it - tell the cops not to arrest or harrass people selling art on the streets. voila.
I must be a damn genius.
Vote that guy for mayor!!!
And even if "Artists on the Street" costs a couple pennies, police suveillance, I guess?!?,, don't you think the Grove pays more than enough taxes to pay for that and much more? Like fixing 27th Ave, Tiger Tail, and the entire Grove, parks, flowers all over, and then some?
A pretty realistic estimation over the past few years is that 11 Million dollars in Taxes from Grove residents never make it back to the Grove and are spent or mysteriously lost elsewhere in Miami.
And now we can't even afford to have Artists in our wealthy Streets.. amazing.
...but we can afford to build Commissioner Sarnoff his own personal traffic circle and dog park! God Bless the Grove!
I dont get why funding is necessary either. We really need to pay to have people sit on the sidewalk and paint? If so, I'll pass on that idea. Art is cool but not that cool.
I don't think the deal is for the artists to get paid to sit on the sidewalks around the Grove and paint. I think the real deal is for the artists to pay to be able to sit on the sidewalk and paint and sell their work, and then the City makes money from selling licenses to the artists to allow them this privilege...hence the funding issue for the startup costs of getting money from the artists? Miami Beach makes money off the artists by selling them licenses to be on Lincoln Road Mall.
It would be pretty bad if Haydee from the Net office didn't show up - after all that is her office. It is really sad when the merchants don't show up and then complain.
Folks, artist do not need the permission of anyone to be on sidewalks or parks or any other public place to sell their art.
Type this site into your search engines: www.metnews.com/articles/2007/white083007.htm and you will clearly read a federal court decision that allows artist throughout the United States to sell their art on sidewalks and in parks and all other public places. Who or what made you think you need permission or funding? Call Jobie Steppe @ 305-447-6526 or cell @ 786-473-5120 and I'll gladly show the way as I am already doing this in the Grove and it legal. Type Jobie Steppe into your search engines to see that the news media has already given me thousands of dollars of free press because I have been doing this for about 18 months now.
What's wrong with you people, what are you afraid of? Lets turn Coconut Grove into an even greater art center than it was during its heyday about 20 years ago!!!!!!
Some people might not agree with Jobie but you have to admire his spirit. He is the only one who is actively fighting the city for what he believes in
Commissioner Sarnoff is also fighting for this city. His office has indicated that it not legal to do what Mr. Steppe is doing. Remember we have rules.
Anonymous said Feb 09 8:42. Yes, and the fact we have rules is 100% my point. Jurisdictions come in this order. Federal, State, County & Cities. Additionally we have the U.S. Constitution. The constitution gives us the most valuable human need and requirement, that of freedom of expression, which has also been ruled upon at the highest level of federal law establishing a precedent that local authorities below it cannot usurp----with all due respect, please tell me what rule(s) are you referring to that takes away the freedom an artist in Coconut Grove to express himself on sidewalks and parks or any other public place? Please as you may know some fact or reality regarding this very specific arena that I do not.
In this instance Mr. Sarnoff is wrong. There is nothing wrong with the fact that Mr. Sarnoff has chosen to align himself with the majority, if not all of the galleries who have noted to me and the news media that my plan would allow for less sales in their stores and more direct sales to the artist on the streets. But, my plan calls for the street artist giving 4% of their net to the galleries for their overhead with 6% going to the State of Florida Department of Revenue. On certain days the galleries would exchange some of their pieces with the street artist and likewise the street artist would place some of their street art in the galleries and then over a period of one year all of us find some happy medium and try to attract people from all over to come and view how we do things differently in the Grove as we prove we can all work together to pay our bills as in a community----I'm referring to the total community and not just the one Mr. Sarnoff aligns himself with.
P.S. The Grape once asked me to tell my story about Code Enforcement and I wrote down the names and dates of those public officials and the Grape removed their names, which I con't care one way or the other, so I'll eliminate the names of those I refer to.
I had a meeting with a supervisor at City of Miami Code Enforcement, sever City of Miami Police officers who work Coconut Grove, an ass't City of Miami Attorney and two well respected constitutional lawyers regarding the federal precedent case that allows artist to ply their trade on sidewalks and public places such as Peacock Park or any other park and they have all agreed with my version. In other words Mr. Sarnoff may have been asked a question, say involving 23 words at some very casual meeting or even some official meeting and his response was a simple knee jerk response predicated upon what he and/or the gallery owners have pumped into his brain along the way
or his knee jerk response could have been predicated upon his wishful thinking of absolute control of some group of people such as one might find in Cuba since about 1960.
Mr. Steppe:
I respect your opinion, however there is NO way in hell that you will get this past Sarnoff. He is a lawyer and he knows the rules and he knows where his voters interests lie.
Good Luck.
Anonymous said 1:02, Respectfully for taking the time to comment---------but, I'm not placing this before Mr. Sarnoff, the attorney or anyone else. I am not entreating anyone or any authority for permission. The authority is already the law. For example I'm alreay doing these kinds of sales and the police are not ticketing me because it is not against the law. I'm only attempting to get past all of this rhetoric to make the point that we artist do not require permission to sale our art on the sidewalk or parks, not only in the Grove, but anywhere in the United States----period. Another slight nuance is President Obama is a constitutional president who taught this, I think at Harvard or Yale. When he appoints to the Supreme Court, if he has the opportuntity, he will probably appoint a jurist who thinks likewise and we'll have a shift back to justices will favor more freedoms, or at the very least return the rights we lost during President Bushs' tenure. Code enforcement physically walked into my home to view my art, i.e., physically entered my home without knocking and then filed 6 code violations against our home just because I placed art in a public place. Regarding this one very specific issue I could care less what Mr. Sarnoff or any other person things when it comes to these Nazi like, communist like people who think we need their permission to express ourselves otherwise experience some degree of fear. Sounds like Fidel and Cuba to me. I'm no brave soul, but I wouldn't give much thought to dying or at least putting up a good fight and put these punks in their place.
Jobie:
Once again I respect your position, but legal or not you will NEVER get this past Commissioner Sarnoff. He just will not allow it to happen. He has power and influence. Look at what he was able to do to Christobal Quarters. He changed their hours of operation thereby contributing to its failure. If taken to court probably against the constitution, but he was still able to do it. I wish you luck in your pursuit.
Respectfully.....
Anonymous, You say, Legal or not "He just will not allow it to happen". But "IT IS" hppening and has been happening just about everyday or when I chose to sell my art pieces. PLEASE respectfully comment on what you think about the fact that I am selling my art in the Grove on public property and not that it has to pass Mr. Sarnoff. My point is this is not going before Mr. Sarnoff or anyone else. And the City of Miami Attorney's Office lost a case in Federal Court just last week regarding the same issues as I make reference to. I'm only wondering why other artist simply do not mimic the law as it is written rather than think Sarnoff or anyone else has to approve of anything at all regarding the selling of art. I'm trying to concentract my points as to why other artist do not avail themselves of this newly enacted law. Is it simply they are not aware or that the system has brainwashed them into thinking they shall be breaking some law that in fact is not there; such as Mr. Sarnoff stating "oh, that's not legal" That's just an opinion, not law. I quote the law and not opinion.
When the puppets and puppeteers' are void of substance, character, content and innovation the show will go on, but without a paying audience.
Mr. Steppe:
Bottom line. People are afraid of Commissioner Sarnoff and what he can do with his power. Look what he did to John and the Christabal Quarter, what he did to Commissioner Spence-Jones, and by backing Commissioner Sanchez what he is doing to Commissioner Regalado. Again people are afraid of him and his power.
Remember:
All ANONYMOUS comments should be taken with a 'grain of salt'. If a person is complaining about a business or service, etc. it could be a competitor if they are ANONYMOUS.
Thanks for confirmation, I did sense that, but I'm use to eyeball to eyeball. This stuff is much more harmful/dangerous that those sharks.
To Jobie...Surely you notice that the anon talking about Sarnoff's power that you should be afraid of must be one or more gallery owner's who are obviously in fear of your desire to see the Grove free again so that artist can come back and experience freedom to express themselves and that alone puts them in fear. And if you didn't get it then that speaks without words the pureness of any art you might produce. Sometimes ignorance is indeed a partial gift of peace of mind; I mean who wants to experience ass holes cowards like this?
Someone advise me how much would this funding amounts to? I would fund up to a certain amount if proof of concept could be established.
Three people called me at home and more or less asked the same question, which was, what is proof of concept? I have complainted endlessly and the Grape has tolerated these negatives, which were artist are free under the law to produce and sell their works on sidewalks and parks and other public property anywhere in the United States. In the Grove artist and others think to do so is against the law and code enforcement regulations. Sarnoff and others who favor galleries and big business, bigger than an artist on the sidewalk perpetuate this fear. Now these big wigs say they don't have funding to place artist on the street and I say it's completely and totally free and requires no permission or permits in advance. So I say I'll finance whatever it is that they have no money/funding for. So, now that we artist and the Grove have the funding I want these people who want to control us artist to produce whatever paperwork they claim proves there is no funding, so I say funding for what? Whatever they say needs funding I'll fund it so show me the paperwork and I'll wager anyone $1,000.00, the powers that be have no such paperwork. Reverse phychology perhaps, but this line of rhetoric by them was smoke and mirrors----otherwise produce the paperwork so I can fund whatever project they were constantly referring to until it came time to produce----and zero!
I like your style and enthusiasm, but maybe bring it down a level. You're gonna make it easy for them to pigeon hole you as a "crazy rabble-rouser." When you are right, there is less need to rant and rave. Instead, you are better served by calmly saying your piece and letting your actions speak.
Also, I love the guy posting about the "power of Sarnoff". likely it's one of his lackies, trying to blow up the myth. He has no supporters, and that is a politician's power. He'll be run out of town and long forgetten in less than 5 years. Burns too many bridges, and accidentally says what he's really thinking on ocassion, which is usually pretty heinous.
Rumor has it that he will not finish his term since Manny probably will be taking him to D.C. with him.
From your mouth to god's ears.
those 2 clowns are never going to Washington! Let's hope Obama is smarter than to appoint either for anything except toilet scrubbing which is what both of them should be doing.
Sarnoff has lied to everyone in the Grove and he will not be re-elected!
Harry Gottlieb for Commissioner or Mayor!!! Bring back the GROVE!
Sarnoff is on the bottom rung of power. The bottom rung is a city commissioner, then the county, then the various states and then the federal jurisdictions and anyone who believes Sarnoff represents power has an insignificant peon brain and social position who pees their pants regularly. Go scare some fish in a tank by hitting the glass.
I second the motion for Harry! Obama doesn't take Manny or Sarnoff, can someone else please carry the burden? Is there anyone else around who needs a community destroyed?
It appears from consensus that Sarnoff is a male, traitor to his official rhetorical position, domiciled in Coconut Grove, Florida without wife who has pissed off his neighbors due to friendship with a developer taking advantage of his immediate neighbors as in turncoat, Judus goat, traitor, little red riding hood, etc----please comment Sarnoff! Specifically about your neighbor and a $200,000.00 lien.
Please, go ahead, respond to this FACT. You're an attorney, come on and get me with your great powers.
Wow! I just stumbled across this site when I was searching for a name for an idea we have here in SLC, Utah.
I must say that it makes me feel proud that I wasn't the first to come up with this idea and that others around the US realize the potential of people who are artistic and happen to live on the streets.
We are running into similar glitches that have been discussed here in this forum.
Unfortunately, Utah law does not allow the homeless to sell thier art unless they have a license to do so. In accordance with this law, we have come up with a business name and are building a website for all the homeless artists in the SLC and surrounding area.
We hope to be up and running soon and have a flourishing business that will show that being homeless does not mean being useless to society.
I am sorry to hear that thier are artists in other states who are having difficulties and hope that you will find your niche in the art world soon. I have faith and know that the artists here will be very successful someday.
Anyone wishing to join us with thier art, can contact me directly and we will be more than happy to add you to our site.
Post a Comment
<< Home