Law Looks to Subsidize Housing for Artists
Governor Spitzer signed a bill yesterday aimed at helping artists pay for housing, a measure meant to shore up the city’s cultural capital. The bill, which was sponsored by Assemblywoman Joan Millman, will give artists two-year grants of up to $12,000 for live-work spaces. “When people want to make it in the arts they come…
Governor Spitzer signed a bill yesterday aimed at helping artists pay for housing, a measure meant to shore up the city’s cultural capital. The bill, which was sponsored by Assemblywoman Joan Millman, will give artists two-year grants of up to $12,000 for live-work spaces. “When people want to make it in the arts they come to New York,” said Millman. “Artists come into communities that are rundown and sleazy and bring a life and vibrancy to that community—they are an economic engine and they shouldn’t be overlooked.” Though funding for the program has yet to be hammered out, it will likely provide grants for between 40 and 50 units, and Dumbo is being eyed as a possible location for the housing. As New York continues to hemorrhage artists to cheaper cities like Philly, you gotta wonder whether a bill like this is too little too late. And does it make sense to import artists back into nabes, like Dumbo, that they had a big hand in gentrifying?
Housing Help Slated for Artists [AM New York]
Photo by Escapefromnewyork
Is someone here suggesting that businesses should not have to be profitable to exist or at least self-sustaining?
I know that there are many examples of businesses that aren’t- like the Federal Government- but someone thinks that is cool?
They’re all bums if they can’t turn their trade into a profit-making business!
True that.
4:09 – try telling that to ex Enron employees.
Also, 11:30, why don’t we just kick everyone off welfare (since they have no income they are worthless, right)?
For that matter, let’s start back charging the Mets, Yankees, Knicks and all the other sports franchises for all those years they’ve gotten sweet deals from the city?
Even the Dodgers should pay for the time they were in Brooklyn!
And all those schools and teachers, garbage workers, postal workers, police and other city workers too!!! All the way up to Bloomberg – does HE need subsidized housing???) They’re all bums if they can’t turn their trade into a profit-making business! They don’t deserve handouts!
Thank God we’re at least doing right by the health care, pharmaceutical and health insurance industry in America! Now there’s an industry that knows how to make a profit!
Besides, they ARE paid. It’s called self employment.
Someone paying your rent is not self employed.
If you can’t make money- it is not a job. It is a hobby.
“I don’t even know anyone who goes to art museums, so why aren’t we redeveloping the Met as a site for light industry?”
For the record MOST people DO NOT go to art museums or plays or to see dance or even to see live music.
11:30 (first post) is a dickhead.
You think any other businesses in an extremely competitive field which don’t immediately turn a profit are only practicing a “hobby”? Try telling all those people who invested in dot coms in 2001 that they were investing in a “hobby” and not a business (well, aaaaactually… ha ha).
And Mother Theresa and Gandhi weren’t paid – was humanitarian aid their “hobby”?
Besides, they ARE paid. It’s called self employment. When you’re not working for a bank or insurance company or other large business, you have to carry all the overhead yourself. Besides, you don’t think the city gives MAJOR financial incentives for other businesses? Tax breaks for banks, developers, sports franchises and so on? Give me a break.
There’s a reason New York attracts so many people (who put their money in all those banks and fuel development and drive the media industry and spend money on the rent in your and my in-home rental unit). There’s a reason why New York is a cultural hub and Hartford, Milwaukee and Detroit are not.
It’s true. If you read programs you always see the names of those nasty multi-million dollar earning CEO’s.