I can't think of anything that would be less of an improvement to Union Square than yet ~another~ restaurant. It's elitist to pretend that a "restaurant is consistent with the park's purpose as a venue for public activities," and Justice Solomon should be ashamed for making such an elitist decision. A restaurant is for paying customers only. Hey NYU students: Please take a stroll over to Union Square and really look around. It's literally surrounded by restaurants. It's unconscionable to steal public space away from NYC residents in order to install a restaurant in an area teeming with them already. The NYU student who said, "It'd be really profitable, so why not," in questioning why it wouldn't be a bad idea to use public space for a private restaurant in Union Square saddens me to no end. Why Not? Because it's wrong to value profits over people, that's why. Public space should be considered sacred, not there for the taking by the hightest bidder. It's meant to be accessible and free for all to enjoy, not just for those priviliged enough to be able to afford an expensive meal. Also, think of the carbon footprint another restaurant is adding to NYC--and in a space meant to be preserved for the people to enjoy. Even sadder is that Union Square park plays an incredible role in the history of the American labor movement, and to this day remains a central space for social and political activism of all kinds. For all those that fought for the rights we all have today, we have a responsibility to fight like hell to make sure that we don't cave in and allow our rights to be trampeled on in the name of "profits." That space could be used for something that could benefit the community greatly, such as an open center for children, or something with cultural value that doesn't require money to enjoy. Let the community decide. Cheers to Mr Croft, and those fighting the good fight!
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Edita
Oct 13, 2009
3:04 p.m.
I can't think of anything that would be less of an improvement to Union Square than yet ~another~ restaurant. It's elitist to pretend that a "restaurant is consistent with the park's purpose as a venue for public activities," and Justice Solomon should be ashamed for making such an elitist decision. A restaurant is for paying customers only.
Hey NYU students: Please take a stroll over to Union Square and really look around. It's literally surrounded by restaurants.
It's unconscionable to steal public space away from NYC residents in order to install a restaurant in an area teeming with them already.
The NYU student who said, "It'd be really profitable, so why not," in questioning why it wouldn't be a bad idea to use public space for a private restaurant in Union Square saddens me to no end.
Why Not? Because it's wrong to value profits over people, that's why.
Public space should be considered sacred, not there for the taking by the hightest bidder. It's meant to be accessible and free for all to enjoy, not just for those priviliged enough to be able to afford an expensive meal. Also, think of the carbon footprint another restaurant is adding to NYC--and in a space meant to be preserved for the people to enjoy.
Even sadder is that Union Square park plays an incredible role in the history of the American labor movement, and to this day remains a central space for social and political activism of all kinds. For all those that fought for the rights we all have today, we have a responsibility to fight like hell to make sure that we don't cave in and allow our rights to be trampeled on in the name of "profits."
That space could be used for something that could benefit the community greatly, such as an open center for children, or something with cultural value that doesn't require money to enjoy. Let the community decide.
Cheers to Mr Croft, and those fighting the good fight!