Bloomberg To Synagogues - Adjust Your Service Times To Accomidate Markowitz Concerts

Mayor Denies "Deal" With Marty Markowitz To Change Law 

"He Should Be Ashamed Of Himself. He's Supposedly Jewish, Too?"

Asser Levy/Seaside Park Seaside Summer Concert Series. On June 30th, a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge  issued a  preliminary injunction requiring the City and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to comply with the 500 foot rule regarding amplified sound. At a press conference today, Mayor Bloomberg responded to a question on the controversial decision to go ahead with Marty Markowitz's concert series despite a lawsuit by two synagogues charging they disturb services.   "Maybe they could adjust their services slightly earlier. We just have to start being a little more tolerant of each other," Bloomberg said. ""The mayor belongs to a very prestigious synagogue called Temple Emanuel in Manhattan, " Al Turk, vice president of Temple Beth Abraham responded,  "Would they change their schedule to accomodate a concert? I doubt it very much."  

When asked to comment on allegations that the Mayor made a deal with Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to change the law in order to circumvent the 500-foot rule, Bloomberg denied it.   "The bottom line is there is no deal, I haven't talked to Marty Markowitz about this, I'm sure staffs talk all the time, our staff , the City Council's, the Borough President's. " But the Mayor requested the bill to exempt Asser Levy Park from the 500 foot rule.  Not surprising considering he has earmarked $10 million dollars to help build Marty Markowitz's $ 64 million dollar,  8,000 seat, tax-payer funded commercial concert arena in Asser Levy Park.  (Photo, July 16, 2009 © By Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates)  Click Photo to Enlarge

BROOKLYN

NEW YORK (CBS) ― 

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There's a battle brewing over the continuation of free concerts in one Brooklyn park.

CBS

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There was anger in Brooklyn on Thursday over Mayor Michael Bloomberg's solution to the community's fight against free concerts at a local park.

The mayor has suggested two synagogues adjust worship services to accommodate the events.

Bloomberg probably thought he was displaying the Wisdom of Solomon. 

"Maybe they could adjust their services slightly earlier. We just have to start being a little more tolerant of each other," Bloomberg said. 

But members of two Brighton Beach synagogues -- Temple Beth Abraham and Sea Breeze Jewish Center – were furious at the suggestion from our Jewish mayor that they deviate from Jewish practice and start evening services before sundown.

 "I'm flabbergasted that a man of such stature, a philanthropist, supposedly a caring man can ask us to take our religion and practically just dish it out. I mean get rid of it," said Sea Breeze president Mendy Sontag. "He should be ashamed of himself. He's supposedly Jewish, too?"

"The mayor belongs to a very prestigious synagogue called Temple Emanuel in Manhattan. Would they change their schedule to accomodate a concert? I doubt it very much," added Al Turk, vice president of Temple Beth Abraham. 

Turk was already upset about plans to turn Asser Levy Park across the street from the synagogue into a big concert space for 8,000 people. 

"What really gets me mad and angry is that the politicians are doing each other favors and violatingNew York City law by doing an end run," Turk said. 

Saying the new concert space will disrupt services and create traffic and noise headaches, the residents sued the city to invoke the 500-foot law: No concerts 500 feet from any house of worship. 

"'Disrespect' is a mild word. I am completely disillusioned with our politicians who can so callously tread upon our beliefs," Turk said. 

Mayor Bloomberg did an end run around thecommunity. They sued, but before the judge ruled the mayor broke the indoor world record for legislative achievement. He got the City Council to introduce a bill and pass it in five days. The bill circumvents the 500-foot rule. 

Asser Levy/Seaside Park In West Brighton Beach In Brooklyn. (Image: WCBS)

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"He Should Be Ashamed Of Himself. He's Supposedly Jewish, Too?"

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Markowitz In End-Run Around Sound Permit Law In Asser Levy Park Concert Fight - Enlists Powerful "Friends"

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has enlisted the help of Mayor Bloomberg, City Council Member Peter Vallone and other Council  members to alter an existing law to allow his Asser Levy/Seaside Park Seaside Summer Concert series to continue.  A lawsuit was filed last week charging that Mr. Markowitz's concerts violate a city law which prohibits amplified sound within 500 feet of  of “a school, courthouse or church, during the hours of school,  court or worship."  Sea Breeze Jewish Center and Congregation Temple Beth Abraham are approximately 300 feet away.  Plaintiffs charge the concerts have been illegally held in Asser Levy/Seaside Park since its inception in 1991. (Asser Levy/Seaside Park Seaside Summer Concert Series -File Photo, July 16, 2009 © By Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click photo to enlarge. 

Brooklyn

At the request of Mayor Bloomberg, the City Council is fast-tracking a bill that will ultimately allow Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz’s longtime Coney Island concert series to go on this summer after all, according to the New York Post.

The bill, sponsored by Councilman Peter Vallone (D-Astoria), would temporarily revise city law so that open-air bandshells, amphitheaters and stadiums could get permits to host concerts within 500 feet of houses of worship and schools.

This comes after two Brooklyn synagogues and their worshipers last week sued Markowitz and the city to stop his summer concerts that have been held at Asser Levy Park since 1991, saying they violates a city law prohibiting amplified sound within 500 feet of religious institutions when services are taking place.

It was part of their plan to halt Markowitz’s planned $64 million amphitheater at the park. Sea Breeze Jewish Center and Temple Beth Abraham are across the street from the existing bandshell at Asser Levy Park, and both say they host services daily.

The new regulations would be in effect for 90 days – so that Markowitz’s concerts aren’t disrupted this summer – with a permanent solution to be ironed out later, officials said.

"The new legislation is clearly designed to avoid complying with the existing law," said Geoffrey Croft of New York City Park Advocates, who has helped fight to save parkland to be lost through the amphitheater project.

 "It's a clear end run around the existing law," said Norman Siegel, the plaintiffs' lawyer, told the New York Daily News.  "It's disappointing that rather than comply, the city is trying to change the law," 

Al Turk, vice president of Temple Beth Abraham, urged the Council to reject the bill, which is scheduled for a hearing Friday and could be voted on as soon as next week.

"What city Councilman could vote for this in good consciense?" said Turk. "It's wrong. How could you have loud music interrupting synagogue services?...This not only affects synagogues, it will affect mosques, churches, libraries, and schools."

Read More:

Bill would allow outdoor concerts near schools,  houses of worship

New York Post - June 24,  2010 - By Rich Calder  

Brooklyn officials fight law that threatens to halt free summer concerts in Asser Levy Park

New York Daily News - June 24th 2010 - By Erin Durkin

Bloomy to the rescue of Marty’s concert series

The Brooklyn Paper - June 25,  2010  - By Joe Maniscalso

Marty sued over amphitheater; now wants to change law

Bay Currents - June 25, 2010 -  By David J. Glenn

Say no to Marty: The bill

Bay Currents - June 25, 2010 -  By David J. Glenn

A 'shonda '

Bay Currents - June 25, 2010 -  By David J. Glenn

Marty Markowitz Sued Over Asser Levy Park Concerts

A Walk In the Park - June 17, 2010 - By Geoffrey Croft 

Clash Over Plans for a Brooklyn Park

Piotr Redlinski for The New York Times

Free summer concerts are offered at the band shell at Seaside Park, also known as Asser Levy Park, on the edge of Coney Island.

The way Marty Markowitz sees it, the rundown nine-acre park where Coney Island and Brighton Beach meet is ripe for a sparkling transformation, according to the New York Times.

Mr. Markowitz, the Brooklyn borough president, envisions Asser Levy Park, also known as Seaside Park, as the gateway to a spruced-up amusement complex evoking Coney Island’s splashy past. An enormous new outdoor amphitheater would have room for 8,000 people and draw top entertainers, he said — maybe even favorites of his like Carole King or Neil Diamond.

“It’ll be absolutely gorgeous,” Mr. Markowitz said, and “a really great attraction for the future of Coney Island.”

City officials hope to have the amphitheater, the largest in a city park, ready for the 2013 outdoor concert season.

But for many neighbors, the project is about as subtle as a spaceship. They say they like Asser Levy Park just as it is — a quiet oasis with a modest band shell — not as a place, they say, that would draw more traffic, disrupt services at two synagogues and, perhaps most critically, diminish their only decent patch of open space.

“His dream is our nightmare,” said Al Turk, president of Temple Beth Abraham, on Sea Breeze Avenue, opposite the park. “They’re destroying a park to turn it over to a concrete amphitheater. This thing is right on top of us.”

Read More:

Clash Over Plans for a Brooklyn Park

New York Times - February 10, 2010 - By Mireya Navarro

New amphitheater could leave neighbors with concrete slab

Bay News January 19, 2010 - By Joe Maniscalco

Remedy for Asser Levy "dustbowl" - concrete

Bay News - January 12, 2010 -  By Joe Maniscalco

Amphitheater critics anticipate hearing

Bay News - January 4, 2010 -  By Joe Maniscalco