Patti Smith performs at rally to preserve the Elizabeth Street Garden in New York
Patti Smith performed at a rally in New York this week as part of a call to action against one of its parks being demolished to make space for residential housing.
The city previously announced its plan to transform Elizabeth Street Garden into an “urban oasis” of affordable housing, which was met with significant backlash from influential figures and members of the local community.
As part of this response to pushback, a rally was held earlier in the week, at which Smith performed a rendition of ‘Peaceable Kingdom’ in support of preserving the garden. A song about peace and retribution during hard times, Smith sang the heartfelt track surrounded by captivated onlookers to honour the garden’s importance.
Last year, Smith also wrote an open letter to the Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, recalling the countless times she has performed in the garden to people of all ages. Continuing, she described it as “an oasis of greenspace” and “a work of art” with the current strive to save it a reflection of its “evolving character”.
The city plans to build affordable housing in its place for low-income and LGBTQ+ senior citizens in an effort to address the city’s growing poverty. However, while Smith acknowledges their good intentions, she also argued, “Affordable housing and greenspaces are both essential assets and should not be pinned against each other.”
Other supporters of preserving the space include Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese, who also wrote to Adams expressing the significance of doing so and why he should reconsider. In Scorsese’s letter, he recalled growing up in Little Italy when it was “a concrete jungle” with “no shade, no greenery, no respite”.
De Niro emphasised that while he supports the availability of affordable housing, he drew attention to “community leaders” who have “identified alternate locations for development” and reiterated he is “passionate about preserving the character of our neighbourhoods”.
Despite the letters, ongoing debate, and subsequent rally, the plans seem to be going ahead, with a spokesperson last year stating that the “fight” proves in their favour, as it “highlights how difficult it can be to build affordable housing, especially in neighborhoods that offer strong economic opportunities.”
Until this happens, however, community members and star figures will remain poised and vigilant and fight to keep the space untouched.
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