What’s new pussycat? Nothing!
To The Editor:
Re “Keeping up with Mr. Jones” (arts article, May 28):
Yes, Mr. Melloan, Tom Jones really does know what is happening! I knew from the start, reading your article, that I wasn’t going to like it, and I was certainly right.
We all have the right to our opinions about people and whatever, but does that include snide remarks and witty (you might think) put-down comments, such as: “Wasn’t really my cup of tea. I have since enjoyed preforming it myself; it’s easy to play” (talking about the recording of “Green, Green Grass of Home”)? And saying “It’s Not Unusual” was “the first of many iconic tunes that epitomize what Jones does best, brassy bombast.” Please!
There was nothing new in the article that hasn’t been published before concerning his private life and his conquest of 250 groupies in a single year. So what!
Given all the awards Mr. Jones has received and his having been knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his contribution to the entertainment arts, it makes me think that all your taste is in your mouth!
Nancy Gardikis
Let’s hope it will be ready
To The Editor:
Re “Stuy Town weighs in on storm-protection plan” (news article, May 28):
This will only take around 20 years to complete. See East River Park promenade history.
Ed Dunn
Park anti-music master plan
To The Editor:
Re “Will Board 2 drum loud music out of Washington Square Park?” (news article, May 28):
This is simply the next step in the Parks Department and the Washington Square Park Conservancy’s efforts to privatize First Amendment rights in Washington Square Park.
Contrary to the various comments in the article, the actual park rules (which no one at Community Board 2 seems to understand) prohibit most of the musical performances that go on there, except for those involving a permit. Parks has been waiting for the chance to begin eliminating performers, while visual artists were completely eliminated in 2010.
The pretense will be that they just want to eliminate “loud” music. You can be sure that when New York University does its next event there, no sound meters will be used, regardless of the volume.
Under the actual park rules, none of the performers who earn a living there are legal.
The performers in Washington Square Park have been operating on borrowed time since 2011, with the Parks Department, C.B. 2 and the conservancy all pretending that the rules still allow performers.
C.B. 2 members should try reading the actual rules, rather than the PDF synopsis that Parks put out to mislead performers and the media.
These are the actual rules: https://www.nycgovparks.org/rules/section-1-05 .
This is the PDF of the synopsis: https://www.nycgovparks.org/pagefiles/57/expressive-matter-faq.pdf
Robert Lederman
Lederman is president, A.R.T.I.S.T. (Artists’ Response to Illegal State Tactics)
The spirit of Thom strums on
To The Editor:
Re “Will Board 2 drum loud music out of Washington Square Park?” (news article, May 28):
Save Washington Square for guitars, banjos and plucked-string instruments.
Thom Manno is singing and playing his guitar as his dad gets ready for the world premiere of his opera about another Thomas, Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet. The opera is called “Do NOT Go Gentle.”
That was advice Dylan Thomas was giving his own dad. These words may apply to Dylan Thomas, but not to our only son, Thomas. Thom Manno will always be a gentle soul.
The photo I am using for the upcoming West Chelsea artists’ open studios tour on June 13 and 14 was taken about 10 years ago. In the photo, Thom is vigorously playing his guitar and singing in Washington Square.
When Thom passed away at the age of 40, from swine flu and depression, a friend of his came to visit me and told me about his dream of Thom. In the dream, Thom is playing guitar and singing in heaven and saying, “It’s beautiful up here!”
If you can’t get to the world premiere of “Do NOT Go Gentle,” by Robert Manno, in Phoenicia, N.Y., on Aug. 1, come see “The Gentle Thomas,” in the Thom Manno Gallery (Studio D 209), at Westbeth, 55 Bethune St., June 13-14, from noon to 6 p.m.
Elizabeth Manno
