New York City is a wonderful place. Somehow, despite being one of the most densely populated places in the US, it runs (mostly) like a Swiss timepiece. There’s abundant, efficient public transportation. The government, while not popular with everyone, gets things done and promotes continuous social development. Sure there is crime; if you put enough people in a small enough space, drive up the cost of living, and continually marginalize established neighborhoods through endless expansion, confrontations are bound to happen. However, you may be surprised where NYC ranks in wider scope of US cities for safety. A New York Times article from April of 2011 lists NYC as the 50th most dangerous city for walking (based on census data and pedestrian fatalities over 10 years). Which were the top 5 most dangerous cities for pedestrians in 2011? In numerical order:
- Orlando
- Tampa
- Jacksonville (Florida)
- Miami – Ft. Lauderdale
- Riverside – San Bernardino
So how does NYC manage to rank only 50th on that list behind the likes of Memphis, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Minneapolis? A large factor is the heavily pedestrian culture of NYC’s streets. With parking at a premium and ample public transportation everywhere, it is much easier to leave the car at home. One amazing side effect of this anti-car culture is the high amount of interaction and collision it creates between members of all different socioeconomic sectors. Many people arrive to NYC with the belief that New Yorkers are cold and indifferent and are surprised to find the exact opposite. New York boasts some of the most helpful, street-smart citizens in the country – they just exude a cold, focused exterior, likely a result from living in a very small, expensive apartment somewhere in Spanish Harlem or the far outreaches of a neighboring borough. The fact is that all New Yorkers are united in the struggle to live in New York, and that brings with it a solemn sense of comradery. Part of that social contract is keeping an eye out for one another.
How does the city help insure that there are plenty of eyes and ears on the ground and at the same time, enhance the quality of life for New Yorkers (beyond providing a pedestrian friendly transportation system)? Street Performers! Since 1985 (yes, nearly 30 years), the Music Under New York (MUNY) program has placed performers at major transport hubs to the tune of 350 performers or groups and 7,500 performances annually. Beyond these curated performance spots, the rest of the subway system is available to performers on a first come, first served basis (full Rules of Conduct available here). Only performers that are part of MUNY must audition and register with the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The city has clearly recognized the benefit performers bring to public safety and the experience of using public transit. We would like to posit that it is one factor among many that elevates NYC out of the worst ranked US cities for pedestrian safety.
Downtown Miami is currently in a major transition. More and more high-rise condominiums are being built everyday as foreign investment comes (literally) pouring in. Projects like the Miami World Center and SkyRise Miami are changing the city landscape and we are at a pivotal point where decisions must be made about the nature of our streets. We do not have the transportation infrastructure or pedestrian culture of NYC and as a result, do not benefit from the number of street level cultural collisions of the Big Apple. In order for the local business economy to have a fighting chance and to insure our streets are safe for pedestrians, we must put primary focus on making Downtown Miami a safe place to stroll and explore. One easy mechanism to support that effort is the safe and responsible promotion of street performers (buskers).
Since the inaugural Buskerfest Miami Street Performance Festival, we have been actively working to draft and pass reasonable regulations to distinguish busking from panhandling in downtown. Performing in public is considered an act of free speech, protected by the U.S. Constitution, as is the act of accepting donations for performances. Our goal is simply to put in place a legal framework so that buskers can practice their art in peace and in a way that is mutually agreeable to citizens, downtown stakeholders and the government. We want to see Downtown Miami thrive and part of that vision is to have our overwhelmingly talented artistic community showcase their craft in public spaces. Busk or bust.
On October 10th, we are inviting the Miami community to join us for a public presentation of our model ordinance. We encourage you to come and learn about our plans for downtown and to share with us your thoughts about how we can effectively turn the Big Orange into a culturally vibrant community where residents and visitors are enticed to explore the surrounding neighborhoods. The meeting will be held at the Miami Center for Architecture and Design (100 NE 1st Street), 5-7pm. Please RSVP for this FREE event here: https://www.picatic.com/buskorbust
We look forward to seeing you!
Much love,
The Buskerfest Team