NEW YORK MAYOR FIGHTS FOR SUMMER CONCERTS
The mayor of New York City is spearheading the fight to make sure a serie s of star-studded Coney Island concerts go ahead this summer (10), follow ing a legal challenge from angry locals.
The long running Seaside Concert Series is set to kick off on 15 July ( 10), with performances from high-profile artists including The Beach Boys , Aretha Franklin and John Legend.
The shows will take place at Asser Levy Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, but officials and worshippers at two local synagogues are angry over pla ns to expand attendance numbers. They filed suit against the organiser, B rooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, last week (beg14Jun10) in a bi d to halt the concerts.
The lawsuit claims the gigs, which have been taking place there since 1 991, violate a city law preventing amplified sound within 500 feet (152 m etres) of religious institutions when services are taking place.
New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg has now filed a bill with the l ocal council which will allow the law to be temporarily revised to allow open-air venues to host gigs in close proximity to places of worship. The bill, which has yet to be approved, will be in place for 90 days and all ow the gigs to go ahead prior to a permanent review of the law.
Opponents have slammed the plans, while Markowitz has called the move a "compromise", according to the New York Post.
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