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Queens Keeps Ignoring Kerouac
By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 22, 2009
Modified Oct 22, 2009
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 22, 2009
Modified Oct 22, 2009
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Following the 40th anniversary of Jack Kerouac's death (which was yesterday), a fan of the author is speaking out again about the lack of recognition the beat gets in his one-time home borough of Queens.
Earlier this year Patrick Fenton led a tour of Kerouac's old haunts in Queens, and now says that borough's president, Helen Marshall, is losing out on luring tourists with a literary trail. The Daily News reports that Fenton wants historical markers at seven spots in Ozone Park and South Richmond Hill, but reportedly received a "very cold" response from Marshall about his proposal.
The paper reports that "Instead of addressing her reply to Fenton, Marshall carbon-copied him on a Sept. 29 letter to the Queens Historical Society, writing that her 'office does not have the ability' to start such a trail." Fenton described it as a vague, "very cold, bureaucratic response" that left him confused. Marshall's office explained to the paper, "It may be a good idea and is certainly not something we are opposed to doing, but the funding is not there with the dramatic funding cuts."
As it stands, there isn't even a marker on his old home at 94-21 134th Street in Richmond Hill (pictured), the one placed upon it in 1996 by the Historic Landmarks Preservation Center was torn off by vandals last year and never replaced.
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Helen Marshall
jack kerouac
landmark
LPC
ozone park
Patrick Fenton
queens
richmond hill
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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