Flatiron Residents Not Happy About Kanye West NBA Concert

Ben Yakas

Published Feb 11, 2015

Modified Feb 11, 2015

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Sadye

Ben Yakas

Published Feb 11, 2015

Modified Feb 11, 2015

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Denim spokesman Kanye West is coming to Flatiron tomorrow to perform at the pre-NBA All-Star Game Concert. The event, which is called the 1st Roc City Classic and is being produced by Jay Z's Roc Nation, will shut down streets around the area and is expected to draw around 10,000 people. And Flatiron residents are less than pleased with this development. "It seems communities don't actually have a say over how their public spaces are used under this administration either," wrote Parks advocate Geoffrey Croft.

Sadderye

Community Board 5 wrote a letter to local residents and businesses opposing the use of the space for a large commercial event: "Manhattan Community Board 5 has unanimously objected to a commercial event of this size in what is meant to be a public space for passive use," CB5 said in the letter. "We…object to the City’s approval system for event permits in our pedestrian plazas, which allows for no public review." They argued that Duffy Square in Times Square would have made "a far more appropriate location for an extremely large, entertainment-focused commercial event."

You can read the full letter below.

CB 5 Kanye NBA Letter

Saddestye

The City will shut down Fifth Avenue and Broadway from 23rd to 26th Streets, as well as 24th and 25th Streets between Broadway and Sixth Avenue on Thursday. The stretch of 26th Street from Madison to Sixth avenues also will be closed. But setup for the event—which included building a stage—started at noon Tuesday; the load-out from the event won't be completed until Friday night they estimate.

"I think it's ridiculous they would do it for him. If that's the case, they should close down when protesters walk around," Michael Noonan, who works in the neighborhood, told NBC.

Beyondsadye

This news comes during a tough week for Kanye, between the Grammys stage rushing and his soon-to-be-legendary feud with Michael McDonald. Hopefully a strong dose of Taylor Swift-aided good will can help bring a smile back to his face.

Peakye