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May 3, 2018 • $1.00 Volume 88 • Number 18
One over-Arching question in ‘living statue’ bust: Why? BY SYDNEY PEREIR A
W
ashington Square Park is no stranger to performers. But an artist who has become a fixture in the park — as a “living statue” on its famed Arch — was arrested this month in the middle of his first performance of the season.
Johan Figueroa González, 31, has performed as a “living statue” in the park for the past two summers. Last year, he began doing his act exclusively on the 19th-century Arch. But despite his growing recognition and dozens of turns on that historic perch, Figueroa González STATUE continued on p. 8
Mayor pitches empty stores tax; But with Albany, is it in the bag? BY DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC
A
s empty storefronts continue to mar swaths of the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s floating of a possible penalty for landlords who leave properties vacant for long periods of time has been greeted by local politicians and advocates as an encouraging
sign. “I’m heartened by City Hall’s attention to the issue and the mayor’s personal interest,” state Senator Brad Hoylman said last week. On March 30, de Blasio told WNYC, “I am very interested…in fighting for a vacancy VACANCIES continued on p. 5
PHOTO BY MILO HESS
On Tuesday, May Day, about 200 protesters gathered at Union Square and color fully marched to Washington Square. Although May Day traditionally focuses on workers’ rights, in recent years, immigrants’ rights have dominated the demonstrations.
Club Cumming shows spark drama at C.B. 3 BY SYDNEY PEREIR A
L
ast September, the gay bar formerly known as Eastern Bloc was transformed into Club Cumming. The new bar — whose name comes from Scottish actor Alan Cumming’s notorious post-show dressing-room parties — reinvigorated what had been a longtime favorite East Village nightspot. Along with Cumming’s new co-ownership came live music
‘Brokaw hit on #MeToo’ ......... p. 15
and shows. But just months into the location’s rebirth, the State Liquor Authority slapped a violation on the place for not having the proper license to host live performances. “We were completely unaware of this,” said Benjamin Maisani, one of Club Cummings’s co-owners, who operated the previous bar Eastern Bloc for 14 years. “This is not something that really comes up very often. … It’s a very sort of technical and rather obscure
aspect of zoning regulations.” The seemingly minimal glitch recently sparked an intense debate at Community Board 3 on whether the bar, at 505 E. Sixth St., should be allowed to modify its liquor license to allow live performances. Atlhough the community board’s recomendation is advisory only and the S.L.A. ultimately has the final say, the board voted against the bar’s application last Tues., April CUMMING continued on p. 6
Bowery tenants demand ‘right of return’...........p. 4 Robot mural painter hits a wall on L.E.S. ........ p. 12 www.TheVillager.com