6 DECEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 7, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
Treatment of controversial city monuments
fosters discussion at Borough Hall hearing
BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK
MMCGOLDRICK@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
As part of a series of public hearings
on the treatment and fate
of public monuments in New
York City, Brooklynites from every
walk of life descended upon Borough
Hall on Tuesday, November 21 to give
their two cents on how to handle
existing monuments and statues of
controversial figures across the five
boroughs.
The hearing was hosted by the
Mayoral Advisory Commission on
City Art, Monuments and Markers,
which has been tasked with proposing
guidelines for how to deal with the
controversies that arise from already
in-place monuments and markers.
While the commission’s co-chair
Tom Finkelpearl encouraged a broader
discussion about the city monuments
in terms of today’s political climate,
statues of Christopher Columbus
(such as the one at the epicenter of
Columbus Circle in Manhattan and the
one in Borough Hall plaza) were at the
forefront of the at times heated debate,
the majority of the audience speaking
solely in terms of removal.
While there was a bevy of support
for the statues, many attendees felt
strongly that all commemorations of
Columbus should go.
“The Columbus discovery narrative
is an objective lie,” said one speaker.
“If you come here defending a lie, you
either A, did not do your homework or
B, you truly do not care. I hope to God
it’s the first one.”
And while Italian-Americans
have “every right to celebrate their
heritage,” the speaker stressed that
it should not be done “at the extent of
robbing black and brown lives – especially
when their culture has so much
more to offer.”
That same speaker disagreed with
the idea that Columbus being judged
by 21st Century standards is a “false
narrative,” noting, “This is not a
21st century issue. This is objective
morality.”
Another speaker – an FIT graduate
and educator who claims that Columbus
was only after the money – asked,
“Where are the monuments to the
enslaved people? Where are the monuments
to those who really made this
country great?”
That said, a chorus of support for
the Columbus statues came from
southwest Brooklyn.
Assemblymember William Colton,
who represents parts of Bensonhurst,
Bath Beach and Gravesend, kicked
off the discussion by presenting over
2,000 signatures from his constituents
in defense of Columbus.
“We're dealing with traditions and
emotions,” he said, noting that his
community – which is notably diverse
– feels “that their traditions should not
be under attack” and that, right now,
“they feel that they are.”
47th Assembly District Democratic
Leader Nancy Tong also testified,
stressing that, once a tradition is
attacked, all other traditions may be
subject to similar criticism. “The Columbus
tradition is misunderstood. It
absolutely does not stand for hate. It is
not a symbol of hate. It is, however, a
symbol of overcoming oppression and
discrimination. It is a symbol of hope
for Italian-American immigrants,” she
said.
Bay Ridge resident and former
City Council candidate John Quaglione
also spoke in favor of the statues
and against the lack of leadership
on the issue. “Elected officials need
to make this decision and be held
accountable to the people, not an
appointed commission,” he said.
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“This is clearly a weak attempt at
leadership by our mayor on this
controversial issue.”
On Columbus, Quaglione said, “We
cannot erase history – we must learn
from history. Teach what happened
so that what we find wrong and inappropriate
about anyone we celebrate,
anyone in the history book, it never
happens again.”
The final hearing in the series was
held in Staten Island a week later.
There, Congressmember Dan Donovan
– who represents the isle as well as
a swathe of southern Brooklyn, including
Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker
Heights and Gravesend – submitted
public testimony blasting the exercise
(specifically those efforts made to tear
down Columbus statues) as setting a
dangerous precedent by judging
centuries-old historical figures “so
to avoid triggering every conceivable
sensitivity.”
“Frankly, this entire operation is an
exercise in political correctness run
amok. A small group of malcontents
have focused media attention on a
problem that didn’t exist until six
months ago, and now a panel of experts
must determine which acknowledgements
of our shared past are too
offensive to remain in existence,” he
said. “Christopher Columbus probably
wouldn’t contend for the Nobel Peace
Prize, but whether folks like it or not,
his life shaped 500 years of progress.
He’s a symbol of Italian-American
pride, generations of whom built this
city.”
Furthermore, Donovan made the
recommendation to “maintain” the
monuments and markers that, “for
better or worse, are part of New York
City’s past.”
Just under 50 people showed up to
the Staten Island hearing.
“Frankly, this entire operation is
an exercise in political correctness
run amok.”
— Congressmember Dan Donovan