By Maurice Pinzon
Yesterday, during a news conference at One Police Plaza, where Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that the city’s 911 and 311 communication systems now have the ability to receive photos and videos from the public, this reporter asked Mayor Bloomberg whether the tents in Bryant Park during Fashion Week were consistent with his “green agenda.”
Mayor Bloomberg answered the question by indicating how important the fashion industry is to New York City’s culture and economy. This is the complete transcript of the mayor’s remarks:
“We’ve been working with the fashion industry to find another location. We continue to make progress, but it’s not done yet.”
“The fashion industry is a very big part of our economy and it certainly is something that the public seems to love. It’s great fashion, it’s great public interest and we love having the designers here. We love having the jobs here that the fashion industry creates and we’ll do as much as we can to help this industry, like we’ll help other industries.”
“It would be nice to be able to find a place away from Bryant Park, simply because it does keep you from being able to use the park for other things, although all of these are trade offs and you don’t have to do the same thing every single day. But we are trying. Also the fashion industry is outgrowing Bryant Park. More and more of these shows are being held elsewhere in the city – the city has so many great venues. But we are trying and we’re not quite there yet.”