Ecko Responds to Vegas Mayor's Thumb Chopping Suggestion, Continues Graf Fight in NY
Marc Ecko hopes to meet with the Las Vegas Mayor who suggested that people who spray graffiti on Las Vegas freeways should have their thumbs cut off on television.
In November, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman appeared on the "Nevada Newsmakers" television show making some extreme suggestions about how to put an end to graffiti vandalism.
"In the old days in France, they had beheading of people who commit heinous crimes," Mayor Goodman said. "You know, we have a beautiful highway landscaping redevelopment in our downtown. We have desert tortoises and beautiful paintings of flora and fauna. These punks come along and deface it. I'm saying maybe you put them on TV and cut off a thumb."
Mayor Goodman went on to suggest that corporal punishment be delivered to children who get into trouble, in the form of whippings or caning.
Last week, Ecko, chairman and founder of Ecko Unltd., approached Mayor Goodman about his comments via a letter titled "Re: Taggers, Thumbs and Graffiti Art."
"You recently suggested chopping off tagger's thumbs and subjecting them to public canings and whippings," Ecko wrote in the letter. "Your comments garnered national attention. I heard them and reflected upon your frustration and anger. You may be surprised to learn that I share some of your concerns about public defacement and vandalism. I simply believe in a different approach.
"First, graf should be celebrated and encouraged, not demeaned or attacked," he added. "It is art. It is expression. It is a form of social commentary. It provokes thought and debate," Ecko continued. "Second most graffiti writers - whom you apparently perceive as being a threat to civilized society - are legitimate and talented artists. Some are entrepreneurs who aspire to design fashion brands, for example, like mine. Many are just searching for an outlet to express their creative energy and establish a name for themselves."
Ecko concluded the letter telling Mayor Goodman that he would like to meet him next week. "I will be in Las Vegas May 8-9; I'd like to meet you. I'd like you to show me the artistry of your City, while we discuss the finer points of graf and your anti-graffiti ordinances. I'd like to teach you how graf can be a positive form of artistic expression... We can auction off whatever we create, with the proceeds going to the Las Vegas charity of your choice. We can show the people of Las Vegas that graf art, properly created and distributed, is a powerful and effective tool of change."
Over the last year Ecko has been at the forefront of the debate with lawmakers across the U.S. regarding anti-graffiti laws. He took legal action against New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg when he attempted to block a permit for a graffiti exhibition Ecko planned last August. He's also threatened to sue the City of Denver for anti-graffiti ordinances in that city which he says are unconstitutional.
More recently, with Ecko's support, seven NYC artists filed a lawsuit against Bloomberg and City Councilman Peter Vallone with for amendments they recently passed this winter.
On Monday (May 1), Federal Judge George Daniels granted the plaintiffs a primary injunction, halting the enforcement of laws prohibiting people aged 18-20 from buying or possessing spray paint or broad tipped markers.
However, yesterday (May 4), Hon. Barrington D. Parker, a federal appellate judge sitting on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, extended a stay that will prevent the enforcement of Judge Daniels order. Circuit Judge Parker's order was issued as follows: "It is hereby ordered that the motion for a stay is referred to a three judge panel of this Court. A temporary stay is granted pending disposition of the motion by the panel."
While Judge Daniels' order remains in effect, the order issued yesterday temporarily extends the stay issued Monday (May 8) when a three judge panel has an opportunity to review the order and determine whether or not it should take effect while the City appeals it.
I am pleased that the appellate court is giving due consideration to this important case, and confident that Judge Daniels' order will be upheld," said Ecko of the recent decision.
"The City wasn't enforcing this law to begin with," added Daniel Perez, an attorney who represents the plaintiffs in the case added, referring to comments from Bloomberg earlier in the week that he had wondered about the constitutionality of the law. "No one has been arrested, and only five summonses have been issued over four months. I hope for the City's sake that while this order is being appealed, no one is arrested for violating a law that a federal judge and even the Mayor have questioned."
In November, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman appeared on the "Nevada Newsmakers" television show making some extreme suggestions about how to put an end to graffiti vandalism.
"In the old days in France, they had beheading of people who commit heinous crimes," Mayor Goodman said. "You know, we have a beautiful highway landscaping redevelopment in our downtown. We have desert tortoises and beautiful paintings of flora and fauna. These punks come along and deface it. I'm saying maybe you put them on TV and cut off a thumb."
Mayor Goodman went on to suggest that corporal punishment be delivered to children who get into trouble, in the form of whippings or caning.
Last week, Ecko, chairman and founder of Ecko Unltd., approached Mayor Goodman about his comments via a letter titled "Re: Taggers, Thumbs and Graffiti Art."
"You recently suggested chopping off tagger's thumbs and subjecting them to public canings and whippings," Ecko wrote in the letter. "Your comments garnered national attention. I heard them and reflected upon your frustration and anger. You may be surprised to learn that I share some of your concerns about public defacement and vandalism. I simply believe in a different approach.
"First, graf should be celebrated and encouraged, not demeaned or attacked," he added. "It is art. It is expression. It is a form of social commentary. It provokes thought and debate," Ecko continued. "Second most graffiti writers - whom you apparently perceive as being a threat to civilized society - are legitimate and talented artists. Some are entrepreneurs who aspire to design fashion brands, for example, like mine. Many are just searching for an outlet to express their creative energy and establish a name for themselves."
Ecko concluded the letter telling Mayor Goodman that he would like to meet him next week. "I will be in Las Vegas May 8-9; I'd like to meet you. I'd like you to show me the artistry of your City, while we discuss the finer points of graf and your anti-graffiti ordinances. I'd like to teach you how graf can be a positive form of artistic expression... We can auction off whatever we create, with the proceeds going to the Las Vegas charity of your choice. We can show the people of Las Vegas that graf art, properly created and distributed, is a powerful and effective tool of change."
Over the last year Ecko has been at the forefront of the debate with lawmakers across the U.S. regarding anti-graffiti laws. He took legal action against New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg when he attempted to block a permit for a graffiti exhibition Ecko planned last August. He's also threatened to sue the City of Denver for anti-graffiti ordinances in that city which he says are unconstitutional.
More recently, with Ecko's support, seven NYC artists filed a lawsuit against Bloomberg and City Councilman Peter Vallone with for amendments they recently passed this winter.
On Monday (May 1), Federal Judge George Daniels granted the plaintiffs a primary injunction, halting the enforcement of laws prohibiting people aged 18-20 from buying or possessing spray paint or broad tipped markers.
However, yesterday (May 4), Hon. Barrington D. Parker, a federal appellate judge sitting on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, extended a stay that will prevent the enforcement of Judge Daniels order. Circuit Judge Parker's order was issued as follows: "It is hereby ordered that the motion for a stay is referred to a three judge panel of this Court. A temporary stay is granted pending disposition of the motion by the panel."
While Judge Daniels' order remains in effect, the order issued yesterday temporarily extends the stay issued Monday (May 8) when a three judge panel has an opportunity to review the order and determine whether or not it should take effect while the City appeals it.
I am pleased that the appellate court is giving due consideration to this important case, and confident that Judge Daniels' order will be upheld," said Ecko of the recent decision.
"The City wasn't enforcing this law to begin with," added Daniel Perez, an attorney who represents the plaintiffs in the case added, referring to comments from Bloomberg earlier in the week that he had wondered about the constitutionality of the law. "No one has been arrested, and only five summonses have been issued over four months. I hope for the City's sake that while this order is being appealed, no one is arrested for violating a law that a federal judge and even the Mayor have questioned."
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