The Municipal Art Society of New York

Vin Cipolla
Delivered by Vin Cipolla at the MAS Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony
Tobacco Warehouse, Brooklyn Bridge Park
June 23, 2010

So much of what is great in New York is because MAS had the vision and the courage to get in early, fast and sharp to make a difference, and in the process, to make history. You all know that history. MAS began pushing for a permanent City Planning Commission in 1900. In 1908, New York City’s population was booming, so MAS advocated for public housing construction. We succeeded in pushing the city to adopt the landmark Zoning Resolution of 1916, the first ordinance in the nation to regulate both the height of buildings and uses to which they could be put. In the Thirties, we fought to stop the first plan to route traffic through Washington Square. Jane Jacobs famously led the second fight in the Fifties.

Of course, our historic preservation victories are legendary. We led the way to save Grand Central, Radio City Music Hall and Times Square. And we championed the Landmarks Law, which became the model for similar legislation in cities throughout the country. This ground-breaking law celebrated its 45th anniversary in April.

MAS’ advocacy campaigns continue as strongly as ever today. We remain as dedicated as ever to create a dynamic urban environment that embraces our history and reflects and supports the future. One that represents diversity, and a diversity of uses; one that supports and honors how we live and work, and one this is uniquely New York, and not everywhere USA. MAS has always fought for keeping New York, New York—a city of active environments supporting an active and fast-moving and fast-growing citizenry—the world’s most diverse and creative city.

That’s why today MAS is active in saving the Garment District and helping to put a spotlight on the unique ecosystems of our city where old meets new, where creativity flourishes, where entrepreneurs get their sea legs and where products are designed and still made.

Made in Midtown Panel

That’s why we are redoubling our efforts for a new Penn Station, for the full realization of Moynihan Station, for a comprehensive plan for the Penn District and the Far West Side, and for a holistic transportation approach that truly supports walking and biking and improved transit systems.

That’s why we advocated for a plan to bring intelligent design and vitality back to Coney Island which, in the interim, helped spur the opening of the new Luna Park just over Memorial Day.

This has been an extraordinarily active year for MAS. We’ve moved, having to leave our beloved Villard Houses but arriving at a great new address on West 57th Street in the Steinway Building.

We’ve partnered with the Design Trust for Public Space, with the Museum of the City of New York, with Poly NYU, with Hunter, with Pratt, with UPENN, with the National Park Service, with the city and with many others, to foster new ideas, to extend our advocacy and to reach new audiences.

Coney Island

We’ve created new mechanisms to facilitate our work, such as a new strategic plan, a Program Committee of our Board of Directors to digest important issues facing New York’s livability and to sharpen our plans. We’ve stepped up activism and blogging to keep New Yorkers engaged in the fights affecting their communities.

We’ve bridged our advocacy work with our public programming, in addition to our programs on the Garment District which connected MAS to hundreds of new members, we launched Streets Month in April – providing an in-depth view of our streets and sidewalks and what we need to do to enhance livability and sustainability, which has always been important advocacy for MAS.

After a packed spring, we’re jumping into summer with a conference on the city’s land use process, co-sponsored by Community Board 1. We’re taking up the critical subject of Preservation and Climate Change, launching a public policy and public education campaign that raises awareness and educates the public about the environmental values of retaining and improving the city’s old building stock.

Our Jane Jacobs forums for the fall are on livability and walkability, and on October 21st and 22nd will be the first MAS Summit for New York City—a big issues and ideas meeting on some of the most pressing development issues facing our city with some of the most thoughtful and opinionated minds. Through the Summit, we plan to help give the public a voice in those issues, in person and online.

As we review MAS’ past and consider its future, I cannot help but be reminded that we owe our success to members like you, who have been unstinting in your support. For those of you who have been with MAS, thank you so much for your long-term support. And for our new members, welcome – we need your energy, participation and ideas.