Free Concerts in Coney Island – Summer 2017
If you have gone to Coney Island in the last few years, you know Coney Island has changed quite a bit.
The new Ford Amphitheater is going to have a lot of concerts this Summer. BUT…..
THERE ARE NO FREE CONCERTS IN CONEY ISLAND THIS YEAR. (West Elm is having a free concert on Main Street in Brooklyn on July 13th – you can get tickets online – here)
Wasn’t that the purpose of the amphitheater? No, not really. Of course the public was made to believe that there was going to be many free concerts in a nicer venue. But the EDC had a hand in this and along with the politicians, they were just wheeling and dealing.
Marty Markowitz who started the concerts said that concerts would be held there. YUP, BUT NOW YOU HAVE TO PAY.
Who owns the Amphitheater? “The New York City Economic Development Corporation brokered the deal for the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk with iStar and the nonprofit, Coney Island USA. This public-private partnership included $60 million in investment from the offices of the Brooklyn Borough President, the New York City Council, and the Mayor, which supported the property acquisition; adaptive reuse of the Childs Building; the development of the amphitheater; and the creation of 40,000 square feet of publicly-accessible landscaped open space.”
In 2016, they had six free shows at the amphitheater. But in 2017 there are none.
In 2017, Coney Island USA received $800,000 from NYC’s funds, but they aren’t offering any free concerts.
Who can you speak to about it? Eric Adams, the Brooklyn Borough President. Adams has jazz bands play at lunch near his Borough Hall office – see schedule here.
You can contact Eric Adams on Twitter: here
Mark Treyger is the Councilman for the area and Pamela Harris is the Assemblywoman. They are all on Facebook and Twitter as well.
Hugs,
marlene
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