Petition worthy of signing

[zepp]

Take the time to read this and sign it if you feel inclined to. It has to do with the City of New York wanting to require permits of those wanting to film and photograph on the streets of New York City.

http://www.pictureny.org/petition/index.php

[Adcox]

Done!

[Patti Edens]

Ditto

[chempilot]

gladly done....

[Michelle Allmon]

yup

[rschramm]

Done!

[RandySmith]

Done ! If this passes in NYC, when will the civic leaders of Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin follow with something similar ? I sincerely hope this concept falls flat on it's face ...

[chloew]

A bit more info on the rules:

quoted from the NYT

The new rules, which were proposed by the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting, would require any group of two or more people who want to use a camera in a public place for more than 30 minutes to get a city permit and $1 million in liability insurance. The same requirements would apply to any group of five or more people who plan to use a tripod in a public location for more than 10 minutes, including the time it takes to set up the equipment. The permits would be free.

Officials have said that the rules are not intended to apply to tourists or amateur filmmakers or photographers. “For the first time in its 40-year history, the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting is writing rules that will codify our current procedures with respect to film permitting,” Julianne Cho, associate commissioner in the film office, wrote in an e-mail message. “As is standard with the City’s rulemaking process, we welcome public feedback as we work to produce rules that continue to assist our customer base and grow the City’s film industry.”

But the language of the regulations does not include specific exemptions for amateurs, and critics have warned that vague phrasing could lead to inconsistent and perhaps discriminatory enforcement.

...

Mr. Cohen, who has made an impressionistic short film about New York City called “Lost Book Found” that is in the permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum, said that he was told his material would be returned, but that he received only an empty film can.

“I’m shocked that the very first sentence of the Bill of Rights can quickly become meaningless, because photography is an established form of free speech,” Mr. Cohen said.

Some opponents say the cost of insurance required under the rules would burden independent filmmakers and photographers with limited budgets. City officials said that if the proposed rules were adopted, insurance could be waived in some cases for those who could not afford it.

[daveb]

count me in

[mcphotography]

done

[JohnT]

Done. Just under 6300 signatures so far. Not bad at all.

[lhdvies]

I'm nbr 6361.

[Nikolai]

Done.

[robert t]

done

[andyz]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/04/ny...gjW0DLD6CswfIA

After Protests, City Agrees to Rewrite Proposed Rules on Photography Permits