The truth was written
To The Editor:
Thanks to Lincoln Anderson. You did such a good and concise job on “The dark side of Purple” (news article, Dec. 31), and I noticed that the comments fell into three categories: those totally against child molesters at all costs; those who thought if you did better in your life, it’s a credit; and those who just accepted my father as he was in N.Y.C. I think “we” all took him with a grain of salt. Cautious.
But he did escape or avoid registering as a sexual offender all these years. He was a deceiver.
That’s it. The truth was written.
Thank you, and thank you to the N.Y.C. commenters.
Lenore
Seeking out the facts
To The Editor:
Re “The dark side of Purple” (news article, Dec. 31):
Thanks to Jenean and Lenore for being so incredibly strong and brave in telling their story. A lot of Lower East Side activists choose to ignore them.
One told me they want more “proof” and one said he wants to remember “Purple not David Lloyd Wilkie.” They want to bury this story. Except for Clayton, who expresses well how I feel.
You have more then one person — the children of Purple — claiming this horror!
It’s a shocking, evil story that cannot be ignored just because someone was an LES hero and activist.
It is an activist’s, a writer’s job to seek out the truth, even if it means you don’t like it — or nothing you write is believable anymore and worth a damn.
Jenean’s and Lenore’s words are intelligent and compassionate and they ring out clear and true like a bell. Ignore them at your own peril.
Regina Bartkoff
Shame for Purple exposé!
To The Editor:
Re “The dark side of Purple” (news article, Dec. 31):
Yes, David Wilkie was an acid head. It makes you think differently. It makes you draw outside the lines. Sometimes you act outside of them, as well. That is because you do not see the lines. You do not see or understand shame or guilt either. You come to New York to reinvent yourself. You make an earthwork garden out of horses–t. You call yourself Adam Purple. You are evicted from your masterpiece. You end up living in a closet.
Then you die and a newspaper smears you all over their front page.
I thought child abusers never gave it up. Did you ever hear anything like that related to Adam? Teachers used to bring their classes to the Garden of Eden. Hundreds of people attended his memorial. Not one word was said along those lines.
You should be ashamed of yourself. Eventually you will be.
Laura Zelasnic
Disturbing and amazing
To The Editor:
Re “The dark side of Purple” (news article, Dec. 31):
Amazing job, very well written about a horrible story. What a monster he really was. I always admired the garden but was very glad that I was not friends with him, nor deified him when he died.
Good riddance to that narcissistic sociopath. I feel for his daughters and those he abused.
As for any journalists who discouraged full disclosure of the truth — well, whoever says anything like that cannot claim to be a journalist.
I would add that not telling the full and true story as a way of “protecting the movement” is hypocrisy and betrays the movement itself. It’s no different than the mainstream media if you lie and censor, especially when facts are known and are so compelling.
Thank you for the disturbing and amazing exposé. Keep up the good work.
Paul Garrin
Process doesn’t reflect well
To The Editor:
Re “Pledging memorial funds, Cuomo says Triangle Fire ‘should never be forgotten’” (news article, Dec. 24):
Governor Cuomo is right that this tragedy of such historic importance for our city and nation “should never be forgotten.” However, what has been forgotten by the coalition responsible for planning this new memorial is the local community. No effort has been made during the planning process to contact local residents or, insofar as we know, Community Board 2.
There are two buildings on Washington Place that are each several feet from the site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, with a total of about 230 apartments. Many residents attend the moving commemoration each March; some of us are able to attend by standing at our windows.
But the proposed design has elements that are seriously objectionable to residents, notably an eight-story-high reflective strip on the corner of the Triangle building that is conceived so as to spread light and attract attention. This flashing reflective light will surely travel to both buildings on Washington Place, at night as well as during the day, given the strong illumination of the street at night. There would also be additional reflective light from the lowest panel, slightly above ground level, that is designed to reflect the names of the victims from a panel 17 feet above the street. This combination of reflective light would cause considerable discomfort to residents already burdened by an unending parade of intrusive activities on our street.
Howard Negrin
Negrin is president, Washington Place Block Association
No Triangle transparency
To The Editor:
Re “Finally, a fitting memorial plan for Triangle tragedy” (news article, Dec. 17) and “Pledging memorial funds, Cuomo says Triangle Fire ‘should never be forgotten’ ” (news article, Dec. 24):
Residents and community members were stunned to learn about the plans for the Triangle Fire memorial renovation from The Villager’s recent articles.
As far as I know, there has been no disclosure of these plans to Community Board 2 or the affected block associations that represent hundreds of area residents. It is most disconcerting to read that our local politicians have been involved in this initiative for more than two years without community input.
This is a landmarked building, now part of a square of New York University schools, a science department lab site. Long-term residents are keenly aware of this historic location and we participate in the annual memorial service each March.
We applaud the enhancement of the existing memorial plaques in honor of the victims of this historic tragedy. However, there are very serious concerns about the extent of the planned renovations to our residential corner on a narrow cobblestoned street.
We look forward to an opportunity for discussion of community concerns before further approval of these plans.
Mary Johnson
What took so long?
To The Editor:
Re “Pledging memorial funds, Cuomo says Triangle Fire ‘should never be forgotten’” (news article, Dec. 24):
This is great news. But the tragic fire took place in 1911 — and it has taken us more than a century to memorialize it. Triangle was, quite literally, a sweatshop. Its emergency exits were locked shut; its women overworked — 12-hour days in the heat — and paid subsistence wages. To escape the fire, a lot of women jumped out windows — to their deaths.
The reaction to the fire got basic safety protocols put in place in the U.S., so at least the tragedy served a “purpose.” But why does it take so long to build a memorial about all this?
Joseph Hanania
Fighting for what’s right
To The Editor:
“Of heartbreak and hope; We can’t lose Theatre 80” (talking point, by Alan Kaufaman, Jan. 7):
I can think of no better person to articulate this critically important community struggle than Alan Kaufman. He is not only a New York literary legend, he is a man of the people, a true fighter for what is right. And what is more right for this community than to save Theatre 80?
Lorcan and Genie have given their blood, their youth, their stamina, their everything to keep Theatre 80 going. Lorcan is the only second-generation entertainment venue proprietor I can think of. A very rare breed, indeed.
It would be appropriate to have an event — a double acknowledgement — that honors the Otways’ work keeping the venue alive, plus thanks Alan Kaufman for his heroic community benefit that raised more than $50,000 for the victims of last March’s Second Ave. gas explosion.
Clayton Patterson
Theatre 80 must stand
To The Editor:
“Of heartbreak and hope; We can’t lose Theatre 80” (talking point, by Alan Kaufaman, Jan. 7):
I first met Lorcan Otway through Clayton Patterson and Alan Kaufman. Lorcan is a true people’s champion, an East Villager who has risen to the occasion to support and defend the rights of others on many occasions. Theatre 80 stands as a monument and symbol to this man’s goodness and decency in a world that is filled with greed and self-glorification. Theatre 80 must stand for all to enjoy.
Jose Quiles
Bravo for Motley exhibit
To The Editor:
Re “Buhmann on art: Motley at the Whitney” (arts article, Dec. 31):
Thank you for giving Archibald Motley some long overdue recognition in The Villager.
I say “overdue” because when I went to the new Whitney recently, my wife and I discovered that this elegant museum had given an entire floor to an American painter whose work I had never seen or heard of. How, in a long lifetime of looking at art could this be possible?
Great art isn’t supposed to be kept out of sight, but this seems to have happened for whatever reason — possibly because he was black.
In any case, I’m happy to have seen this exceptional artistry and regret that he’s no longer around to enjoy his apparent elevation from obscurity. His work deserves to be seen.
Gene Epstein
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