Here’s my letter to the New York City Landmarks and Preservation Commission, sent at the request of Franklin Furnace and the campaign to landmark the Whitman 99 Ryerson Street House in Brooklyn. The commission turned down the original request because it did not consider this site sufficiently important given that Whitman lived there only a short time (and because of the condition and suitability of the house). It is possible the commission will reverse its decision.
All through my first year at college, I listened to the LPs of the musicians who assembled at Woodstock 50 years ago, having bought the albums one by one on my frequent visits to Sam Goody’s Radio City store. (I recently gave the remainer of my LP collection, several overstuffed boxes, to Lawrence Kumpf of Blank Forms.)
On April 4, 2019, the Kelly Writers House gave me a great send off for my Penn retirement at the end of this academic year. Thanks to Al Filreis and Jessica Lowenthal, and to Susan Bee, for all the organizing. ’Twas a swell time, with BBQ and whiskey and lots of friends, fellow poets, and current and former students.
