Give a damn.

While Sophie was home, we went with my mom to an exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York about John Lindsay, who was mayor of New York from 1966 to 1973. Before going, the only knowledge I had about the topic was an old button of my mom's from the 60's that said simply "Mayor Lindsay." It turns out he's a really fascinating character, and while people have mixed feelings about his time in office, he seems to have been someone possessing a great deal of integrity.


The exhibit was also interesting because I often forget about the New York of the 1960's and 70's. Post-Giuliani New York is pretty safe; some might even say sterile. Back then, at least according to my parents and the museum text and the movie "The Warriors," it was pretty dirty and dangerous. The city was experiencing rampant poverty, crime, drugs, and riots, as well as the growing pains of the civil rights movement. Everyone seemed to be angry, and for good reason.

In addition to the political issues Lindsay was dealing with, it was also interesting to see his commitment to consumer affairs and art and culture and film. Movie-making in New York really got its start around then.


It's a really dense, illuminating exhibit and I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in New York City, urban planning, politics, or the 1960's and 70's. It also sparked a desire to read "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning," which I've heard from Ned and others is a great book. Anybody else see any museum exhibits lately they'd recommend? In my unemployed state, I'm always on the lookout for a good one.