David Byrne: Wealth has stolen New York's Creative Energy

One of the city’s most enduring creative voices, David Byrne writes an essay highlighting how the increasing hyper-wealth of New York City has crushed the city’s creative energy – going as far to say he would consider leaving the city if things get much worse.

Quick to assert he is not longing for the chaos and crime of the 1970s – writing “I don’t believe that crime, danger and poverty make for good art” – Byrne’s gripes are with the real-estate driven scenario that has seen Manhattan become a playground solely for the wealthy elite, where creative talents have no chance of flourishing…

“Many of the wealthy don’t even live here. In the neighborhood where I live (near the art galleries in Chelsea), I can see three large condos from my window that are pretty much empty all the time. What the fuck!?”

[Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi]  might have museums, but they don’t have culture. Ugh. If New York goes there – more than it already has – I’m leaving.”

Source: The Guardian, Creative Time Reports

Read it: Here