Enough With the Filming! Some Carroll Gardeners Sick Of Being Inconvenienced

Men In Black, Over/Under, Pan Am, Bored To Death, commercials... It seems as though, lately, every day, crews are filming in and around Carroll Gardens, and it's starting to get to local residents. Yes, of course it can be a thrill to see the lights, cameras, action and the occasional star, but some in the community have had enough of all the related street closings and the loss of parking.

Just yesterday, a local resident sent a letter to our elected officials on the subject, which she forwarded to me. She writes:

"Our neighborhood (and immediate surrounding neighborhoods) is currently being inundated with film shoots; emergency repairs; renovations and new construction; block parties; long term repairs (Verizon, Con Ed, Time Warner, National Grid) etc and it seems no one is overseeing the issuance of permits nor does the Bloomberg administration seem to care or take into account the impact all these projects are having upon the quality of life on those who live in these communities."

Another resident reached out to David Moy of the NYC Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting to ask for better coordination and relief. He urged others to do the same. He writes:

"Hi Folks-Lately it has felt like we have had a film shoot on a weekly or monthly basis. I find the parking and traffic inconvenience of these shoot . I am all for the arts and for the city making money from shoots but I’d like them to spread the inconvenience around a little bit. I complained to the city office that issues the permits (see below). If you, too, are inconvenienced, I encourage you to contact David Moy of the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting. The more of us they hear from, the more likely they are to limit the number of permits for CG more effectively."

David Moy responded to the email by promising to discuss the matter with his Director of Production. Moy explains:

"We do keep track the amount and frequency of film activity in the NYC neighborhoods and when that happens we do give these neighborhoods a break from filming. There has been 2 major movies shooting in your neighborhood this past Spring and now there is a TV pilot but generally the production usually do not go down as far as Huntington and stay mainly in the Carroll Street area. I will mention your concern about [Cobble Hill] to my Director of Production and ask if he thinks that these areas should get a break."

David Moy

Supervisor of Field Operations

Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting

dmoy@media.nyc.gov

What's your opinion? Is it getting to be too much? Should Carroll Gardens get a break?