Bill Text: NY K00560 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Honoring the late Woody Guthrie upon the occasion of co-naming a street in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, in his name,
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 23-7)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-13 - adopted [K00560 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-K00560-Introduced.html
Assembly Resolution No. 560 BY: M. of A. Cymbrowitz HONORING the late Woody Guthrie upon the occasion of co-naming a street in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, in his name, in recognition of his legendary musical career and remarkable life WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay just tribute to those musical geniuses whose commitment and creative talents contributed to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of their community, the State of New York, and the entire Nation; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the late Woody Guthrie, one of the most significant figures in American folk music, upon the occasion of co-naming Mermaid Avenue and West 35th Street "Woody Guthrie Way" in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, as a fitting and lasting tribute to both his renowned musical career and his legacy of social justice and grassroots advocacy; and WHEREAS, The re-naming was the brainchild of Rabbi Andy Bachman and was sponsored in the New York City Council by Councilmember Mark Treyger; the ceremony is being conducted on Saturday, June 22, 2019, the same day Arlo Guthrie and Nora Guthrie, Woody Guthrie's son and daughter, are being crowned King Neptune and Queen Mermaid at the famed Coney Island Mermaid Parade; and WHEREAS, Woodrow "Woody" Wilson Guthrie was born in 1912 in Okemah, Oklahoma; seeking work as a young adult with a small family, he joined hundreds of thousands of people heading across the country to California during the Great Dust Bowl; and WHEREAS, After seeing the living conditions the transplanted "Okies" were forced to endure, Woody Guthrie started writing his own songs, giving a voice to those who were disenfranchised and oppressed; and WHEREAS, After years of traveling across the United States, Woody Guthrie arrived in New York City in 1940, at the age of 28; it was here he wrote what was to become his best-known song, "This Land Is Your Land;" and WHEREAS, In New York, he met and married Marjorie (Greenblatt) Mazia; they moved to Coney Island in 1943 and lived there until 1952; it was at 3520 Mermaid Avenue that Woody and Marjorie raised their children, Cathy, Arlo, Joady, and Nora; among his favorite Coney Island activities were building sand castles on the beach with his kids and going to Nathan's for hot dogs and "hot patooties" (fries); and WHEREAS, After developing symptoms of Huntington's disease, Woody Guthrie was hospitalized and died on October 3, 1967; during his lifetime, he composed over 2,500 songs; he had a fervent belief in social, political, and spiritual justice and helped to establish folk music as a force for change and a viable new commercial genre; and WHEREAS, Songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Bruce Springsteen, Harry Chapin, John Mellencamp, Pete Seeger, Jerry Garcia and Tom Paxton have acknowledged Woody Guthrie as a major influence; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to remember the life and many accomplishments of musical greats such as Woody Guthrie, whose prominent career will forever live in the hearts of many and continue to inspire generations to come; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor the late Woody Guthrie upon the occasion of co-naming a street in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, in his name, in recognition of his legendary musical career and remarkable life; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York; Woody's children, Arlo Guthrie and Nora Guthrie; New York City Councilmember Mark Treyger; and Rabbi Andy Bachman.