Picture New York

The Mayor’s Office of Theater, Film, and Broadcasting, which coordinates film and television production and issues permits around the five boroughs, is considering rules that could potentially severely restrict the ability of even amateur photographers and filmmakers to operate in New York City. The NY Times reports that the city’s tentative rules include requiring any group of two or more people who want to use a camera in a single public location for more than a half hour (including setup and breakdown time) to get a city permit and $1 million in liability insurance. The regulation would also apply to any group of five or more people who would be using a tripod for more than ten minutes, including setup and breakdown time. -(Excerpted from the Gothamist)

For the moment, the city government of New York has taken into reconsideration a set of regulations that would have deeply and adversely impacted the ability of creative people in New York to continue to be creative effectively. You have to applaud good government in reconsidering the proposed rules, which did not seem like good rules under any circumstance. It would have been shameful to make inaccessible the muse of New York city, the city itself, from one of its core constituencies, hungry, resourceful creative people who don't have a million dollars to spare. It appears that the issue may find a more appropriate resolution, but is worth watching still. Keep tabs at the Picture New York website.