Westbeth Artist Housing, designed to provide affordable studios for artists to live and work is under attack. Artists have not been readmitted to their studios in the basement after the hurricane Sandy, although they had valid leases. Apartments are being warehoused and space for artists rented to outside people. Section 8 apartments have had their rents triple to market value, with the US taxpayer paying the difference.
Why is this important?
The artists of Westbeth are being harassed and forced out of their studios, many losing their livelihoods . No new artist applications are being accepted. Their art is being thrown into dumpsters. The low income tenants on Section 8 have had their rents tripled and the US government is paying the difference, although Westbeth legally is supposed to be low, affordable rents for artists. The hurricane Sandy is being used as an excuse to end Westbeth as affordable housing for artists, and a center for the arts. Artists live in fear for their homes and their art.
