Seen a lot in my time in New York City. Saw the rise of CBGB’s and I’ve seen the end of it. Stood next to Joey Ramone playing pinball. Walked down Joey Ramone Place cursing cancer. Watched the South Tower fall in silence with my bare eyes from across the river in Jersey City. Saw my next door neighbor’s grief, knowing her son would not return from Cantor Fitzgerald that day. I lost family, I lost friends and I lost coworkers to the monster named AIDS in the 80’s and 90’s. Thousands of New Yorkers were murdered by that monster. Saw my hero walking down the street just like any average New Yorker. Felt proud he chose to make this town, his town. He was gunned down right in front of the love of his life, at the Dakota. New York City. Full of bluster,full of bombast,full of pride and covered in filth. I celebrated our empathy and loathed our apathy. It’s a tough place, filled with pricks,assholes and kind souls. I’m not special. I’ve just walked around here for a while and I just don’t want to forget. Did you see me around? I saw you.
there’s an AIDS memorial being built in NYC. At a place that used to be St Vincent’s Hospital. “The New York City AIDS Memorial Park at St. Vincent’s Triangle.”                           
http://nycaidsmemorial.org/ #911 #CBGB # Joey Ramone #JohnLennon #ActUp

audio montage and collage by Owen Plotkin