Brooklyn Paper: Council Candidate Justin Krebs Announces Endorsements from 100 Artists

by Ben Verde

City Council Candidate Justin Krebs, who’s running to replace term-limited Councilmember Brad Lander, got a boost from 100 artists ahead of the June 22 primary election — marking the formation of ‘Artists for Justin.’

Krebs, a co-founder of the off-Broadway theater The Tank, is running to represent the 39th Council District in Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Windsor Terrace, and Kensington, where a strong backing in the arts community could be advantageous.

The endorsements come after an unparalleled time of difficulty for artists in New York with most performance spaces shuttered and thousands who were employed in the theater industry out of work.

“The arts aren’t optional, they’re a critical component of the lifeblood of New York City,” Krebs said. “We are proposing clear and actionable policies to revitalize the arts in this city because there is no city recovery without an arts and culture revival.”

Krebs called for a number of city-wide policies that would foster recovery for the arts section as the city reopens amid widening vaccine access. The would-be pols proposals include low-interest loans for arts organizations, guaranteed inclusive spaces for the arts as a part of rezonings, commercial rent control for arts spaces, and policies that would directly employ artists similar to the New Deal-era Works Progress Administration.

“Our arts and cultural spaces cannot be held hostage to changing financial demands from landlords,” Krebs said. 

Among those endorsing the candidate is playwright Amy Herzog, writer and musician Kyle Jarrow, and comedian Negin Farsad. 

“Justin is the definition of a community-minded person, an activist, an organizer, and a fighter,” said Farsad. “I trust him to have progressive solutions to our problems, I trust him to put his district and this city first.” 

The primary elections are June 22. Register to vote here.