Press Release: Over 100 Artists Endorse Justin Krebs for City Council
100 Artists for Justin Includes Actors, Producers, Musicians, Directors, Creatives, Comedians and Other Arts Professionals in Brooklyn and Across New York City
Krebs, co-founder of The Tank theater, demands a comprehensive plan to support artists and help theaters and other arts venues recover including commercial rent control, guaranteed inclusive spaces, a dedicated fund for low interest loans for small arts and cultural institutions, and more.
Brooklyn, NY -- Over 100 artists, including Pulitzer Prize Nominee Amy Herzog, Tony Award Nominee Kyle Jarrow, and Comedian Negin Farsad today endorsed political and cultural leader Justin Krebs for City Council. From Broadway directors, actors and dressers to composers, musicians, writers, choreographers and producers across the arts industry, supporters of 100 Artists for Justin hail from Brooklyn, throughout NYC and beyond. Today’s endorsements mark the launch of 100 Artists for Justin and follow Krebs’ continued advocacy to demand a comprehensive plan to revitalize the arts as a critical part of NYC’s recovery. The arts contributed an estimated +$100 billion to New York’s economy pre-COVID, which is part of why Krebs is making an ambitious arts and cultural revival a central part of his campaign.
“Let’s be honest: almost no industry has been hit harder than the arts. The arts aren’t optional -- they’re a critical component of the lifeblood of NYC,” said Justin Krebs (City Council Candidate and Co-Founder of The Tank.) “We are so proud to launch 100 Artists for Justin and thank all of the hardworking actors, producers, directors, creatives, musicians and all the theater professionals working behind the scenes who have just had such a devastating year. 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.”
“Justin leads with his heart, stands-up for what is right, and always makes sure that everyone has a seat at the table,” said Amy Herzog (Pulitzer Prize Nominee and Playwright). “I've seen how he creates change and brings joy—through politics, community and culture. New Yorkers need his voice and progressive leadership now more than ever as we figure out a way forward through this difficult year. I'm proud to call him a dear friend and excited to call him a City Council member.”
“I'm supporting Justin because of his firm commitment to progressive values and social justice, as well as his enthusiastic support for the arts and culture industry,” said Kyle Jarrow (Tony Award nominated, Obie Award winning writer and musician). “As an artist myself, I've seen how hard the city's arts sector has been hit by the pandemic. I know Justin will work tirelessly to help the industry come back strong, and help ensure NYC continues to be a cultural capital for the country which will help the City’s economy rebound for all New Yorkers.”
“My husband and I both work on Broadway, and we have been unemployed since March 2020 due to the pandemic,” said Julie Tobia (Broadway Dresser). “We are not alone. Most of our friends, colleagues and fellow union members are also without work. We support Justin Krebs for City Council, because of the importance he places on the safe and full restoration of the arts in New York City.
“Justin is the definition of a community-minded person, an activist, an organizer, and a fighter,” said Negin Farsad (Comedian; The Muslims Are Coming!, Nerdcore Rising). “I trust him to have progressive solutions to our problems, I trust him to put his district and this city first, I would even trust Justin with my own kid. I am entirely confident that he would be a tremendous asset to the City Council and a tireless champion for his district.”
As theaters and other arts spaces continue to face a prolonged shut down and arts and culture jobs face unprecedented losses, Krebs -- running in district 39 -- demands a comprehensive plan for revitalizing New York’s +$100 billion arts industry that includes commercial rent control, guaranteed inclusive spaces for the arts, a dedicated fund for low interest loans for small arts and cultural institutions, and programs to support individual artists through the pandemic.
"For more than a year, there has been no work for me or my fellow choreographers,” said Jacob Grigolia-Rosenbaum (Broadway Fight Director). “The core of my job is keeping actors safe, night after night and now more than ever we need leaders who will take action and protect the entire industry. I've known Justin Krebs as an advocate, as the founder of a venue for up-and-coming artists, and as an organizer for social change. As an artist and twenty year resident of District 39, I endorse Justin for his record of supporting the arts community in NYC, and for his vision of a safe, transparent and full reopening of our theaters."
"Justin's humanity, vision, his inherent trait to walk into a room and think 'how can I be of use', his unwavering optimism and imagination give me hope that we might be heading to a future that is far more equitable and sustainable than it ever was pre pandemic,” said Jorge Cordova (Actor; Black Mirror). “With Justin the arts community will have an advocate who will not see us as an afterthought to be figured out after everything else is in place, but as a principal player in the reimagining and revitalizing of our neighborhoods.”
“Art has always been a great medium to connect and harmonize many different communities in the wonderfully diverse New York city,” said SoHee Youn (Composer). “This is more important now than ever and Justin is the perfect leader to bring people from many backgrounds together through all varieties of artistic forms.”
Krebs is calling for NYC to be a national leader and adopt proposals to institute commercial rent control. “Our arts and cultural spaces cannot be held hostage to changing financial demands from landlords,” said Krebs. He’s also advocating for guaranteed inclusive spaces for the arts as part of any new rezoning plan citywide. And he’s offering policies to directly employ artists in fueling the city’s recovery, inspired by the New Deal and WPA.
“Artists have always been an indispensable ingredient in the unique New York recipe. And because rents are too damn high and artists' incomes are notoriously precarious, survival in New York has always been a huge challenge for artists,” said Jamie Jackson (Actor and Composer). “Of course, Covid has only made this situation worse - it has closed all the theatres and many other arts institutions so our survival now is ONLY possible if we have arts champions in office. Justin is such a champion. He is smart, creative and passionate about making art possible. I have complete faith in his vision and can't imagine a better voice for artists in New York today.”
Krebs’s background in the arts—as a founder and long-time board chair of The Tank, an 18-year-old performing arts venue dedicated to removing economic barriers for creating and enjoying new work in New York—has shaped his aggressive approach to revitalizing arts and culture. Through The Tank, Krebs has supported thousands of artists—avoiding layoffs throughout the pandemic—while also helping shepherd a community non-profit through the challenges of New York real estate and grow into an established feature of New York’s cultural landscape.
Influenced by real world experience, Krebs is also a rare candidate championing a dedicated fund to support arts and cultural institutions. “The fund would provide low-interest loans to cover moving costs and other capital expenses that many organizations currently don’t have access to,” said Krebs.
“Supporting theater through this crisis—from the smallest independent venues to Broadway stages—will take massive creativity, deep compassion and a real understanding of the performing arts,” said Eva Price (Producer; three-time Tony Award-winner). “Justin has these traits in his DNA. He's been a creator and innovator for decades and we need him and his skills in City Council so our arts and city can recover together.”
“Justin’s connection to the arts is deep and undeniable, stemming from decades of first-hand experience in the theater,” said Anya Epstein (Producer and Writer; The Affair). “He is that rare politician who understands how central the artistic community is to the vitality of our city; how music, dance, poetry, paintings, plays, television and film can help ALL of us process and heal. Electing Justin to City Council would be a huge and welcome step toward helping NYC — and the hoards of creative, uniquely talented people who live here — thrive once again.”
“New York City, if it is to ever regain its footing as the world’s cultural capital, we need a city leader who will not only champion the institutions, but the artists, who have been hit hardest by the pandemic,” said Daniel Goldstein (Broadway theatre director and writer).
“Justin’s vision for a NYC with a performing arts community that not only comes back from pandemic with renewed passion but becomes a bigger part of our city life, describes perfectly the city I want to continue living in,” said Chris Burke (Musician; Glowmag). “I’ve known Justin for about 15 years and he is a born motivator. He is a very sharp guy who cares deeply about his community and is willing to work hard to make the lives of his neighbors better. With Justin in office, I think the arts will have a new champion.”
“I trust Justin with my life! And as a self-employed entertainer making ends meet, I know that he's got my back,” said Michael O'Neill (Musician; MEN, CRICKETS, High Time, Ladybug Transistor).
100 Artists for Justins includes a broad coalition of professionals and practitioners in theater, dance, film, television, music, the visual arts, and comedy. Other artists include:
Alex Timbers (Broadway Director)
Alice Wu (Film Director and Screenwriter)
Andrea Coleman (Comic)
Andrew Wagner (Executive Producer, Wide Angle Productions)
Emma Straub (Author)
Gibson Frazier (Actor; Unsane, Frances Ha)
Greg Rae (Broadway Producer; Kinky Boots)
Josh Luxenberg (General Manager; Connelly Theater)
Julio Vincent Gambuto (Writer and Director; Team Marco)
Laura Murray (Brooklyn Based Artist)
Mike Rosenthal (Co-Founder; The Tank Theater)
N.V. Randall (Actor; How to Make It In America)
Patrick Rousseau (Board of Directors; The Tank)
Rebecca Hart (Musician)
Scott Blakeman (Political Comedian and Podcast Host; Just For Laughs)
Simon Feil (Actor)
Stephanie Sanders (Musician; Oceana)
Victoria Mack (Actor, Director, Writer)
Justin Krebs is running for City Council in District 39 in Brooklyn which includes the neighborhoods of Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, part of Borough Park, the southern part of Gowanus, the western parts of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, and the Columbia Waterfront District. For more information about his campaign visit www.justin2021.org
*These artists are endorsing Justin Krebs in their personal capacity, and not on behalf of any organization they are a part of. Their title and affiliation are provided for identification purposes only, and no endorsement by the organization should be implied.