Anyone walking down 7th Avenue in the Village last night had to be struck by the emptiness left by the disappearance of the Tiles for America hanging at the corner of 13th Street. I happened upon there today and found a group of people removing the tiles, joined by a couple of news crews. There was a very deliberate and orderly look to the whole affair and that gave it a sense of legitamancy.

I have been taking pictures of the memorial for years, so I found it fitting that I would be there for it’s removal. That is why I was shocked to wake up and read in the New York Post this morning that the removal had more to do with one group taking possession of the tiles before another group took them for a planned museum in Albany. Now I might agree that they belong here in the city, but who made them the self anointed purveyors of this property? I hope everything turns out alright for the tiles, but just because they took the time to remove them and put them in a box does not make them the owners, we are.