The MTA's promised crackdown on quality of life issues in the transit system has nabbed its latest scofflaw: Matthew Chavez, the artist behind the widely popular subway therapy installation.
On Thursday night, Chavez received his first ever ticket for his sticky note project, which has been a regular feature in the 14th Street tunnel between 6th and 7th Avenues for more than two years.
Chavez said he was approached around 7 p.m. by two NYPD officers, who told him they'd received orders from the MTA to issue him a $25 violation for violating the prohibition on posting signs in subway stations. "I’m well aware that what I’m doing is technically illegal, but I’ve been doing it long enough...my assumption was that Subway Therapy has been accepted in the public art realm of the subway," Chavez told Gothamist.
The rogue therapist first offered New Yorkers the chance to share their despair on Post-It Notes in the immediate aftermath of Donald Trump's election victory. Since then, he's been a regular presence in the tunnel, giving commuters space to open up about the deadly protest in Charlottesville, the 2018 midterm elections, and anything else on their minds. His backers even include Governor Andrew Cuomo.
But in the mad dash to eliminate low-level transit crime, support from the man who controls the subway is apparently not enough. A spokesperson for the MTA confirmed that station staff ordered them removed, citing "lewd, offensive, and profane language."
A photo shared with Gothamist by the agency shows a selection of messages deemed too provocative for New York City subway riders, such as "high af," "I'm that bitch," and "stressed tf out."
A portion of the 'lewd' messages that offended the MTA
"Station management requested assistance from the NYPD to safely remove that offensive material," the MTA spokesperson told Gothamist. "The individual involved with the project was cooperative in removing messages, and we appreciate New Yorkers’ desire to express themselves, but it must follow the rules.”
According to Chavez, the officers did not mention anything about offensive language. "That's news to me," he said. "If they would've said that to me, I would've taken them down." He noted that he's quick to remove any notes featuring hate speech. "But somebody saying 'I'm that bitch,' that could be empowering."
A spokesperson for the MTA would not say whether Chavez would be permitted to return to the spot, even if he does keep the installation clear of offending messages.
In recent weeks, the MTA and NYPD have been criticized for cracking down on other subway fixtures, including churro vendors and candy sellers. A plan to add 500 new MTA cops to the system has resulted in massive protests and questions about the agency's priorities.
Some straphangers expressed concern about the latest turn in enforcement.
"I get they're trying to improve the system but the MTA keeps policing the people who make the subway ecosystem more enjoyable, not the ones who make it worse," said Jacob Banas, a 26-year-old Inwood resident. "Seeing the artist's posts on my long commute home is one of the few things that have brightened my subway trips. I hope they don't stop."
Chavez confirmed he has no plans to end the subway therapy installation any time soon, and noted that he's not too upset about the ticket.
"The NYPD and the MTA have been very generous with me," he told Gothamist. "I know that they’re not so generous with other individuals. As a white man doing public art in New York, I have it a bit easier than other individuals that have the same objectives, but are treated differently."
