{"id":1525,"date":"2021-12-31T15:11:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T15:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2021\/2021\/12\/31\/patti-smith-awarded-key-to-nyc-by-mayor-bill-de-blasio\/"},"modified":"2021-12-31T15:11:00","modified_gmt":"2021-12-31T15:11:00","slug":"patti-smith-awarded-key-to-nyc-by-mayor-bill-de-blasio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2021\/2021\/12\/31\/patti-smith-awarded-key-to-nyc-by-mayor-bill-de-blasio\/","title":{"rendered":"Patti Smith Awarded Key to NYC by Mayor Bill de Blasio"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Patti Smith<\/a> was awarded the key to NYC by Mayor Bill de Blasio just weeks before the end of his term on December 27, 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Patti Smith at Central Park Summerstage 10 by S. Malinski <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Key resembles the large skeleton key that opens the back door of City Hall, but is purely symbolic and it does not open any locks or doors in reality. It is a symbol of civic recognition and gratitude reserved for individuals whose service to the public and the common good rises to the highest level of achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Patti Smith was actually born in Chicago, Illinois she has considered NYC as her adoptive city  having grown up in South Jersey. Her love for the city is known wide and far so her receiving this symbol of civic recognition was obviously a big deal for her. Her reaction to this honor was saying,\u201cI wish I could give New York City the key to me, because that\u2019s how I feel about our city. With all its challenges and difficulties, it remains\u2014and I\u2019m quite a traveler\u2014the most diverse city in the world. To receive this at 75, it makes me look even more forward to the next 25 years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

De Blasio spoke of his decision to bestow the key to Patti Smith,”To me, Patti Smith has an authenticity that you just didn’t find… in that many places,” noting that she’s been called the “godmother of punk.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

De Blasio has been bestowing keys to a number of public figures apart from the legendary Patti Smith. Some of the public figures include legendary music producer Clive Davis (who helped stage the ultimately Mother Nature-interrupted “Homecoming” concert in Central Park), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for his indefatigable support for the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the full video of Patti Smith receiving this key bellow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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