The Armory Called the Police

An excerpt from The Journal

On one of the trips from the truck to Barbara, I saw the Community Affairs Police Van pull up in front [of Barbara], an officer get out and walk around her. A civilian man was waiting for him. I saw this on the southwest corner of 67th and Park, as it was happening; I knew the importance of my being present and urgently crossed the street. I held out my hand to stop the heavy traffic coming down Park, crossed, and did the same on the uptown side.

I came around the front of the van and walked right up to the officer and the civilian. The officer was ablaze with attitude. He asked me if this was mine. He asked what it was. He accepted that it was mine. Not at all did he accept that it was a vending stand. After telling him that officer Delgado was aware of my presence, he said, "That dick-head." I said that I had also spoken to Office Zorn and he said, "I've been at the 19th Precinct for 20 years and have never heard of him." The officer said that he did not think that I could be on Park Avenue, and I pulled out the list of applicable codes and rules, including the relevant restrictions for Park, which were all below 59th Street. You could see the wheels spinning in his head as he thought of other things to ask. He asked about my posted prices and I pulled a painting out and showed him the back. As though quoting the rule book, he said, "The prices are conspicuously posted." I supposed that he was recording the conversation. By this time, I had turned on my video camera. Much of the rest of the encounter is on the 14-minute video.