May 26 (UPI) -- A Washington, D.C., man is fighting to keep the giant Transformers statues outside his home -- and he's involved actors from the franchise in his efforts.
Newton Howard, a renowned brain scientist, commissioned an artist to create the massive statues of Autobots Bumblebee and Optimus Prime from old car parts in January 2021, and the installation of the two Transformers sculptures quickly received complaints from neighbors.
Howard's neighbors in Georgetown complained the statues don't match the neighborhoods aesthetic and represent a safety hazard due to drawing in a steady stream of visitors seeking photos with the Autobots.
The statues were a subject of discussion at the District's monthly Public Safety Committee meeting, which was held virtually on Thursday. Howard brought along actors Peter Cullen and Dan Gilvezan to speak in favor of the artworks. Cullen has voiced Optimus Prime in numerous animated and live-action Transformers projects, and Gilvezan voiced Bumblebee in the original 1984-87 Transformers animated series.
"I understand that some people think these statues don't fit the character of the neighborhood, that they stand out like a sore thumb," Gilvezan told the committee. "First I resent being compared to a sore thumb. A healthy well-functioning thumb -- maybe. But a sore thumb -- never."
The Public Safety Committee ruled in favor of the neighbors, saying the statues should be removed, but Howard said he will continue to fight to keep the Autobots in place. He said he is prepared to take the case to court.
D.C. Panel Calls On Man To Boot Down Giant Transformers On Sidewalk
Ben Blanchet
Workers stop to admire and photograph Bumblebee outside the entrance of Howard's home in the Georgetown neighborhood in 2021.
Workers stop to admire and photograph Bumblebee outside the entrance of Howard's home in the Georgetown neighborhood in 2021.
D.C. Shadow Sen. Paul Strauss, an attorney representing Howard, argued at the Thursday meeting that the bots don’t “endanger” the public, according to DCist/WAMU.
“The allegations that they are contributing to a traffic or dangerous activity is just laughable,” he said.
Peter Cullen and Dan Gilvezan ― voice actors of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, respectively, in the original “Transformers” series ― also joined the meeting to back Howard’s pleas to keep the statues put.
“Now, I understand some people think that these statues don’t fit the character of the neighborhood, that they stand out like a sore thumb. Well, first, I resent being compared to a sore thumb,” Gilvezan said. “A healthy, well-functioning thumb, maybe, but a sore thumb?”
“The Mandalorian” star Emily Swallow, who was born in D.C. and plays The Armorer in the “Star Wars” series, also testified in support of Howard.
Strauss, in an interview with DCist/WAMU, responded to the committee’s decision and assured that the fight for the Autobots is “not over yet.”
“Obviously there’s a variety of legal options but we want to get a better sense of whether reapplying with certain modifications may make some sense,” he said.
“At the end of the day, this should be a decision made by D.C. residents, not federal appointees,” Strauss added. “Dr. Howard’s front porch does not involve a federal interest.”
Ben Blanchet
HUFFPOST
Fri, May 26, 2023
Some Washington, D.C., residents aren’t fans of a pair of Transformers statues meeting their eyes in their Georgetown neighborhood. And they may get their wish after a D.C. panel called on the owner Thursday to remove the robots from the sidewalk.
Dr. Newton Howard, a billionaire neuroscientist at Georgetown University, owns the sculptures and placed them outside his home over two years ago. A statue of Optimus Prime overlooks the street below while Bumblebee and another Transformer greet visitors on the ground.
The statues have reportedly brought tourists, children and fans of the iconic franchise to the street, and several visitors who spoke to Washington’s News4 appeared to delight in their presence.
But complaints to several area groups show neighbors haven’t all enjoyed seeing the Transformers roll out onto their block.
“It is clear that ‘transformer robot’ structures sitting on planters are clearly inconsistent with the goal to preserve the historic nature of Georgetown,” read a 2021 letter from six of Howard’s neighbors, according to WUSA9.
“We are not naive and understand why people stop and look at the ‘Transformers.’ They need to be, however, in a location suitable to safe vehicular and pedestrian traffic and where residents will not share an unnecessary burden by their presence,” wrote Catherine Emmerson on behalf of a citizens’ group on the Georgetown street in March of this year.
The complaints were enough to spark D.C.’s Public Space Committee, a government body that decides on the use of public space for matters like sidewalk cafes, to decide Thursday that the bots should be removed from the sidewalk, WUSA9 reported.
A separate, three-person federal board ― which reportedly approved the statues’ six-month installment back in 2021 ― called last month for Howard to remove the bots.
Fri, May 26, 2023
Some Washington, D.C., residents aren’t fans of a pair of Transformers statues meeting their eyes in their Georgetown neighborhood. And they may get their wish after a D.C. panel called on the owner Thursday to remove the robots from the sidewalk.
Dr. Newton Howard, a billionaire neuroscientist at Georgetown University, owns the sculptures and placed them outside his home over two years ago. A statue of Optimus Prime overlooks the street below while Bumblebee and another Transformer greet visitors on the ground.
The statues have reportedly brought tourists, children and fans of the iconic franchise to the street, and several visitors who spoke to Washington’s News4 appeared to delight in their presence.
But complaints to several area groups show neighbors haven’t all enjoyed seeing the Transformers roll out onto their block.
“It is clear that ‘transformer robot’ structures sitting on planters are clearly inconsistent with the goal to preserve the historic nature of Georgetown,” read a 2021 letter from six of Howard’s neighbors, according to WUSA9.
“We are not naive and understand why people stop and look at the ‘Transformers.’ They need to be, however, in a location suitable to safe vehicular and pedestrian traffic and where residents will not share an unnecessary burden by their presence,” wrote Catherine Emmerson on behalf of a citizens’ group on the Georgetown street in March of this year.
The complaints were enough to spark D.C.’s Public Space Committee, a government body that decides on the use of public space for matters like sidewalk cafes, to decide Thursday that the bots should be removed from the sidewalk, WUSA9 reported.
A separate, three-person federal board ― which reportedly approved the statues’ six-month installment back in 2021 ― called last month for Howard to remove the bots.
Workers stop to admire and photograph Bumblebee outside the entrance of Howard's home in the Georgetown neighborhood in 2021.
Workers stop to admire and photograph Bumblebee outside the entrance of Howard's home in the Georgetown neighborhood in 2021.
D.C. Shadow Sen. Paul Strauss, an attorney representing Howard, argued at the Thursday meeting that the bots don’t “endanger” the public, according to DCist/WAMU.
“The allegations that they are contributing to a traffic or dangerous activity is just laughable,” he said.
Peter Cullen and Dan Gilvezan ― voice actors of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, respectively, in the original “Transformers” series ― also joined the meeting to back Howard’s pleas to keep the statues put.
“Now, I understand some people think that these statues don’t fit the character of the neighborhood, that they stand out like a sore thumb. Well, first, I resent being compared to a sore thumb,” Gilvezan said. “A healthy, well-functioning thumb, maybe, but a sore thumb?”
“The Mandalorian” star Emily Swallow, who was born in D.C. and plays The Armorer in the “Star Wars” series, also testified in support of Howard.
Strauss, in an interview with DCist/WAMU, responded to the committee’s decision and assured that the fight for the Autobots is “not over yet.”
“Obviously there’s a variety of legal options but we want to get a better sense of whether reapplying with certain modifications may make some sense,” he said.
“At the end of the day, this should be a decision made by D.C. residents, not federal appointees,” Strauss added. “Dr. Howard’s front porch does not involve a federal interest.”
More than meets the eye: Georgetown vs. giant Transformers statues
A brain scientist vows to fight to keep Optimus Prime and Bumblebee outside his home after a board says they have to go
April 8, 2023
Newton Howard stands outside his home with two Transformer statues.
A brain scientist vows to fight to keep Optimus Prime and Bumblebee outside his home after a board says they have to go
April 8, 2023
(Courtesy of Newton Howard )
If you’ve ever played with a Transformers toy, you know it starts out in one form and turns into another. Robots take shape from trucks, jets and dinosaurs.
To hear Newton Howard tell it, that concept of transformation, of humans and machines creating new possibilities together, is what compelled him to commission two giant Transformers statues and place them in front of his Georgetown home.
It’s also why, he said, he plans to fight to keep them there.
“We are transformers. We change things as humans,” said Howard, a brain and cognitive scientist who teaches at Georgetown University and whose work involves using technology to try to cure neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. He said the idea that people hold the power to transform the things around them contains “extraordinary value,” especially for children, and children often come to see the statues.
‘Bumblebee! Bumblebee!’: A 4-year-old got an epic surprise, and the strangers who gave it to him got something, too
Since putting the towering figures outside his rowhouse about two years ago, the father of four has seen children stop and marvel at the car parts within them, pose for photos alongside them and even leave flowers for them.
He has also seen grown-ups complain that the statues don’t fit in with the aesthetics of the historic block of multimillion-dollar homes, could be a safety hazard and draw people to the street in disruptive ways.
The statues depict Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. In the cartoon series and movies, those two characters are heroes. They fight to save humanity. But in Georgetown, in recent days, this was made clear: Some humans want them gone.
The Old Georgetown Board, a panel of architects that reviews projects in the historic district, voted unanimously Thursday to deny Howard’s request to keep the statues standing outside his home.
Howard said he learned about the vote only when he started receiving messages from friends who saw media coverage about the decision. An article in DCist quotes board Chair H. Alan Brangman as saying, “We hope that these statues will disappear in the not-too-distant future.”
Neighbors annoyed with one another’s outdoor decorating decisions are nothing new. Many of us can think of displays our neighbors have put outside that we would have preferred they kept inside. But when it comes to the conflict surrounding the giant Transformers, as the famous catchphrase for the franchise goes, there is “more than meets the eye.” The issue goes beyond aesthetics and artistic taste.
The Old Georgetown Board’s decision is just the latest development in a conflict in which lawyers have been hired, paperwork has been filed, and questions have been raised about historic preservation and personal freedom.
Before I go on, I should admit that I am a fan of Transformers. My older son has been obsessed with the toys and cartoons since he was a toddler, and I have grown to appreciate them through him. But even if I couldn’t rattle off the names of a dozen characters, I would sill think that Optimus Prime and Bumblebee should be allowed to remain standing in Georgetown. To quote Optimus Prime: “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.”
If what people choose to display outside their home is not offensive, dangerous or blocking access to the sidewalk, they shouldn’t be forced to dismantle it. And Howard’s display is none of those things. The statues stand on platforms that once held flowerpots and, he said, he hired an engineering firm to secure the statues in place and pays two security services to monitor them around-the-clock. If someone tries to climb on either of the statues, a real person will issue a warning through a speaker to stop.
Optimus Prime and Bumblebee don’t pose a public threat. That’s one reason they should be allowed to remain standing. Another: They bring joy to people.
In the days since the board’s decision, Howard has received messages from strangers expressing support for him and the robots. He shared some with me. They have come from parents, local business owners and Georgetown residents who don’t want to see the robots removed. In one message, a cancer survivor described purposely making an effort to pass the Transformers on the way home, “because they make me happy and I smile every time I walk by.”
“I have received so many beautiful messages,” Howard said. He described them as countering the “disappointing” words of his neighbors, which he characterized as aimed at keeping people out of the neighborhood. “The people that want this to be removed are people that are showing no grace, no openness, no inclusion, no invitation to others. It’s an awful message. It’s contrary to what I believe.”
The Old Georgetown Board had previously denied his request for the statues, but after Howard secured them to his home, he sent another request. Howard said the matter now will be considered by the Public Space Committee at a hearing that is scheduled for April 27. If the statues are ultimately ordered removed, he plans to take legal action, he said.
“I already called my lawyer and said, ‘Do whatever it takes,’” Howard said. He said he has spent nearly $100,000 fighting the issue and, while he doesn’t want to lose thousands more to it, he is prepared to. “It’s even worse if I’m able to spend that money and I don’t spend it and allow somebody to win with a message of bigotry: You are not welcome in my
If you’ve ever played with a Transformers toy, you know it starts out in one form and turns into another. Robots take shape from trucks, jets and dinosaurs.
To hear Newton Howard tell it, that concept of transformation, of humans and machines creating new possibilities together, is what compelled him to commission two giant Transformers statues and place them in front of his Georgetown home.
It’s also why, he said, he plans to fight to keep them there.
“We are transformers. We change things as humans,” said Howard, a brain and cognitive scientist who teaches at Georgetown University and whose work involves using technology to try to cure neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. He said the idea that people hold the power to transform the things around them contains “extraordinary value,” especially for children, and children often come to see the statues.
‘Bumblebee! Bumblebee!’: A 4-year-old got an epic surprise, and the strangers who gave it to him got something, too
Since putting the towering figures outside his rowhouse about two years ago, the father of four has seen children stop and marvel at the car parts within them, pose for photos alongside them and even leave flowers for them.
He has also seen grown-ups complain that the statues don’t fit in with the aesthetics of the historic block of multimillion-dollar homes, could be a safety hazard and draw people to the street in disruptive ways.
The statues depict Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. In the cartoon series and movies, those two characters are heroes. They fight to save humanity. But in Georgetown, in recent days, this was made clear: Some humans want them gone.
The Old Georgetown Board, a panel of architects that reviews projects in the historic district, voted unanimously Thursday to deny Howard’s request to keep the statues standing outside his home.
Howard said he learned about the vote only when he started receiving messages from friends who saw media coverage about the decision. An article in DCist quotes board Chair H. Alan Brangman as saying, “We hope that these statues will disappear in the not-too-distant future.”
Neighbors annoyed with one another’s outdoor decorating decisions are nothing new. Many of us can think of displays our neighbors have put outside that we would have preferred they kept inside. But when it comes to the conflict surrounding the giant Transformers, as the famous catchphrase for the franchise goes, there is “more than meets the eye.” The issue goes beyond aesthetics and artistic taste.
The Old Georgetown Board’s decision is just the latest development in a conflict in which lawyers have been hired, paperwork has been filed, and questions have been raised about historic preservation and personal freedom.
Before I go on, I should admit that I am a fan of Transformers. My older son has been obsessed with the toys and cartoons since he was a toddler, and I have grown to appreciate them through him. But even if I couldn’t rattle off the names of a dozen characters, I would sill think that Optimus Prime and Bumblebee should be allowed to remain standing in Georgetown. To quote Optimus Prime: “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.”
If what people choose to display outside their home is not offensive, dangerous or blocking access to the sidewalk, they shouldn’t be forced to dismantle it. And Howard’s display is none of those things. The statues stand on platforms that once held flowerpots and, he said, he hired an engineering firm to secure the statues in place and pays two security services to monitor them around-the-clock. If someone tries to climb on either of the statues, a real person will issue a warning through a speaker to stop.
Optimus Prime and Bumblebee don’t pose a public threat. That’s one reason they should be allowed to remain standing. Another: They bring joy to people.
In the days since the board’s decision, Howard has received messages from strangers expressing support for him and the robots. He shared some with me. They have come from parents, local business owners and Georgetown residents who don’t want to see the robots removed. In one message, a cancer survivor described purposely making an effort to pass the Transformers on the way home, “because they make me happy and I smile every time I walk by.”
“I have received so many beautiful messages,” Howard said. He described them as countering the “disappointing” words of his neighbors, which he characterized as aimed at keeping people out of the neighborhood. “The people that want this to be removed are people that are showing no grace, no openness, no inclusion, no invitation to others. It’s an awful message. It’s contrary to what I believe.”
The Old Georgetown Board had previously denied his request for the statues, but after Howard secured them to his home, he sent another request. Howard said the matter now will be considered by the Public Space Committee at a hearing that is scheduled for April 27. If the statues are ultimately ordered removed, he plans to take legal action, he said.
“I already called my lawyer and said, ‘Do whatever it takes,’” Howard said. He said he has spent nearly $100,000 fighting the issue and, while he doesn’t want to lose thousands more to it, he is prepared to. “It’s even worse if I’m able to spend that money and I don’t spend it and allow somebody to win with a message of bigotry: You are not welcome in my
No comments:
Post a Comment