The Franklin Street stop in TriBeCa, Manhattan and the Franklin Ave stop in Brooklyn got a little makeover this week in honor of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, who passed away from pancreatic cancer on Thursday, August 16th.
According to the NY Post, the MTA originally had no immediate plans to deal with the tributes. "When asked for comment, the agency's spokesman Jon Weinstein aptly replied, 'R-E-S-P-E-C-T.'"
However, unfortunately, by Friday morning, the memorial at Franklin Street had been painted over, leaving only the "Aretha makes me feel like a natural woman" on the steps.
The Crown Heights "Franklin Avenue" stop has been in an ongoing battle with MTA employees to make the memorials last.
And people on public transit have been coming together over the memory of the undisputed Queen of Soul:
According to The Gothamist there will be an all-star tribute concert to Aretha at Madison Square Garden in November.
New York stands as a living memorial to Ms. Franklin, who performed at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem when she was just 19 years old.
We miss you already, Aretha.
H/T: Indy100, Gothamist
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