Benefit Concert Raises $50,000 For East Village Explosion Victims
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A sold out benefit concert headlining rocker Patti Smith raised money Sunday night for the victims of the East Village explosion and fire that killed two people and leveled three buildings last month.
As 1010 WINS' Roger Stern reported, Smith performed with other mostly East Village musicians just a block from the blast site.
Benefit Concert Raises $50K For East Village Explosion Victims
Local writer Alan Kaufman said he organized the event after finding himself returning to the scene of the explosion only to stare.
Photos: East Village Explosion
"It occurred to me at one point, maybe I can do something to help," he said.
Nick is one of the about 140 people displaced by the explosion, Stern reported.
"We greatly appreciate it. Honestly, I have no idea what it's going to do or what it's raising. I'm sure it will be good in the long run," he said.
Organizers raised $50,000 between ticket sales and donations, Stern reported. Contributors included Sting and Yoko Ono.
