Let it be – not.
A homeless man, dubbed the “Mayor of Strawberry Fields” for his care of John Lennon’s memorial site in Central Park, has become a draw for tourists by the busload – and now cops are threatening to charge him with littering and assembling large groups without a permit.
Ayrton “Gary” dos Santos has held court at John Lennon’s memorial – located across from the legendary musician’s former home at The Dakota – for more than 15 years.
He’s known for spreading flowers into a peace sign across the “Imagine” mosaic and speaking about Lennon and the famed site to tour groups and other visitors.
But lately, it’s been many a hard day’s night for dos Santos, who local cops have peppered with warnings about littering the area and assembling large groups without prior approval.
He’s also been ticketed twice – on April 3, for having a group of 20 people at the memorial, and this past Friday, for a noise violation.
“They told me I needed a permit if I wanted to bring large groups of people,” said dos Santos, “But I don’t bring them here. The guides ask me to speak to them.”
He said he regularly speaks with tours that wander into the park but has been threatened with more summonses if he continues.
“I’ve been doing this for years, and all of a sudden, it’s a problem,” he said.
Law-enforcement sources said the city has received numerous complaints and that he has been a nuisance for years – harassing visitors, conducting tours for money, and even shaking down a Japanese film crew for cash to film footage for their documentary.
“When one person, like Mr. dos Santos, claims ownership of a particular area of the park and makes others feel uncomfortable, it threatens others’ enjoyment . . .” said a spokeswoman for the Department of Parks and Recreation.
But Jim Dykes, a guide for Rich and Famous Tours, said they’ve got dos Santos all wrong.
“He has never shaken down any of the groups I’ve brought there. He’s harmless,” Dykes said.
Dos Santos has collected more than 600 signatures for a petition that says he’s not disruptive and doesn’t beg for cash.
“I never ask for money. I do tell people that if they want to make a wish, they can throw some change into the guitar I place down,” said dos Santos. “All I’m trying to do is give what the brother [Lennon] wanted – peace.”