Lunch Break Post - Street Photography Permit?

I received the following forwarded email today at work:

All of a sudden we, as photographers, students and teachers, are facing serious restrictions by The Mayor's office about NYC street photography. I know you know Everyone. Would you alert them and have them sign or petition. We don't have much time with an August 3rd deadline.

Here is the URL with the petition to sign: just click on this: http://www.pictureny.org/petition/index.php
You can explore the rest of that site and the original call to arms - links to NY Times article on this; Billy's rally 6:30 union square friday and other info follow.

And then I found this on Gothamist. Aburd. Hope it doesn't eventually affect my camera phone photo ops ...