STATE OF NEW YORK

DANIEL SQUADRON
SENATOR, 25TH DISTRICT

RANKING MEMBER INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEES CODES CONSUMER PROTECTION CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES & COMMISSIONS JUDICIARY TRANSPORTATION

September 21, 2011 Jamshed Bharucha President The Cooper Union 30 Cooper Square, 8th Floor New York, NY 10003 Dear President Bharucha: I write to add my concern to that of other elected officials and members of the community who call upon Cooper Union, as landlord of the St. Marks Bookshop, to consider reducing the rent of the bookstore. In this difficult economy St. Marks Bookshop is struggling to pay the rent that Cooper Union is currently charging, and a significant rent decrease would help preserve this indispensable neighborhood institution. St. Marks Bookshop has occupied its small space in Cooper Unions dormitory since the building was built in the 1980s and has since cemented its place as a vital small business and an important part of East Villages unique culture. The closing of this long-standing neighborhood institution would constitute a significant loss for the East Village community. Over 32,000 signatures have been added to the petition calling for Cooper Union to provide the bookstore with a rent reduction. This outpouring of community support and dedication to save the bookstore truly demonstrates how important this shop is to the East Village community. Given the opportunity presented here, I hope you will consider the St. Marks Bookshops request. Please feel free to call me or Rosemarie Diaz in my office at 212-298-5565; or at rdiaz@nysenate.gov. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely,

Daniel Squadron State Senator 25th District

ALBANY OFFICE: 515 LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING, ALBANY, NY 12247, (518) 455-2625 MANHATTAN OFFICE: 250 BROADWAY, SUITE 2011, NEW YORK, NY 10007, (212) 298-5565 BROOKLYN OFFICE: BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL ROOM 310, 209 JORALEMON ST., BROOKLYN, NY 11201