We received an email overnight from the Cooper Square Committee, which has been fighting to save the St. Mark’s Bookshop. They’re using today’s inauguration of Jamshed Bharucha, Cooper Union’s new president, as an opportunity to continue pressing the school to give the beloved bookstore a rent break.
Here’s a portion of the news advisory:
We will be singing and handing out an open letter to invitees as they enter the Great Hall. Let’s raise our voices together in song and ask those in power at Cooper Union to do the right thing and agree to the rent reduction before it’s too late – so that this vital landmark, which serves the diverse community of the Lower East Side, is not forced out of business!
Cooper Union has said it’s evaluating the situation but has not indicated publicly whether it will do anything to help the bookstore survive.
(Sung to the tune of Home on the Range, lyrics by Frances Goldin)
“Oh give me the word
That we long to be heard
That the St. Mark’s Bookshop will be saved.
That you know it’s a gem
With a stroke of your pen
That its’ future’s forever engraved.
LONG LIFE TO ST. MARK’S
IT WILL NOT BE FED TO THE SHARKS
It just needs less rent
And if that’s your intent
You will most likely earn
Real High Marks.
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