On September 29, I joined Council Member Rosie Mendez, Save Our Community Center CHARAS-64, East Village Community Coalition, Good Old Lower East Side, Community Board 3 and many other elected officials and community organizations at a rally celebrating the Stop Work Order issued by the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) at the former P.S. 64/CHARAS building (605 East 9th Street). This site has always been intended for the public benefit. For over a year, Council Member Mendez has called on DOB to deny the building owner’s alteration application to create dorm rooms for Cooper Union and the Joffrey Ballet School because the contractual lease agreements with the schools do not conform to requirements. On August 19, I sent a letter to DOB Commissioner Chandler echoing Council Member Mendez’s concerns. I want to thank Council Member Mendez and local advocates for their tenacity in ensuring that this building is truly used to benefit the neighborhood. We can’t allow developers to do end-runs around agreements put in place to ensure community use.