After months of trying to negotiate a new lease and court battles with our landlord, The Bowery Residents Committee (BRC), we still do not have a new lease and need your help.
Even though the Manhattan Court ruled in our favor and clearly stated that we were mis-billed and do not owe any back rent, enormous legal fees are mounting and The BRC is appealing this ruling. In addition to these expenses we may have to fight an eviction process starting this Thursday. Please help us defray these costs and donate to Save CBGB today!
All money donated to help Save CBGBs is going directly into a separate Save CBGB account and will be used only for the purpose of saving the club!
We have again asked our landlord to meet with us and have stated we would pay a fair percentage increase in rent in addition to helping the BRC raise significant money through ongoing benefits. So please help us today by:
Ways to help:
Donate a few bucks to Save CBGB to help with legal bills.
Contribute through going to one of our benefit concerts
Contribute through our online auction (tons of items going up tonight!)
Contact the Mayors office.(see draft letter below)
Write New York Newspapers Editors and tell them why CBGBs is important to you (please include your name and contact info so they will know it is you)
Ask all of your friends to sign the save cbgb petition (we delivered over 30,000 signatures to the Mayor of New York)
Wear your CBGB shirts (new or old) this week to show your support
E-mail all your friends to take action!
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Contacting The Mayor's Office:
If you have not contacted the Mayor of New York's Office and asked them to get involved in Saving CBGBs - please use the link below to write the mayor a friendly letter (we are asking for his help to save the club)
Click here to write your letter.
Please read the following draft letter:
Draft Letter
The Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor of New York City
City Hall
New York, N.Y. 10007
Dear Mayor Bloomberg, We ask that you use your influence to ensure that CBGB's receives a new lease from the Bowery Resident's Committee (BRC) that has been unwilling to negotiate a new lease.
As you maybe aware, Judge Kenney ruled in a Manhattan Civil Court last week, that CBGBs does not owe the BRC money - and yet the BRC still refuses to sign a new lease.
CBGB's is not only a cultural icon, it is an important and vibrant tourist destination, and a live music venue for over 75 bands every week! Furthermore, the rock bands it develops includes: legends like the Ramones, Blondie, B52s, Talking Heads to modern day bands like Strokes, Bouncing Souls, Goo Goo Dolls, and Thursday.
CBGBs evolving art and music have helped generate thousands of jobs for the city while the BRC is non-profit charity almost exclusively funded by the city and state.
It would be inappropriate for taxpayer money to be used to evict this important NYC landmark. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
(please include your name, address, and phone number so the Mayor's office knows you are a real person that cares)!
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Other ways to contact the Mayor:
Please call the Mayor's Office directly at: 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC or 311 in NYC
You can also FAX your letter to Mayor Bloomberg at: (212) 788-2460
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BENEFIT SHOWS
The benefit shows are going great and it is amazing to see so many bands coming together and helping the cause. More and more benefit showshttp://cbgb.com/save_cbgb_benefit_shows.htm
DONATE
Save CBGB Campaign Today (Save CBGB T-shirt designed by Ramones Artist Arturo Vega!)
AUCTION
Dozens of new items will be posted tonight! Autographed items by: Sting, Motorhead, Anti-Flag, The Bangles, Elvis Costello, and many many more - visit our online auction!
NEWS
To read more about the ongoing battle and the support we are receiving visit: Newsday.com, Bloomberg News and Little Steven's Underground Garage!
All donations will be used for CBGBs efforts to renew their lease and solve their landlord/tenant issues - All additional funds will be donated to the homeless once this dispute is settled. Contributions to SaveCBGB.org are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Thanks for all the help and support - we will keep you posted!
