Don has been elected for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on June 10th, 2004 in New York City. Among the other 2004 honorees is David Bowie. This is major (and long overdue) honour. Many, many congratulations to Don.

http://www.songwriterhalloffame.org/

The Bottom Line has been a part of the cultural fabric of Greenwich Village for 30 years. For many of us it has also been an important part of the NYU experience. Unfortunately that experience is now in danger of extinction. Adding insult to injury that extinction would come at the hands of the club’s landlord, our alma mater.

You may have already heard that NYU has taken measures to evict The Bottom Line. You may have also heard that Sirius Satellite Radio stepped in to pay the back rent The Bottom Line owed to NYU. While that generous act has granted the club a short reprieve, the club is still in serious danger. The owners of The Bottom Line are due back in court on October 23, at which time NYU appears ready to resume their plans to evict.

It appears that University may not understand the importance of this issue. We have learned the following through concerned sources inside the University and City Government:

1. The new lease that NYU presented The Bottom Line is twice the amount of the lease proposed by NYU in 2000, at the peak of the real estate boom. 2. NYU, as a nonprofit institution, pays less than $60,000 a year in taxes on the entire building, an amount far bellow NYU’s yearly lease revenues from The Bottom Line alone. 3. NYU claims to be "subsidizing the club" yet has no other expenses other than these taxes as the landlord. 4. NYU stands to additionally gain by improvements made to the property by The Bottom Line.

Fortunately as alumni, a group that NYU doggedly pursues for contributions, we have leverage with the administration. We can use that leverage to demand that NYU do the right thing in dealing with The Bottom Line. We can let the current administration know that to do otherwise would be disregarding the history of the Village and tarnishing the image of the University. NYU has a huge opportunity to embrace The Bottom Line as an important asset for the school and its students rather than shortsightedly focusing merely on their real estate portfolio. We can't let them miss this opportunity.

By following the link to our petition in support of The Bottom Line, you can use your power as an alum to let NYU know that they can’t destroy this cultural institution without paying a price.

We would appreciate you forwarding this letter to other NYU alumni that may wish to help save The Bottom Line.

Thank you,

NYU Friends Of The Bottom Line

jefflang11@nyc.rr.com