On January 8, 2015, Three Kings Day, New York City Councilwoman Rosie Mendez held a press conference on the steps of City Hall to deliver thousands of holiday cards carrying a message to Mayor de Blasio asking him to help return the former P.S. 64 school building on the Lower East Side to the control of community and cultural groups. The building, once managed and occupied by the community organizers led by CHARAS/El Bohio, has remained vacant for 13 years since being auctioned off and sold by Mayor Guiliani 15 years ago. Mendez was joined by District Leader Anthony Feliciano, State Committeeman Michael Farrin, and Valerio Orselli, Executive Director of Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association--all dressed as the Three Kings--alongside community residents and members of Save Our Cultural Community Center 64 and Manhattan Borough president Gale Brewer. Jeannie Hopper and our radio team fanned out to cover the event. This is the story.
In this program you will hear from city officials Rosie Mendez, Gale Brewer, and Anthony Feliciano; organization directors Valerio Orselli, Executive Director of Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association, Chino Garcia of CHARAS and Crystal Field of Theater for the New City; and local residents Linda Cohen and William Marollo.
