If you have pledged or are planning to do so...

[Jessi Miano]

Greetings all

Thank you, everyone, for all your continuing support. We are at $1,050.00 so far, and counting.
In order to make sure we stay orgnized, i'm asking EVERYONE who has pledged, or who is willing to pledge, to send me their contact information and pledge amount in a private e-mail, *even if you've already stated a pledge on the list, or if you think i know your information anyways.*

Please include:

Full Name:
Pledge Amount:
E-Mail:
Phone Number:

You can send it to Jessi...@Gmail.com

Thanks again,
~Jessi

[Harriet Rita Semegram Barry]

Harriet R. Barry

$50.00

har...@wonderwomen.com

718-693-4322 or cell  646-456-3266

________________________

Wonderwomen Enterprises, Ltd.

718.856.5667 t / 646.456.3266 cell

www.wonderwomen.com

[Alan]

Alan Hawkins
$300.00
kok...@gmail.com
718 710 2553

This is for me and my mother.

-Al

[gochf...@aol.com]

WHY ARE PEOPLE PLEDGING MONEY FOR NOTHING?????

WE SHOULD CALL A RENT STRIKE!!!  NO OCCUPANCY, NO RENT!!!

[chris...@gmail.com]

'Cause I thought I might get my chicks for free?

Sent via BlackBerry -- now more berrylicious than ever!

---

From: gochf...@aol.com

Sender: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com

Date: Sun, 03 Oct 2010 15:10:10 -0400

To: <cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com>

ReplyTo: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com

Subject: 1022 RENT STRIKE!!!

[freckl...@aol.com]

Bob, this is very interesting.  Are you sure that the landlord does not have the key and therefore cannot offer occupancy for our rent?  If this is true, why indeed, are we going to take our money and donate it to the landlord?

 

We need to put this on tomorrow's agenda for investigation.  In fact it should be number one on the agenda.

 

Joanne

[William Cerf]

No, no you gotta be nice to the chicks, ya know take 'em to dinner at an over-priced restaurant, go to a movie or a play, romance them a little. Then .......

How off topic can we get???

--
Blog: http://newtownvision.blogspot.com/
___________________________

Founded by veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Modern Whig Party is a revitalization of the historic Whig Party. It is a centerist party that stands for Methodology over Ideology.

See http://www.modernwhig.org

For New York Residents see:

http://www.nywhig.org

[William Cerf]

Perhaps we need to take the funds raised and put them in some kind of "escrow account." I believe that such accounts can be dedicated to a particular payee (i.e. Aaron, the landlord). We then inform the landlord of our action and tell him that the funds will be transferred to him upon getting occupancy for a period of 30 days.

William

[Gochf...@aol.com]

I have no knowledge about the 1022 lease other than what I have read here. The impression I have received is that the locks are still those of New York State and, like the lessee, the landlord does not have access. Perhaps someone who is more directly involved in the current lease and discussions with the landlord could step up and provide us with accurate information.

 

Bob

[Alan]

First of all, the last thing we need is to shout "rent strike!" at the landlord.  

Aaron didn't cause the locks to be changed, but appears to remain on our side despite all facts relating.

Second, the lease is in Debi's name, not 'our's'.  She is with us as well, despite the fact that this is the least of her debts.

DKMC dba Vox Pop collapsed.  Something must be done about the space at 1022.  

Ultimately that is between Debi and Aaron, but we are fortunate that they have a good relationship.  

This is our one opportunity to claim the space before it slips back onto the open market.

Of course I don't know what the state will do.  It may be that the keys won't come back for another week or two or more.

I can't say what Debi or Aaron may/not be compelled or obligated to do on monday, if we don't have the $3k.  It may be that Debi and Aaron would be 'stuck' without the keys and unable to make any other deal or demand rent from anyone else.  That's no reason to sour our position with rent strikes.

If we do have a few more weeks to raise funds, maybe we should set up an escrow account.  

The purpose of pledging funds at this stage is to show how much we want this opportunity.  We are asking both Debi and Aaron to hold onto this space against their mutual interest, for our benefit.  To keep it off the market and give us time to start a new company at 1022.

[Robbie Feinstein]

Hello Jessi,
Twenty dollars.
               Robert Feinstein (718)941-2036
 

---

From: jessi...@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 2010 20:17:05 -0400
Subject: If you have pledged or are planning to do so...
To: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com

[Debi Ryan]

We are still waiting for the keys to be returned from the State.  I was told that they were mailed, but on Friday they could not tell me what address they were mailed to.  They were going to find out and contact me on Monday.  We hope to have the keys to gain access to the space this week.

The State did not seize the property, the State seized the assets of Drench Kiss Media Corporation/Vox Pop contained in the property which they sold off at auction.  Now that the auction is completed and people's purchases have been picked up, the State will release the space since it was not a Vox Pop asset.  Neither the landlord nor anyone who moves into the space will have any liability with New York State.  The only person the State is holding responsible once DKMC is dissolved is me and I will not be part of the new organization so that there should be no concern.
 
I again spoke with Aaron, the landlord, and let him know that a community group was raising the funds to make a good faith payment on the space so that it does not get put back on the open market.  He said that he understood and if we needed a little more time, he would be willing to wait.  He is very supportive of having a community space at 1022.  He recognizes that in the past I was always good on my word and paid him a great deal of back rent that was owed by Sander.  He is willing to transfer the lease to a new organization if that is what I recommend.  He will have papers drawn up to be completed when the group is ready to commit to the lease.  It will need to have at least one personal guarantor.  He has been very patient and understanding.  I would not recommend that you start a relationship with him by taking such a strong adversarial stance.  At this point, he is one of your best allies. 
 
The space is a very coveted spot on a now popular strip, and is the only space that is permitted to have a front outdoor cafe.  There is a great deal of demand for this space and the landlord is willing to give the community an opportunity to get it together.  It would be a shame to give up this asset.
 
Debi Ryan





 

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Date: Sun, 3 Oct 2010 18:15:54 -0400
Subject: Re: 1022 RENT STRIKE!!!
From: kok...@gmail.com
To: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com

[William Cerf]

Greetings,

I completely agree with Debi here. We need to be very businesslike in our dealings and processes from hereon out. One of the things that the landlord will require (see below) is a qualified guarantor. Think about it. This makes perfect sense in view of all that has gone on in previous years. I think we should put this on the agenda to appoint a person(s) to find a guarantor so that when we are ready, we can  go to Aaron with solid information and funds.

See y'all tomorrow (Monday) night.

Cheers!
William

Please read what follows:

On Sun, Oct 3, 2010 at 9:19 PM, Debi Ryan <debi...@live.com> wrote:

 

<snip>

[Gochf...@aol.com]

Thank you Debi for correcting me regarding what was seized by the State.

 

I remain cautious with regard to the solicitation and payment of rent in advance on behalf of an organization or organizations that do not yet and may never exist.

[Rachel Wohlander]

Will Karma For Food

http://current.com/shows/unseen/76405162_will-karma-for-food.htm

[ala...@aol.com]

Hi Rachel,

Very provocative business model.

I have an indirect relationship with SEVA through the Microcredit Summit Campaign, which was the non-profit co-sponsor of PovertyFighters.com, the project I co-founded in 2000 to raise money for microcredit loans in the 3rd World.  SEVA is one of the oldest microlenders -- founded mid-1950s by Ela Bhatt, based on Gandhian principles. In other words I could communicate with SEVA to discuss some sort of conceptual collaboration with them.

Andy Laties

-----Original Message-----
From: Rachel Wohlander <rachel.w...@gmail.com>
To: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:43 pm
Subject: Re: 1022 RENT STRIKE!!!

[Debi Ryan]

Bob,
 
I understand and recognize your caution and if the group were to approach this without caution that would be foolish.  However, there is a difference between caution and throwing up roadblocks based on speculation.  There are, in fact, enough road blocks to this process without presupposing or fabricating more.  You clearly have a wealth of knowledge and that can be a wonderful asset to this group.  Please help us to find the solutions to the potential issues we may face but do try to do it in a more positive manner.  It is easy to say it won't work.  The challenge is to figure out how it can.

There is a group of people that believe that creating a community center that focuses on the arts is both a viable and needed component in the community.  If you don't believe in that cause, that is certainly your perogative.  If you have another project you would like to work towards, please do submit a solid business plan, a potential location and a budget and it can be discussed.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I think this group is a great forum for a variety of different projects.
 
Right now, I believe that a number of people on this list have decided to determine the feasibility of an arts center located at 1022 Cortelyou Road.  And it is important that the comments remain constructive and positive in order to reach this goal.  I agree, there are many steps to be taken to make this possible and I believe the group has started on a good plan of attack.  Do continue to help in this process by sharing your insight and with each issue please try to include a potential solution. 
 
Working together as a community towards a common goal is a very powerful force.  Let us keep that positive power and fulfill a dream.

---

From: Gochf...@aol.com
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 2010 21:54:02 -0400

Subject: Re: 1022 RENT STRIKE!!!

To: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com

[Harriet Rita Semegram Barry]

Although I have supported the community idea by pledging $, I want offer my vote for the arts community center and support Debi Ryan's carefully thought out statements.

Harriet

Harriet

[freckl...@aol.com]

Thanks so much Debi!

 

Joanne

-----Original Message-----
From: Debi Ryan <debi...@live.com>
To: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com

=

[Gochf...@aol.com]

I can't make the meeting tonight; however, in an effort to be productive, let me attempt to offer some skeletal suggestions regarding a business plan.

 

Assume, for these examples, a simple art gallery model (simpler than a multi-use facility).

 

Business model #1 - pure capitalist enterprise.

Jane Jones owns a lease on space. She turns it into an art gallery. She obtains financing through loans or investors, or her own capital reserves and buys art work from artists who are paid at the time of their sale. She exhibits the art work in her gallery. She sells it for a profit accruing only to her gallery.

 

Business model #2 - second pure capitalist enterprise

Jane Jones owns a lease on space. She turns it into an art gallery. Artists send her art work on consignment for an agree-upon period of time. She exhibits it in her gallery. She sells it and takes a share of the proceeds or commission, the rest going to the artist only after she sells the artwork. If the art work doesn't sell, the artist takes the art work back. (There may or may not be something owed to the gallery owner for the time exhibited.)

 

Business model #3 - third pure capitalist enterprise

Jane Jones owns a lease on space. She turns it into an art gallery. Artists rent exhibit space from her for a period of time to show their work. When the work is sold, she may get an additional commission. When the rental period is over, if the art work is not sold, the artist takes the art work back.

 

Business model #4 - hybrid capitalist/not-for-profit enterprise

Jane Jones owns a lease on space. She turns it into an art gallery. She wishes to be a patron of arts so she donates a sublease (with a set monetary value) to a not-for-profit association or consortium of artists. She, the patron, takes an annual tax deduction for the value of the donated sublease (to the extent allowed by the Internal Revenue Code). The not-for-profit association holds gallery exhibits open to the public at which the works of art shown by the association's members can also be purchased. The artists profit from the sale of their art work or, if it isn't sold, take the art work back at the end of the exhibit. The association may have membership dues or may charge the members a nominal fee for exhibiting to cover such things as hanging costs, cleaning, sanitation, electricity... 

 

Modifications of these models can be developed for cafe use, performance space, subleasing office space to not-for-profits (or perhaps private business people who need small offices), or a multi-use space. I personally don't see a way to run a not-for-profit coffee shop (absent church sponsorship), but perhaps someone else can come up with a model that works.

 

For all of these models, or any other model for that matter, the market has to be closely examined to see if sufficient revenue can be generated to cover all of costs associated. The questions have to be asked:

Is there a market in this community for a small art gallery, sufficient to generate revenue to cover its costs?

Is there a market in this community for another cafe, sufficient to generate revenue to cover its costs?

Is there a market in this community for another performance space, sufficient to generate revenue to cover its costs?

Is there a market in this community for small shared office space, sufficient to generate revenue to cover its costs?

Is there a market in this community for some sort of multi-use facility, sufficient to generate revenue to cover its costs?

 

If the revenue can't cover costs, as we have seen before, the enterprise cannot survive. The point of having a hybrid capitalist/not-for-profit is that the patron doesn't need the revenue and is happy with the tax deduction for paying the rent and the not-for-profit operates without the expense of a lease, which, in the case of 1022 Cortelyou is just under $3000 per month... in round numbers, $36,000 per year, more if elsewhere at a higher-priced location.

 

I have seen suggestions in these e-mails that, for any assignment of the existing lease on 1022 Cortelyou to a new organization, there would have to be a private guarantor of that lease. That strikes me as a no-win situation for the proposed guarantor. It's not at all like a parent guaranteeing a lease for their child with whom there is a presumably strong familial connection. It might be better searching for a "patron of the arts" type to take on the assignment of the lease [with a sublease to a not-for-profit] who could at least benefit from donating space to a not-for-profit arts center.

 

Bob Gochfeld

[Brenda Koenig]

Why does the list have to b private?  Who r the administrators of this project?  Will there b a board (as in the Vox Pop style)?  Or will it b comprised of individuals who actually meet & discuss with all the members(following a democratic plan)?  Who will b the treasurer, taking minutes, CEO?  Because the last venture seemed to b quite unstable.

Brenda Koenig

 



 

---

From: jessi...@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 2010 20:17:05 -0400
Subject: If you have pledged or are planning to do so...
To: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com

[Harriet Rita Semegram Barry]

YES, I PERSONALLY WOULD WANT IT PRIVATE IF I AM TO DONATE.

Harriet

[Hagen]

I wanted to confirm if the meeting is happening tonight at Qathra from
7- 8pm

I also wanted to restate & add to some thoughts I previously mentioned
on the Vox Pop shareholders group in support of a non profit community
arts center at 1022:

I personally love the idea of having a community center on Cortelyou
Road that could function as a coffee shop, meeting place, performance
venue & community/ arts center with entertainment & education,
continuing ed & outreach/ after school & summer programs in visual
arts, music, film, dance, theater, writing, spoken word & also
involves community projects in the surrounding area.

So, I would like to include a few links here many (most?) of which you
probably know of, just in case they inspire anyone or anything:

"You know alot when you lose something. When you've got it, you don't
know." http://youtu.be/5X6W-AL3Csw

• "Brooklyn Arts Council" could be a valuable collaborator on such a
project, they work with schools to tailor after-school arts programs
to meet ... an array of arts, including: painting, music, sculpture,
puppetry, mosaics, etc. Art has a unique ability to bridge cultures,
inspiring positive transformation in individual lives and entire
communities." http://www.brooklynartscouncil.org/documents/676

• "Art Center Cafe/ Wellsville Creative Arts Center" coffee shop &
community/ arts / culture center https://www.wellsvillecreativeartscenter.com/aboutus/aboutushome.cfm

• "3rd Ward" http://www.3rdward.com/

• "Everyman coffee" coffee shop combined with "The Classic Stage
Company theater" http://manseekingcoffee.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/everymanespresso/

• "Common Grounds" http://www.commongroundsny.com/

- "Governor's Island Arts Fair" http://www.4heads.org/

- "Apollo theater" outreach programs http://www.apollotheater.org/education.html

-"Youth Arts" arts programs for youth at risk
http://americansforthearts.org/youtharts/appendices/

Loving Seva!

Smiles,

Hagen

On Oct 3, 10:54 pm, alat...@aol.com wrote:
>  Hi Rachel,
>
> Very provocative business model.
>
> I have an indirect relationship with SEVA through the Microcredit Summit Campaign, which was the non-profit co-sponsor of PovertyFighters.com, the project I co-founded in 2000 to raise money for microcredit loans in the 3rd World.  SEVA is one of the oldest microlenders -- founded mid-1950s by Ela Bhatt, based on Gandhian principles. In other words I could communicate with SEVA to discuss some sort of conceptual collaboration with them.
>
> Andy Laties
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rachel Wohlander <rachel.wohlan...@gmail.com>
> To: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com
> Sent: Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:43 pm
> Subject: Re: 1022 RENT STRIKE!!!
>
> Will Karma For Food
>
> http://current.com/shows/unseen/76405162_will-karma-for-food.htm
>

[Jessi Miano]

All these questions and more will be discussed at the meeting tonight (monday). It's going to be at Qathra on Cortelyou Rd. at 7pm. I hope you can make it out :)

~Jessi

[Jessi Miano]

Yes it is, Hagen. I will probably be there around 6:30 to make sure we have a space to meet. I love your suggestions, and if you have the time, it'd be great if you can print something out about each so we can discuss them at the meeting. i unfortunately don't have a printer, and Qathra does not have internet yet.
See you tonight!
~Jessi

[Brenda Koenig]

If list of "donations" r tb private, who will b responsible for the accurate account of monies collected? will there b an escrow account opened & if so who or what name will the account be under. And will there b a second person to oversee the funds and that payments are allocated properly?  Just my 2 sense, I wouldn't want to see any discrepancies re: funds donated toward this cause.  Interested parties could always donate anonymously for privacy.
Brenda Koenig
 



 

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Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 12:50:14 -0400
From: har...@wonderwomen.com
Subject: Re: If you have pledged or are planning to do so...

[Jessi Miano]

I think you may have misunderstood my request, Brenda. i will NOT be accepting any money until our goal is met. Currently, i am only asking for pledges. I asked for people to send their information via a private e-mail so that people don't have to post their personal information on a web forum. I have a running list of who has pledged what, and the current total is $1,100. William is in the process of researching an escrow account for when it comes time to collect, an will be reporting to us at the meeting tonight. Again, i hope you can make it, because i feel most of your questions will be addressed and answered tonight.

~Jessi

[Brenda Koenig]

Thanks, Jessi.  Hope I can make it, too!

Brenda Koenig
 



 

---

From: jessi...@gmail.com

Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 14:17:12 -0400

Subject: Re: If you have pledged or are planning to do so...
To: cortelyou-com...@googlegroups.com

[Alan]

I can make some prints here at school, I'll bring what I can.

[Kyle Nelson]

Jessi and group,

Will the meeting last until Qathra closes at 9? While I probably will miss most of the meeting (I work until 8), I would love to meet everybody.

-Kyle

[Jessi Miano]

Kyle,

I would imagine that, give the amount we have to talk about, we will probably be there when you get out of work. If you wanted to check before coming, you can give me a buzz 516-695-9072.
Hope to see you there!

~Jessi