Village Voice: State Senator Daniel Squadron Joins Supporters of St. Mark's Bookshop

The beloved St. Mark's Bookshop, still in the throes of their rent battle with the Cooper Union, has found another high-profile advocate in State Senator Daniel Squadron. Squadron is the second public official, after Borough President Scott Stringer, to write to Cooper Union President Jamshed Bharucha in support of the store. Here's an excerpt from that letter:

I write to add my concern to that of other elected officials and members of the community who call upon Cooper Union, as landlord of St. Mark's Bookshop, to consider reducing the rent of the bookstore. In this difficult economy St. Mark's Bookshop is struggling to pay the rent that Cooper Union is currently charging, and a significant rent decrease would help preserve this indispensable neighborhood institution.

St. Mark's Bookshop has received an outpouring of public support, with signatures on the petition to keep St. Mark's alive currently numbered at 35, 277 (sign!).

Runnin' Scared checked in today with co-owner Bob Contant for any updates. "We won't know anything until the Cooper Union board meets on Friday," he said. Business has apparently been good, though, with Contant saying, "It's been a very busy week."

If you want to help save St. Mark's Bookshop, sign the petition, or better yet, buy a book.

Read more here.