On May 15, I joined the SOCCC-64 coalition, Councilmember Rosie Mendez, Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, members of CB3, and Lower East Side residents in marching and rallying to save the former CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center located at 605 East 9 Street from being converted into student dormitories. Together, we delivered the message loud and clear to Gregg Singer, the current owner of the building, and Jamshed Bharucha, the president of Cooper Union, that the community does not want dormitories in our former community center. For decades, CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center was a cherished public space for Lower East Side residents and I will continue to work with allies to return the building to community use.