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July 9, 2010

URGENT MESSAGE FROM FR.CHRISTOPHER: Your Help is Needed AGAIN! Stop the Forced Land Marking of our Cathedral!

We ask our members, neighbors and friends to please come to Manhattan Community Board #3's Landmarks Committee meeting on July 15th at 6:00 p.m. (BRC Senior Services Center, 30 Delancey Street, between Chrystie & Forsyth Streets) to oppose landmark designation of our church. Your attendance and your testimony are needed and will make a difference. There are currently two well-financed preservationist groups who are pushing for our building to be landmarked against our opposition. We must show them that we will stand firmly against this or any future such hostile actions to take control of our property or make decisions concerning its use and future repairs.

A Sample Testimony is below. You may still submit written testimony if you cannot attend.

--- Sample Testimony
I urge the members of the Manhattan Community Board #3 Landmarks Subcommittee to oppose the forced landmark designation of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral at 59 East 2nd Street in the East Village against the opposition of its congregation. The current congregation has occupied this building for the past 67 years, and have been good neighbors and responsible caretakers of their beloved church. Landmark designation of this building will impose cost-restrictive fees on future upkeep, rendering necessary repairs to the facade unaffordable, and are an infringement on the Cathedral's first amendment rights. I view the actions of the EVCC and the GVPS as a hostile assault on this parish community, and urge you to not endorse them. The Cathedral has been and will remain good stewards without the intervention of any outside groups or governmental agencies. I hereby register my strong objection to any attempts to landmarking.

If you are unable to attend the Meeting, please send the above message (or one of your own opposing landmarking) to the following Contacts at Manhattan Community Board #3:

Susan Stetzer, District Manager sstetzer@cb3manhattan.org
212-533-6015

Carlos Rosa, Assistant District Manager
Archives and resolutions crosa@cb3manhattan.org
212-533-5300 x202

Edwin Chan, Community Associate
Agenda and SLA information echan@cb3manhattan.org 212-533-5300 x203

Carolyn Ratcliffe, Landmarks Subcommittee
212-533-5300