(CelebrityAccess News Service) – Even after the Bottom Line asked its fans to write to New York's University's President John Sexton, New York State Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chuck Shumer, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Representative Jerry Nadler and City Council President Gifford Miller, to help save the famed Greenwich Village club,
New York University has rejected The Bottom Line's latest offer to resolve their eviction notice even with a mediator, Councilperson Alan Gerson, intervening on the club's behalf. The following is The Bottom Line's latest post on its website:
"After speaking with NYU President John Sexton, Councilperson Alan Gerson approached The Bottom Line late on Friday, December 5, 2003, to offer his good offices as a mediator-facilitator between The Bottom Line and NYU. The Bottom Line worked intensely with Councilperson Gerson over the weekend to craft an agreement that Gerson felt would meet NYU's needs and at least work as a starting point for reaching a lease agreement. Beyond including an initial payment to NYU of $55,000 to show good faith, The Bottom Line included a mentoring program for NYU students in the Music Business program, and a work-study initiative for NYU students.
"Today, that proposal (which we have included in its entirety) was unequivocally turned down by NYU's attorneys, who said that the University was not interested in any way, shape or form in entertaining this proposal or any proposal, and in fact had no desire to have any communication with The Bottom Line at all. NYU's response speaks volumes for their true intention, and perhaps their intention from the very beginning."
Submitted to NYU, Monday, December 8, 2003:
"In an effort to reestablish negotiations with New York University with the goal of reaching a mutually amicable settlement to the current situation, The Bottom Line would like to propose the following offer to President John Sexton and NYU: The Bottom Line will pay four months at the current rent of $11,250 for a total of $55,000, which shall be broken down in the following manner:
"$22,500 for November and December 2003 'use and occupancy' $22,500 prepaid for January through Feb 2004 'use and occupancy'.
"Furthermore, to show good faith, and to further establish The Bottom Line's desire to remain a tenant in their current location, an additional $10,000 toward arrearages will be paid in good faith, for a total of $55,000 by The Bottom Line to New York University. Payment of the $22,500 shall be made by the close of business on Tuesday, December 9, 2003.
"Payment of the balance shall be made by Tuesday, December 15, 2003. The above offer is extended with the following conditions:
"1) NYU agrees to stay the eviction and a complete stay of enforcement.
"2) NYU agrees to enter into good faith negotiations with The Bottom Line in a good faith effort to negotiate a new ten year lease. Councilmember Gerson, or a senior member of his staff, will act as a facilitator and/or intermediary.
"3) NYU and The Bottom Line agree to jointly prepare a press release, to be issued by Councilmember Gerson, announcing the combined efforts to resolve the current situation. In this press release, Allan Pepper and Stanley Snadowsky will thank NYU President John Sexton for becoming personally involved in the negotiations in order to try to help reach a beneficial resolution for all parties.
"4) As part of the ongoing negotiations, the Bottom Line will attempt to create a mentoring proposal which will allow NYU students from the Music Business Program to get hands on experience at The Bottom Line. Further, NYU students would be given priority hiring for all employment positions, and The Bottom Line shall work in tandem with the work-study offices at NYU.
"In light of the court's ruling, we would appreciate a response at your earliest convenience." –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
