Cooper Square Committee

Cooper Square Committee
AbbreviationCSC
Founded1959; 65 years ago (1959)
FounderFrances Goldin[1]
Legal status501(c)(3)
PurposeTenant rights, affordable housing, neighborhood preservation
HeadquartersNew York, New York
President
Joyce Ravitz
Executive Director
Steve Herrick
Websitecoopersquare.org

Cooper Square Committee is a nonprofit organization based in New York City that has been actively involved in advocating for affordable housing, tenant rights, and urban planning since its establishment in 1959. The committee was formed in response to the urban renewal projects that were threatening the Cooper Square area in Lower Manhattan during the mid-20th century.[1][2][3][4]

Cooper Square Committee has been involved in various campaigns and initiatives over their years in operation to preserve affordable housing and protect tenants' rights in the face of gentrification and development pressures. The committee has worked to prevent the demolition of existing affordable housing units, promote the construction of new affordable housing, and empower residents to participate in the decision-making processes that affect their neighborhoods.[5][6][7][8]

In addition to its advocacy work, Cooper Square Committee has also been engaged in community organizing, providing resources and support to residents facing eviction, harassment, or other housing-related issues. The committee has a long history of grassroots activism and has successfully mobilized community members to push for policy changes and hold developers and landlords accountable for their actions.[9][10]

  1. ^ a b Roberts, Sam (2020-05-18). "Frances Goldin, a Crusader for the Lower East Side, Dies at 95". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  2. ^ Guimarães, Clau (2024-06-24). "The Cooper Square Community Land Trust on the Lower East Side: A Model of Community Planning, Power and Tenure Since the 1960s". RioOnWatch. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  3. ^ Holtermann, Gabriele (2023-10-10). "'I don't want to be forgotten': Lower East Side street corner named after housing activist Frances Goldin". amNewYork. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  4. ^ "Mission & History". Cooper Square Committee. 2019-06-13. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  5. ^ Kaysen, Ronda (2017-04-28). "Tenants Offered Buyouts Are Left in the Lurch". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  6. ^ Navarro, Mireya (2014-07-09). "As New York Landlords Push Buyouts, Renters Resist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  7. ^ THE CITY (2023-12-08). "NYC Council Tackles Apartment Warehousing: New Bill Empowers Tenants to Report Vacant, Hazardous Units". W42ST. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  8. ^ "Our Historical Accomplishments". Cooper Square Committee. 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  9. ^ Kavanagh, Brian (2023-03-27). "East Village Tenants Rally Against Corporate Landlord and Call on New York State Legislature to Pass "Good Cause Eviction" Bill". NYSenate.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  10. ^ Eckhaus, Phyllis (2024-05-23). "Avenue A tenants decry landlord after fires, demand cleanup". The Village Sun. Retrieved 2024-07-21.