Exactly a month after the mutually-agreed upon deadline of November 11, and nearly two months after we first delivered our own proposal into their hands, Landlord Simeon Bruner's negotiator Richard Bluestein has responded to our document with a counter proposal. The PCGTA's Board of Directors/Steering Committee and our full Negotiations Team, including our Attorney Harvey Shapiro, Development Consultant Emily Achtenberg and Greater Boston Legal Services' Attorneys Jeff Purcell and Jay Rose are studying this proposal very closely and will respond to it appropriately.

In its general terms, the Landlord's proposal offers some rent concessions to low and moderate income persons. While we do not believe the proposal adequately meets the needs of our membership, it is the first clear indication that the Landlord is truly prepared to sit at the negotiating table and engage in a constructive process.

This is a positive sign, and we have every reason to be cautiously optimistic at this most hopeful time of year. Further updates will be provided at our next General Meeting, as yet unscheduled, but be sure to attend when it is.

On Sunday, December 14, the Piano Craft Guild Tenants' Association hosted a Winter Carnival in the Danny Sloane Community Room. Many tenants, old and new, young and not-so-young attended the festivities, which included, literally, dancing in the halls. Major coordination of the event was handled by Fritz Winegardner, with set-up assistance provided by Michael Penn, Gene Jarvis, Christian Faust, Stella Acelas, Ramzieh Hassan and Mara Prelack, who created a warm, intimate, "living room" atmosphere with the strategic placement of candles and household lamps. Major food and drink contributions came from many tenants, including Davis Robinson and Libby Marcus, Michael Penn, Gene Jarvis, Stella Acelas, Alice Herrlin, Anna Thal Reno and Donna Asali and many others. Veronique Epiter-Smith sang, Ramzieh Hassan danced and Michael Penn recreated the disco era with an Afro wig and 12-inch platform shoes. Clean-up was handled by Roberto Chao and Bill O'Connell. Thank you to all who participated, and the best of Holiday Seasons to all.

PCGTA MEMBER RECOVERING

Chuck Smith has been a major contributor to the vitality of the PCGTA since its beginning. Recently, Chuck underwent major surgery, and is now recovering here at home. He'd like to hear from his neighbors, so give him a call or slip a note under his door and send him the Greetings of the Season. Get Well Soon, Chuck!

SEARCH FOR MEMBERS
We are looking for the current addresses and/or phone numbers of the following former Piano Factory residents who have moved out of the building in the past two years. If you have any idea how to reach any of these former neighbors, please contact PCGTA Board member Fritz Winegardner. The names are listed alphabetically:

Mark Braxton; Ken Budd; Jeff Burk; Regina Corbin; Mary, Esiaih, Chris & Belinda Davis; Mark & Valerie Fletcher; Ellen Freund; Joelle Garfi; Ted Glor; Gloria Graves; Walter Hawk; Joab & Jonathan Herman; Patty Horvath; James Lauchlan; Cinmac Moalleni; Michael Oster; Rick Ouellette; Lorrainne Physic; Daniel Prestia; Ted Roland; Lisa Serepca; Constance Smith; Ben Tisdale; David Voss; DeShawn Witaker; Karen Yee.

Tenants from the Piano Factory celebrated the second anniversary of the deadline for signing Simeon Bruner's proposed (and still illegal) leases on Saturday morning Dec. 20 in front of Bruner's house in the very posh Brattle Street district of Cambridge. The Cambridge Eviction Free Zone and the Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants joined the Piano Fighters in our classic red shirts to serenade the landlord with new versions of some old standards.

"Bruner, the Greedy Landlord." "O Come, All Ye Tenants", and "Deck the Halls (with Bruner's Folly)" were just some of the new twists on familiar tunes.

The Ghost of Affordable Housing Past made a special appearance. The Ghost reminded everyone at this otherwise festive occasion of what was and what should be. It was a sobering moment.

We'd like to thank, in no particular order, those people from Cambridge and Boston who joined us in the festivities: Natalie Smith, Nancy Hall (as the Ghost), Steve Meacham, Sibelle Smith, Bill Marcotte, Michael Kane, Eleanor Palmer, Kevin Bradley, Mary Prendle, Farr Carey, Wattie Taylor, Jean Keldysz, Elizabeth Koundakjian, Ellen Howard, Holly Hutchinson, Louise Dunlap, and Julie Geanakakis. If there are any omissions, we apologize.

NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS:
Robert Deveau, Editor
Stella Acelas
Christian Faust
Jon Rosbrook & Fritz Winegardner