LET MAYA KEEP SWINGING IN TUDOR CITY

Help Maya Caballero Keep Swinging

Maya Caballero, who grew up swinging while singing from the Tudor City sign on her terrace, has been swinging across the country on tour. Here, she charms audiences in Tucson, AZ at a benefit performance with Calexico's Salvator Duran, to save the Steinfeld Warehouse's Alamo Gallery. That battle is nothing compared to her own to save part of her apartment, the terrace, that her building locked her off of and built a barroom on, adjoining her apartment! The fight has already cost her family over $150,000 in legal fees! Her lawyer dropped her right before trial when she ran out of money. She desperately needs a lawyer to represent her at trial in NY Supreme Court on March 30. Contributions to her legal defense fund can be sent to: Maya Caballero- 45 Tudor City Place, Apt. 2202, New york, NY 10017.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I live in Tudor City and really feel for her. Most of the shareholders are absentee and have no idea what is going on. Their renters have no clue either. All renters are banned from that "private club" and membership is by invitation only, for $5,000, so it's the president of the board, his friends and the people he rents it out to that get to use it. The echo can be heard by all the upper floors and across the street. It's a nuissance to the entire neighborhood. The building recently rented it out for a Jay-Z music video that had helicopters hovering overheard all night. I don't know how anyone can stand to have that adjoining their apartment!
Anonymous said…
I used to live in the building and remember when the president announced at a shareholders' meeting back in 2000 that he was going to try to get his hands on that apartment by any means necessary. I warned the family that it seemed like he would stop at nothing short of murder and I got out of that building as fast as I could! I wish Maya luck. I'm sorry to hear that this is still dragging on and has ruined her family financially.They are the nicest people that I ever met in Tudor City.
Anonymous said…
I'm a shareholder in Prospect Towers. I don't want a bar on the top of my building for many reasons and I'm not alone. For one, it is a big liability. We have tried to protest it to no avail. I hope Maya wins!
Sirhiss9 said…
I meet this family, they are nice people. I guess they just need a lawyer to make a court appearence. Any lawyers out there?
Anonymous said…
Wow. that is a great photo! I love how the red font on the black background matches Maya's red petticoat and black blouse. She is beautiful! I was really moved by her story. Thanks for writing about it.
Anonymous said…
Maya Caballero is even prettier in person than in the photo and she is even sweeter than that! She and her family don't deserve this. The dictator at the helm of her building that thinks he is beyond the law needs to be stopped. He is putting people's lives in danger by blocking the fire exit which is the only entrance to his bar. If there was a fire, no one could get out. Criminal charges are in order. I hope someone investigates and brings him down.
Anonymous said…
I live in Tudor city and heard that buyers in that building have to be approved by the wife of the president of the co-op board, so everyone is afraid to cross them. They just refuse to approve until you have to sell below market value to guess who.
Anonymous said…
Judge Edward Lehrer seems smart enough to see through the Tudor City co-op president's smoke & mirrors and realize what the case is really about: a guy using his postition as co-op board president to buy apartments at a reduced rate and use the co-op's money to pay for the legal proceedings he uses to attack tenants who have apartments that he wants.
Anonymous said…
It's hard to be a singer and afford a lawyer. In fact, it's almost impossible to afford one in a civil case unless you earn the equivalent $400/hr. average that they charge. The majority of people can't afford that even if their whole family works around the clock. My conclusion from this is that the deep pockets of a co-op are no match for Maya. The justice system in this country needs to be reformed!! Keep singing Maya. Maybe you can call attention to this BIG problem affecting so many people in this ocuntry and help to make a change!
Anonymous said…
i have known Maya and her mom for a long time. They are part of a very nice, cool family who don't deserve the expense or harrassment they are being put through. For all the things they have been through this is just a total added insult. Why should one be forced to have to go broke just for peace, quiet and privacy? So the priviliged few have yet another place to snob out in? This family was living there when most of those partying there now were still gazing longingly at manhattan on the map.
Anonymous said…
I am a friend of Maya and her mom and I feel very embarrassed for them. I'm from Europe but I love NYC, mostly Manhattan. I loved the mentioned terrace when I was there so I understand why a bar would be succesful there right now. In a very different situation this terrace could be a very nice, warmful and peacefully shared commom place. But THIS SITUATION is very shameful and sad. My wishes are that Maya and her family could come out from this as a happy, lucky family, who could and would bravely win in face of this unlucky situation. Then the picture in my mind about Manhattan would be again truthful, honorable and nice. Good luck!
Anonymous said…
I live in the building. This story made me sick. Everyone knows that leases don't list your terrace! How could Justice Lehner take away the Sandmeyer's rights to their terrace based on that? I read the judge's decision online and it wasn't true that the family hadn't used the terrace exclusively, or that the building's maintanence staff didn't go through the Sandmeyers in order to make repairs. The restaurant space was empty on the ground floor much of the time and it was only recently that they ever accessed the broken exhaust vent, which is the only "equipment" up there. That family has no peace, quiet, or privacy now. I feel disgusting to be a shareholder in the building.This case made me lose faith in the NY Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, particularly in Judge Edward H. Lehner!