Downtown Express photos by Lorenzo Ciniglio

Millennium High School principal Robert Rhodes, center, says his current students will have more crowded classrooms next year so he can prevent cuts to academic programs.

‘Sophie’s Choice’ for principal: Crowd the school or cut education
By Julie Shapiro
Millennium High School’s principal plans to go over capacity by nearly 100 students next year to save his academic programs from cuts.

A century later, Bazzini readies to say bye to Tribeca
By Josh Rogers
Bazzini, perhaps Tribeca’s last tie to the old Washington Market food trading days, is looking to close up shop for good.

Political cub rejects olive branch and resumes fighting
This year’s Downtown Independent Democrats election is starting to look a lot like last year’s — complete with shouting matches, political maneuvering and allegations of packing the club.

They paved people’s homes to build a parking lot
By Julie Shapiro
The artist who lost her home and studio when bulldozers slammed into 213 Pearl St. nearly 18 months ago could only laugh when she heard that the site had been turned into a parking lot.

Chinatown school makes push for a library
By Julie Shapiro
Joanie Terrizzi is a librarian without a library.
Manhattan Academy of Technology Principal Kerry Decker hired Terrizzi last fall even though the pre-K-to-8 school has not had a library in years. Decker hoped that bringing Terrizzi into the school would raise interest in a library and convince the city to fund it — in what Decker calls the “chicken before the egg” approach.

Students shut out of Village schools could be sent Downtown
By Albert Amateau
The District 2 Community Education Council last week was angry and worried that not enough room would be available for incoming kindergarten students in the district in September, especially at P.S. 3 on Hudson St. and P.S. 41 on W. 11th St.

Soho couple submits to authorities on real estate charge
By Lincoln Anderson
In news that sent shock waves from Soho to Southampton, last week Don MacPherson, a former Community Board 2 member and owner of the Soho Journal, was arrested as part of a $50 million mortgage fraud ring, reportedly involving more than 50 Hamptons properties.

One million visitors served

Obama ponies up for Brooklyn Bridge

News

Falling hammer halts Goldman work, and angers parents
By Julie Shapiro
A hammer hurtled down 18 stories from the Goldman Sachs construction Wednesday morning and smashed into the back window of a taxi on Murray St.

Island fun returns
By Josh Rogers
Children will perform Shakespeare this summer on Governor's Island this summer.

An architect, a lawyer and a parent activist walk into C.B. 1
By Julie Shapiro
Community Board 1 is getting three new members this month, marking a year with relatively low turnover on the board.

Elevator motor that helped save thousands for 9/11 museum
By Julie Shapiro
A 10,000-pound elevator motor that shuttled hundreds of people a day at the original World Trade Center will be part of the National September 11 Museum’s permanent exhibit when it opens in 2013.

Ratner says Gehry tower will keep rising
By Julie Shapiro
Word spread quickly that Forest City Ratner planned to chop the rising Beekman St. tower in half, leaving it at its current height of 38 stories.

C.B. 1 tries for screeching halt to new subway grate plan

Soho store looks to cover up Soho mural
By Patrick Hedlund
A famous Soho mural vandalized by graffiti last summer might be facing another threat — from a developer constructing a building next door that would effectively mute the 1975 artwork.