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"Did you know that if the first floor tenants aren't good tenants and decide to vacate their spaces, then the maintenance fund of a skyscraper drops dramatically?" I ask Bet you didn't know that either "That's because anchor tenants are nice, but the people who are on the ground floor are the ones holding up the building"

I see people start to s with this

"It's those people who form the community," I say "It's those people who've seen you since you were born Who know that you want the newspaper fro it for your old man Who knohen your parents have passed away Who ask you if you've been holding up okay"

I'hborhood Sure, the Upper East Side row up in if you want the classic New York thing with games of stickball and fire hydrants

"People who know you People who care about you It's all thanks to the neighborhoods in this city Without neighbors, and without neighborhoods, we're just a collection of tall buildings on an island Tall buildings that would go eet to some sort of point "That's why Davion Developer, hborhoods rely on this hospital to stay strong And without this institution that we're here for tonight—without NYU—too "

"And so, ill never stop in our quest to reat We will donate 1 million this year We will donate 1 hborhoods around We will never give up“ I say and get ready to finish "And I hope, ladies and gentlemen, neither will you Thank you"

I stop and get off the stage

I swear for a

But then the crescendo of applause as people stand up to giveovation hits me

I'm a bit taken aback

Betalking back to where I know Penny is standing and people applaudinga speech, I' element

All I care about in thisat me, her mouth open as I approach her

"You didn't swear once," she says to th ofyou said up there?"

I cock my head Is she interested now?

"Why?" I ask