Clear the path for churches to create housing
Schenectady, N.Y.: As pastor of a congregation in New York’s capital region, I was moved by Rev. Mark S. Kellar and Josef Goodman’s recent piece on how churches can help address community needs (“City of Yes helped our church project,” op-ed, Dec. 15). Their story about First Reformed Church of Jamaica shows how faith-based organizations can create lasting change. But outside New York City, it’s a different story. Here, faith communities face a tangled, slow and costly process when trying to build housing, even when their neighbors are in desperate need.
I see it every week. Our church in downtown Rotterdam, N.Y., serves a town of 30,000 where rising housing costs are pushing families to the edge. After Sunday service, parents quietly share their fears of being priced out of the community they love. We know them by name. We see their struggle. And we’re ready to help. Our congregation has land, a community center and a vision to build affordable housing for local families — a $3.5 million investment in our town. But New York’s confusing rules for faith-based development stand in our way. That’s why the First Reformed project matters. It shows what’s possible when faith communities are treated as partners, not obstacles. It shouldn’t be a rare success, it should be a model. Churches in Rochester, Buffalo, Albany and Rotterdam have the same heart, land and will to serve. What we lack are clear rules to act.
Faith communities have always fed, sheltered and supported their neighbors. Now, they can house them, too. Lawmakers should make it easier for houses of worship statewide to use underutilized land for housing. At Messiah Lutheran Church, we have the heart, the land and the will. All we need are the tools. Dustin G. Longmire, pastor & executive director, Messiah Lutheran Church and the Rotterdam Community Center
Staying away
Portsmouth, N.H.: A crooked mayor, a governor who doesn’t know what’s going on, no affordable housing and an unsafe subway system. Yup, moving to NYC is a top priority. Elizabeth Smith
All for the cameras
Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.: Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams made sure to be posturing as tough-on-crime politicians when Luigi Mangione was delivered to New York City to face murder charges. Where were they and where was their outrage when the state Parole Board released at least 41 cop killers since 2017? Since the photo-ops don’t garner them the big headlines they seek, they are nowhere to be found as they help to facilitate and do nothing about that whole shameful process. Michael P. Devine
Taking charge
Bronx: Re “NYPD’s brass section: Tisch names veterans to key department leadership posts” (Dec. 20): By letting her pick some new department heads, it appears that the mayor is going to let Tisch actually lead the NYPD. I am especially happy that DCPI Tarik Sheppard will have to find another source of fuel for the narcissism he displayed during his tenure. To paraphrase the loud cry by Frank Costanza on the Festivus episode of Seinfeld: “This is going to be the best Christmas ever!” Gene Roman
Any update?
Flushing: I was reading your article regarding the NYPD and why pensioners’ names aren’t mentioned on Seethroughny.net (“Make police pensions public,” Aug. 14, 2022). It appears, according to your editorial, that a bill by Gov. Hochul was signed to that effect. Do you know why the names still aren’t listed on the website? Robert Kuhlmann
More wow, less boom
Ridgewood: Re “Drought puts kibosh on New Year’s Eve fireworks in Central & Prospect parks” (Dec. 6): Kudos to the New York Road Runners and Prospect Park Alliance for choosing a fun drone show in Central Park and Prospect Park over dangerous fireworks. Anyone with companion animals knows how terrifying the booms and blasts are for dogs and cats, whose hearing is more sensitive than ours. Animals may jump fences, tear through screen doors and more as they attempt to escape the perceived danger. Shelters report record numbers of calls about lost animals during times of peak firework usage. Drones have less of an impact on wildlife than fireworks, which commonly cause frightened birds to flee their nests and crash into buildings, and other animals to careen into roadways. Laser and drone shows can provide all the razzle-dazzle without the destruction, making holidays happy and humane. Elena Waldman
Inside man
Orange, Conn.: History repeats itself if given enough time. With his current influence on Donald Trump, Elon Musk, with no governmental experience, is mirroring the captivating influence that Grigori Rasputin had over the ruling Russian Romanov family of Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra. Rasputin weaseled his way into the family and, along with Alexandra, became a divisive influence across the Russian empire. Nicholas was a wuss, and Rasputin was a know-nothing religious con man who led to his assassination in 1916 and the eventual overthrow of the Romanovs. Change “Rasputin” to “Musk” and one can see the similar influence he has over Trump in making dangerous governmental decisions that will have lasting repercussions for our nation. Just look at the interference Musk just had with the bipartisan funding agreement proposal. Musk told Trump “no way” and the puppet listened. Fred Portoff
Worshipping the wealthy
Penticton, British Columbia: The Trump turmoil exposes his declining mental acuity, benefiting Musk, who is seeking political power. Trump, power-fused to Musk’s wealth, revives the Moses-era golden calf god for MAGA and others who are shallow and easily duped to prostrate before and worship. America and the world are now being led by the unelected Musk’s muppet named Trump. Astonishingly, a truly stolen election? By a seasoned architect? Joe Schwarz
Pledge fealty
Whitestone: Before Kash Patel became Trump’s choice to head the FBI, he made the disgraceful, dangerous comment, “On day one, I would shut down the FBI Hoover Building and reopen it the next day as a museum of the ‘deep state.’ ” This is not hyperbole; he speaks the truth when he says what he will do. But he’s not the only Republican who does. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said it’s “going to be hard in these next four years” because the Trump administration’s approach is, “Everybody toe the line, everybody line up. We got you here, and if you want to survive, you better be good. Don’t get on Santa’s naughty list because we will primary you.” Translation: Bow to the orange hemorrhoid or we will convince the “poorly educated” in your district to vote you out. Robert LaRosa Sr.
Don’t look up
Manhattan: The North American Aerospace Defense Command, aka NORAD, will track Santa around the world but can’t seem to track a fleet of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) drones over N.J. and N.Y. Seriously, a fellow with a small hobby drone said on a local TV news program that his fully charged lithium battery went suddenly dead when his drone was close to a UAP drone as large as a car. Gamma radiation from a nuclear source will cause the lithium battery to quickly discharge. Are these drones nuclear-powered or carrying an atomic weapon? Is that the reason we haven’t shot one down yet? We need answers, not official b.s. Vincent Novak
Sovereign sides
Brooklyn: Re Leonard Greene’s Dec. 15 column, “People aren’t cattle: Dominican Republic’s awful treatment of desperate Haitians“: I am a proud Dominican, born there in 1939 and living in New York since 1961. The Dominican Republic is an independent territory that was, by force, under the Haitian government for more than 20 years. They invaded our side in 1821 and stayed until Feb. 27, 1844. When they were forced to leave thanks to the labor and courage of Juan Pablo Duarte, Ramón Matías Mella, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, leaders of the Trinitarios, the República Dominicana was created. After that great occasion, Haiti kept invading our territory. Every time, they were repulsed. Lately, with a new mentality, they are using illegal immigration as a way to invade. We don’t want that to happen, and we will use our right to defend the integrity of our territory. The Island has two countries with different people and cultures. We never crossed the border to attack Haiti. Francisco J. Castillo
