A landmark church with plenty of life in it yet
Manhattan: Re “A crumbling church can help our flocks” (op-ed, Oct. 12): Pastor Daniel Rivera contends that the Landmarks Preservation Commission should permit demolition of the “crumbling” West Park Presbyterian Church because it can’t serve as a spiritual/community facility. Invoking the Bible’s emphasis on “charitable works,” he argues that selling it would enable the creation of a social justice fund.
Rivera overlooks Jesus’ insistence upon honesty (John 8:32). He surely knows that the commission hired an independent engineer to assess the church who concluded, as did three additional design experts, that it’s structurally sound and capable of restoration in a matter of months. Until the Presbytery evicted its primary tenants, the church was fully functional, hosting weekly services and daily performing arts events. As confirmed by the commission, the church is “one of the Upper West Side’s most important buildings.” The Presbytery’s disregard of the truth regarding the condition of such a precious religious landmark to justify its destruction is disturbing. Furthermore, in May, The Center at West-Park, a nonprofit, offered to cover the entire restoration cost, plus rent the church for $30,000 monthly (while allowing the Presbytery to use the sanctuary).
As for the Presbytery’s sudden interest in a social justice fund, it brings to mind so-called “community-benefit agreements,” which the Community Benefits Law Center observed often lead communities to “be misled into thinking that [they] had won enforceable commitments” when they hadn’t. The Center should be permitted to rent and restore the church. The Presbytery could use its rent revenue to create its social justice fund — an outcome far preferable to replacing a landmark with more luxury condos that few can afford. Councilwoman Gale Brewer and Michael Hiller
Ironwoman of N.J.
Brooklyn: Natalie Grabow, an 80-year-old woman, completed the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, in 16 hours and 45 minutes. She did a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26-mile run. What a woman! Louie Scarcella
This is no achievement
Briarwood: I’m writing to succinctly enumerate the catastrophe of the Israeli-American war in Gaza. The U.S. financed this colonialist chapter with $21.7 billion in military aid to Israel over the last two years. At least 67,869 Palestinians were killed, 20,000 of them children. Anywhere from 61% to 90% killed were civilians rather than Hamas militants, and 186,000 are injured, missing or died of war-related causes. Ninety percent of 2.2 million Palestinians were displaced. This was an intentional ethnic cleansing of Palestine for Israeli and American geopolitical ends. Two real estate moguls, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, mediated this treaty of peace without justice for the indigenous Palestinian people. The U.S. Department of War is sending 200 troops to the Gaza Strip. Donald Trump is wearing the shoes of his hero, Andrew Jackson, who exterminated Native American tribes for the “Manifest Destiny” of America through a slaveocracy on tribal lands. Genocide, period. Déjà vu. Joseph N. Manago
What’s his motive?
Manhattan: I am overjoyed that the hostages have been freed. I am thrilled that finally, there may be peace in Gaza. But I am sorry to say that I have this one nagging thought: Why did Trump get so involved in this? What’s in it for him? He has never done anything out of pure altruism. I’ll wait and see, and am willing to change my mind about him. Joie Anderson
Puppet-master peace
Bellerose: Two grifters, Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, would like the world to believe they are its greatest peacemakers. They are going to make Gaza the world’s greatest real estate deal, with both of them making lots of money, eventually taking and ruling the land they have always wanted. Does anyone think Bibi and TACO do anything for anybody but themselves? Kathleen Lucas
Gaza grandstanding
Monroe, N.J.: Trump’s speech to the Knesset gave thanks to his staff who assisted in the hostages’ release. It then continued for more than an hour, with him going back into his usual spiel of “enough about you, let’s talk about the failure of Joe Biden and how strong and powerful I am.” He again went so off script that it was like he was making a case for a future position, plugging to be chairman of the “board of peace” and touting his expertise in moral leadership by urging the pardon of Netanyahu. Finally, he made his bid for the development of Gaza — perhaps with a Trump resort and business complex? Too bad he takes credit on international affairs but can’t bring peace to our own country. Katherine A. Moloney
Rambling man
Rockaway Beach: After listening to him go on for 10 minutes about how wonderful he is, and how awful Presidents Barack Obama and Biden were, I took my dog for a 45-minute walk. When we returned, he was still yapping and his suit was threadbare from patting himself on the back. My dog Annie never did relieve herself. I guess that makes Annie and him alike — they are both full of it! But at least I use my dog’s name when I speak about her. Barbara Yahle
Help at home
Hillcrest, N.Y.: Now that Trump has ended the war between Hamas and Israel, maybe he can concentrate on getting jobs for people in this country. Delores McDonald
This is the plan
Northford, Conn.: If you are scared or worried about what is happening to our country, I urge everyone to go to your computer and type in “what is the premise of the 2025 Doctrine?” After reading that, if you aren’t afraid for our freedom and democracy, then you just don’t care about anything. Alton Eliason
Mass opposition
Manhattan: Trump and his MAGA cronies are implementing their Project 2025 playbook to snuff out opposition to their extreme agenda. Prosecute enemies, fire federal workers, quash Republican dissent, intimidate the media, bully law firms and universities, scapegoat immigrants and transgender people, send an army of masked agents to spread terror, and send real troops into cities to put down nonexistent threats. This regime has awakened a sleeping giant. People are turning out in increasing numbers in Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland and here in New York to stand up to the loss of democracy in the America we love. More than 5 million people turned out peacefully for No Kings protests in June. Even more are expected at more than 2,500 No Kings II events across the nation this Saturday. Americans don’t like it when our freedoms are threatened. First Amendment rights to free speech, to protest — use them before you lose them. Chris Jones
Fantasy land
Astoria: Once upon a time, there was a king who dwelled in the gold-plated kingdom he created — the Kingdom of Him. He demanded servitude from all who worked for him in Him and from all who lived there. The king had a supersized yet fragile ego that caused a condition: the thinnest of skins. He bruised easily. Everyone tiptoed around him. Anyone questioning his motives or reasoning was instantly banished! This king possessed great powers of hypnosis, for while he used every available platform to boast that he was a genius who ended many wars and lowered food prices and the cost of medication, making life better for all, things around him in Him reflected the contrary. Still, the people believed the king had the answers to their genuine concerns, seeing no discrepancy or disconnect from their day-to-day reality. And so the Kingdom of Him continued exhaustingly ever after! Karen N. Pearlman
Elections incompetence
Brooklyn: The outrageous mistake, or should I say multiple mistakes, by the NYC Board of Elections as outlined in your recent editorial (“Board’s ballot bungle,” Oct. 12), including listing a mayoral candidate as being on a party line (Working Families Party) when that person was ineligible, is absolutely incomprehensible and unforgivable. It throws the whole election into question. This should be the end of the Board of Elections. It must be dissolved and something new must be put in place, as these incompetent, political hacks can’t continue to destroy our democracy. Robert Mascali
