Clear the way for churches to create homes
Schenectady, NY: As pastor of a congregation in the New York City Capital Region, I was struck by Rev. Mark S. Kellar and Josef Goodman’s recent piece on how churches can help meet community needs (“City of Yes helped our church project,” on -ed, December 15). Their story of the 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 complicated, slow and costly process of building homes even as their neighbors are in desperate need.
I see it every week. Our church in downtown Rotterdam, NY, serves a city 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 are ready to help. Our community has land, a community center and a vision to build affordable housing for local families – a $3.5 million investment in our city. But New York’s confusing rules for faith-based development are standing in our way. That is why the First Reformed project is important. It shows what is possible when faith communities are treated as partners and not as obstacles. It shouldn’t be a rare success, it should be a model. Churches in Rochester, Buffalo, Albany and Rotterdam share the same heart, country and desire to serve. What we lack are clear rules for trading.
Faith communities have always nourished, protected 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 country and the will. All we need are the tools. Dustin G. Longmire, pastor and director, Messiah Lutheran Church and the Rotterdam Community Center
Stay away
Portsmouth, NH: A corrupt mayor, a governor who doesn’t know what’s going on, no affordable housing, and an unsafe subway system. Yes, moving to New York is a top priority. Elizabeth Smith
Everything for the cameras
Cortlandt Manor, NY: Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams made sure to act like crime-fighting politicians when Luigi Mangione was extradited 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 get them the big headlines they’re looking for, they’re nowhere to be found as they help facilitate that whole shameful process and don’t do anything about it. Michael P. Devine
Take charge
Bronx: Re “The NYPD Buyers Section: Tisch Appoints Veterans to Key Department Leadership Posts” (December 20): By letting her pick some new department heads, it appears the mayor will actually let Tisch run the NYPD. I am especially pleased that DCPI Tarik Sheppard will have to find another source of fuel for the narcissism he displayed during his tenure. To paraphrase Frank Costanza’s loud cry in the Festivus episode of Seinfeld, “This is going to be the best Christmas ever!” Gene Roman
Any update?
Flushing: I read your article about the NYPD and why retirees’ names are not listed on Seethroughny.net (“Make Police Pensions Public,” August 14, 2022). According to your editorial, it appears that Governor Hochul has signed a bill to that effect. Do you know why the names are still not on the website? Robert Kuhlmann
More wow, less boom
Ridgewood: Re “Drought puts kibosh on New Year’s Eve fireworks in Central Park and Prospect Parks” (December 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 bangs and bangs are for dogs and cats, whose hearing is more sensitive than ours. Animals can jump fences, tear through screen doors and more as they try to escape perceived danger. Shelters report a record number of calls about lost animals during peak fireworks times. Drones have less impact on wildlife than fireworks, which often cause frightened birds to flee their nests and crash into buildings, and other animals to crash into roads. Laser and drone shows can provide all the dazzle without the destruction, making holidays happy and human. Elena Waldman
Inside man
Orange, Conn.: History repeats itself given enough time. With his current influence on Donald Trump, Elon Musk, without any government experience, reflects the compelling influence Grigori Rasputin had on Russia’s ruling Romanov family of Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra. Rasputin forced his way into the family and, along with Alexandra, became a divisive influence in the Russian Empire. Nicholas was a wimp, and Rasputin was a vapid religious fraud that led to his assassination in 1916 and the eventual overthrow of the Romanovs. Change “Rasputin” to “Musk” and you can see the similar influence he has on Trump in making dangerous government decisions that will have lasting consequences for our nation. Just look at the interference Musk just had with the proposal for a bipartisan financing deal. Musk told Trump “no way” and the puppet listened. Fred Portoff
Worshiping the rich
Penticton, British Columbia: Trump’s turmoil exposes his declining mental acuity, benefiting Musk, who is seeking political power. Trump, with his power fused with Musk’s wealth, is resurrecting the golden calf god of the Moses era for MAGA and others who are shallow and easily deceived into prostrating and worshiping before them. America and the world are now led by Musk’s unelected muppet named Trump. Amazingly, a truly stolen election? By a seasoned architect? Joe Schwarz
Pledge loyalty
Whitestone: Before Kash Patel became Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, he made the outrageous, dangerous comment: “On day one I would close the FBI Hoover Building and reopen it the next day as a museum of the ‘deep state ‘. This is not an exaggeration; he speaks the truth when he says what he will do. But he’s not the only Republican to do so. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said the “next four years are going to be tough” because the Trump administration’s approach is: “Everyone has to toe the line, everyone has to get in line. We’ve got you here, and if you want to survive, you better be good. Don’t get on Santa’s naughty list because we will give you priority.” Translation: Bow to the orange hemorrhoid, or we’ll 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, also known as NORAD, will track Santa around the world, but appears unable to track a fleet of unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) drones over NJ and NY. Seriously, said a man with a small hobby drone on a local TV news program reported that his fully charged lithium battery suddenly died when his drone came close to a UAP drone the size of a car. Gamma radiation from a nuclear source causes the lithium battery to discharge quickly. Are these drones nuclear powered or do they carry a nuclear weapon? Is that why we haven’t shot one yet? We need answers, not official bs Vincent Novak
Sovereign parties
Brooklyn: About Leonard Greene’s December 15 column: “People Are Not Cattle: The Dominican Republic’s Terrible 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 forcibly under the Haitian government for more than twenty years. They invaded our side in 1821 and remained there until February 27, 1844. When they were forced to leave thanks to the efforts and courage of Juan Pablo Duarte, Ramón Matías Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, leaders of the Trinitarios, the República Dominicana was created . After that great event, Haiti continued to invade our territory. Each time they were rejected. Lately, with a new mentality, they are using illegal immigration as a way to invade. We do not want this to happen, and we will exercise 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
