Pier55 appears inspiring
To The Editor:
Re “Praise and excitement versus fear and loathing at Pier55 public hearing” (news article, Jan. 15):
As working theater artists and parents of a child in public school in the West Village, we are inspired by plans for the new performance and open public spaces proposed for Pier55.
As more and more Downtown spaces close their doors, the three new and truly unique stages that are part of this proposal would be an enormous boon to New York’s performing arts community, and to the public they serve. Diverse audiences will be naturally drawn to this new space as an extension of the masterful Hudson River Park, regardless of income or existing theatergoing habits.
Nontraditional and site-specific spaces hold a particular vibrancy and immediacy for performers and patrons alike. We are enormously excited about the promise of broad public access to incredible performances in a public park surrounded by greenery, water and light.
Daniel Talbott
Talbott is artistic director, Rising Phoenix Rep, and literary manager, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
Addie Johnson
Johnson is artistic associate, Rising Phoenix Rep
Raises the Titanic
To The Editor:
Re “Praise and excitement versus fear and loathing at Pier55 public hearing” (news article, Jan. 15):
This article makes no mention of the historical and archaeological importance of Pier 54. The pier’s connection to both the Titanic and Lusitania disasters alone makes it worth restoring, not to mention the rest of its storied history as the main pier for Cunard (and then Cunard-White Star) in the first half of the 20th century.
The historicity of Pier 54 is certainly threatened, and the archaeological integrity of the site is put in imminent danger, by the new Pier55 proposal. Unfortunately, such things are very often not important enough to stop large development deals like this, but they should certainly not be left out of the conversation.
Eric Jones
Doesn’t float her boat
To The Editor:
Re “Praise and excitement versus fear and loathing at Pier 55 public hearing” (news article, Jan. 15):
Whether one feels excitement or loathing toward the Pier55 proposal, it’s hard to justify committing $130 million to building a new 2.7-acre pier when Pier 40 needs $80 million in repairs to keep it standing. This 15-acre pier serves the community with its beloved athletic fields for Downtown youth, boathouses providing free boating for the public, and a commercial parking garage that generates 40 percent of the annual operating budget of Hudson River Park.
Plans to develop Pier 40 have consistently been met with fierce community opposition, in large part because the pier already valuably fills a need for open space and access to the water. It’s time to devote funds to fixing Pier 40.
Our organization, the Village Community Boathouse, which is based at Pier 40, is a winner of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation’s 2014 Village Award for its unique and accessible way of connecting the Village to the Hudson River, and New Yorkers with our maritime history.
Deborah Clearman
Clearman is a member, board of directors, Village Community Boathouse
It’s a prophet problem
To The Editor:
Re “After France’s 9/11: Drawing a line against fanatic violence” (news article, Jan. 15):
Op-ed columnist Mustafa Akyol wrote in “Islam’s Problem with Blasphemy,” in The New York Times on Jan. 15:
“Mockery of Muhammad, actual or perceived, has been at the heart of nearly all of these controversies over blasphemy.
“This might seem unremarkable at first, but there is something curious about it, for the Prophet Muhammad is not the only sacred figure in Islam. The Quran praises other prophets — such as Abraham, Moses and Jesus — and even tells Muslims to ‘make no distinction’ between these messengers of God. Yet for some reason, Islamist extremists seem to obsess only about the Prophet Muhammad.”
Liza Bear
Elvis map is Essential
To The Editor:
Re “A couple from Charles St. puts Elvis on the map” (news article, Jan. 15):
Great article — a window into an illuminating Elvis map, and the tale of its creation. You need one if you’re a fan, or you just want to understand where the King was coming from.
David Elsasser
Don’t be an ash
To The Editor:
Re “The state of pot today as more states legalize it” (news article, Jan. 1):
Rightists are in favor of smoking cigarettes but opposed to smoking marijuana.
Leftists are in favor of smoking marijuana but opposed to smoking cigarettes.
Smoke stinks.
The left stinks.
The right stinks.
George Jochnowitz
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