The loss of life in Gaza is tragic, but Hamas deliberately and cowardly embeds themselves within the civilian population. The Palestinian population chose Hamas to be their leadership. Perhaps they had no choice. But Israel has a right to defend itself, and Israel has a right to exist. I suspect that Malcolm would be fine if Israel were eliminated. Unlike him, I put my full name with what I write and stand by it. And I do not subscribe to the cancel culture. I do not know if he is connected to any business, but I would not stop patronizing his place of employ based solely on a difference of opinion. — Tracy Nieporent on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

lots more jew haters have shown up here, but to be fair to them, they seem to lack even the most basic cognitive abilities. perhaps they are all just developmentally disabled as they say. the reality is that every last death of every innocent palestinian civilian is the direct fault and responsibility of hamas, and the ideology they perpetuate. until every last member of hamas is wiped off the face of the earth, they will continue to be responsible for nothing but death of innocents of all races. oh and props to logan for fighting the good fight. — Mr T on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

If you don't like their values, don't shop there. If you don't like their benefits plan, don't work there. But stop thinking you have the right to tell me where I should shop or work. — Makes You Go Hmmmm.... on Hobby Lobby aiming for May 12 opening

Thanks for eliding my question. Hamas probably doesn't like me, you're right, because I am an agnostic. But I have the humanity to remember that Hamas does not equal Palestinian, and that indiscriminate killing and the denial of basic human rights is just plain wrong. But glad we had this exchange so I can make sure to never patronize any of your establishments ever again. Good day. — malcolm on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

Gaza was turned over with Greenhouses and Billions of dollars to build hospitals, schools, and a productive society. Instead they embraced a murderous cult who built tunnels. Perhaps you should go to Gaza to enlighten them. I’m sure you would be embraced and then pushed off the top of a building. Now explain to me which Arab countries are embracing a Jewish population. By the way, it’s not just Jews that Hamas wants to murder. You probably don’t fit neatly into their extremes fundamentalist beliefs. Try reasoning with a cult that welcomes death more than life. — Tracy Nieporent on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

So the ~5 million Palestinians who live in Gaza and the West Bank should what? Not have equal rights? Continue to be subjugated? Be deported? Enlighten us as to what you think these people deserve, or do not deserve. — malcolm on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

Israel is a Nation. It is NOT an occupation. There never was a nation called Palestine. Jews were there in Biblical times well before any others with claims to the land. I did not use the words anti semitic in either of my posts, but if the shoe fits, wear it. I am not a fan of Netanyahu, but when it comes to subjugations, you might want to examine the rights of women and those with alternative lifestyles in palestinian controlled areas. — Tracy Nieporent on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

To be fair, that is an apples to oranges comparison. “Blacks, gays, trans people, native americans, etc.” have not killed over 50,000 Palestinians in the past 18 months. Israel (not the Jewish people - Netanyahu/the Israeli government) has. What Hamas did is reprehensible and should be condemned. Even if one is ok with retaliation on the part of Israel, it has been imprecise and disproportional and should stop, and I don’t believe it is antisemitic to say so. — Ms M on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

Ha, you use the 44,000 hypothetical death figure for hyperbolic effect. FIFTEEN 9/11s! Can you imagine?! One needn't imagine. Because Israel has *actually slaughtered* over 50,000 Palestinians, the majority being women and children. Let me guess, all 'human shields', right? You are depraved. And coming from a people who suffered indiscriminate extermination... it's morally repugnant. You want some hyperbolic data? Imagine if Americans committed an Act of Terror in China, and in response they decimated over EIGHT MILLION Americans (2.5% of our population). Over four million women and children. You have become what you seek to prevent in this world. — chris on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

The same people who decry being called racist for opposing Ibram Kendi's absurd views on approaching everything in life through a racial lens...are the first to wield the ANTISEMITISM card when somebody opposes the Israeli's government's foreign policy of occupation and subjugation. Grow up. Are half of Israeli's antisemitic? — chris on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

I was unaware it had been discontinued. What was the reason? — Lori K. on The Greenmarket is coming back to City Hall

Every time that Israel has reached out with the Camp David Accords, Oslo Accords, and many others to implement a two state solution, they were rejected by Yassir Arafat and their other leaders. They never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. The truth is that they don't want to be neighbors with Israel, they want Israel liquidated. They teach hatred in their schools, and isn't it interesting that no other Arab countries ever offer any refuge for the Palestinians? To add some further perspective, Israel is a country with a population of just 9 million people. America is a country of approximately 333 million people. The death toll on October 7th was the equivalent of some 44,400 Americans being killed by terrorists on a single day. Or around fifteen 9/11s. The kidnap toll if it had happened by ratio in the U.S. would have been almost 10,000 Americans taken from their homes as hostages. Edan Alexander, an American from Tenafly, NJ is still being held as a hostage. If October 7th had not happened, Gaza would not be in ruins today. Hamas had no concern for the civilian population. They embedded themselves to ensure massive casualties. The whole situation is tragic, but Israel will never relinquish its right to exist, nor should they. — Tracy Nieporent on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

So many people believe everything they read on the internet. HL does offer over 15 forms of birth control on their plan. It’s the abortion pill they don’t want to offer due to their beliefs. I for one, admire a company that sticks by their beliefs even if I don’t agree with everything they do. Refreshing. Back to common sense living. I don’t know if they have what I like, but I look forward to something new in our area. — Robert on Hobby Lobby aiming for May 12 opening

No outrage about the wholesale slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian children over the last 19 months, to say nothing of the unabated fact of an ongoing ethnic cleansing ever since the inception of the Zionist enterprise? In fact, one should even object to the very term "pro-Palestinian"; were those opposed to the Nazi extermination of the Jews "pro-Jewish" or simply "pro-humanity"? Students - many of whom are Jewish - being rounded up, arrested and even deported, all because they dare to raise their voices against an internationally recognized genocide fully funded, facilitated and indeed encouraged by our own government? A truly Orwellian state of affairs has come to fruition. — Robby Ameen on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

Anyone know if the vegetables and fruits are organic/not sprayed with pesticides? — RP on The Greenmarket is coming back to City Hall

And the blockade of Gaza is a literal act of war. — malcolm on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

During the 15 years prior to Oct 7, 2023, the state of Israel murdered more than 6,000 Palestinian Muslims and Christians, including over 1,500 women and children, and imprisoned thousands more in military prisons, many of whom were subjected to torture, without due process afforded to Israeli civilians. There are many, many Arabs and Muslims that are appalled and outraged by the atrocities committed by Hamas against both Israeli and Palestinian civilians, but to pretend that Israel and its supporters have not created the conditions for a group like Hamas to flourish (and, in the case of Netanyahu, actively encouraged and helped fund Hamas in Gaza) is the epitome of living in one’s own self-reverential bubble. It’s as if only some (white, wealthy) lives matter, and others don’t. — Reader on Reade on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

Agreed! Welcome any new business to the neighborhood - never let people who wear masks in 2025 while driving alone in their cars let you think they really reflect the residents of our neighborhood. They are squeaky wheels and rage against anyone who does not think like them. Less empty storefronts! — J on Hobby Lobby aiming for May 12 opening

Really hate to see this. Feels like a Christian right invasion. A google search reveals all. — Susan on Hobby Lobby aiming for May 12 opening

On October 7, 2023, Hamas savagely burned innocent people and babies alive, raped, and cut off heads. There is footage of terrorists using a shovel to remove the head of a young man lying defenseless on the floor. With each strike they shouted "Allahu Akbar." As recounted by journalist, Douglas Murray, it wasn't just the war cries. The terrorists showed visible glee and intense joy. They were proud of their actions. Billions of dollars were given to the Hamas Government in Gaza to build schools, hospitals and other infrastructure. Instead the money has been used by Hamas's leaders to either enrich themselves (the group's leaders became billionaires) and to build tunnels, and foster hatred. They then used the population of Gaza as human shields when they were inevitably retaliated against. I fully understand the arguments about freedom of speech, but it seems to me that Pier 17 could be put to better use than to give Kneecap a forum to support and help perpetuate a culture of murder. — Tracy Nieporent on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

Doesn’t surprise me. NYC is not the same great city it used to be - it’s now a cesspool of transplants hellbent on anything Anti-American and Anti-Jew - coddled by the pathetic city council and weak university leaders. — Anthony on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

Well let's get some clarity: Pier 17 is owned by the people of NYC with a long term lease holder of Seaport Entertainment Group. Live Nation may be the producer and Ticket seller but everyone should be listed on the petition. Antisemitism should not be promoted, tolerated and especially not fiscally rewarded. — TM on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

I will NEVER set foot in that store! Shame on anyone who does! — Rhona on Hobby Lobby aiming for May 12 opening

Totally agree. And the difference in the tone of the comments on this topic versus those horrified by the religious beliefs of the owners of Hobby Lobby is stark. — Lisa on Irish band that supports Palestine is scheduled at Pier 17 on Yom Kippur

It is wonderful news. I very excited that have Lobby Hobby in the neighborhood. — Elbee on Hobby Lobby aiming for May 12 opening