Dear George:
You were saintly in your patient response to poor, lonely, lashing out Mr. Gianfalla. He writes that he “survived four years of a university” but obviously never learned research skills or he would know that his claim that “[h]alf of America disagrees” with your views regarding Trump is false; the latest poll shows that Trump has a 35% approval rating. Nor did he get 50% of the vote in the election, as Clinton exceeded his votes by nearly three million. Manhattan gave him about 11% of the vote and the entire five boroughs only about 20 to 25%. I am not sure what percentage of the West Village, WestView News’ beat, voted for Trump but I would guess it was in the single digits.
While it is true that Trump is indeed our President for now, there are investigations underway on how that came to be; we will find out if Russia and shadowy financial dealings concealed in offshore shell companies render his victory illegitimate. If so, and Trump is impeached, goes to jail, or sails off in Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev’s yacht for exile on Elba, Mr. Gianfalla can look forward to hosting a meet-and-greet for his Indiana homeboy, current Veep Mike Pence. Does he think that his new leader will approve of our Village scene? (If only the Stonewall Inn could be rented as a venue for his welcome party. They do serve alcohol so Mrs. P. would need to be included on the invite or he could not possibly attend.)
As for your fine newspaper, Mr. Gianfalla is also wrong about it not being eagerly read by your multitude of devoted readers. Keep up the good work and next time he rants, denigrates, and vilifies what you publish, just sweetly inform him, “You are not in Indiana anymore, Toto!” Hold your head up high as no apologies are really needed in this neighborhood.
—Leila Mustachi
Constant reader and subscriber on Bank Street
