By Serena Solomon
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER WEST SIDE — A West Park Presbyterian Church official was arrested over the weekend for writing graffiti on scaffolding outside the church's historic building that blasted a city councilwoman's effort to landmark it.
Diego "Hugo" Meneses was taken away by police Saturday before he could finish writing his statement, which began "Stop Gale Brewer's Forced." The missing word was "Landmarking," he said.
"I will not call it graffiti," Meneses told DNAinfo. "I will call it a way to express my opinion."
The landmark issue has sparked outrage in the community over the past several months.
The 125-year-old church at West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue was protected by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in January against the will of the congregation, who balked at the cost of maintaining the derelict building.
Due to water damage, the congregation has been meeting in the basement of another church building, and they put the West Park building up for sale.
They were planning on using the property to raise funds — an avenue now blocked by the landmark designation, since they will no longer be able to build apartments on the lot.
City Councilwoman Gale Brewer has drawn sharp criticism from the church community as the leader of the preservation effort.
"There is a lot of anger building up," Rev. Robert Brashear, West Park's senior pastor, said. "We are constituents, too."
Brashear said a group of people gathered near the church Saturday night and posted numerous anti-Brewer signs on the church building. Then Meneses climbed the scaffolding and began to write his message, which has since been painted over.
The church did not press charges against Meneses, Brashear said.
Brewer told DNAinfo she was not bothered by the graffiti, and that she was looking forward to working with the church and the community on the restoration and maintenance of the building.
The landmark status will be reviewed at a City Council hearing Tuesday, where both preservationists and church leaders are expected to restate their cases.
