We, the Jewish women of the Upper West Side, petition the Mikvah's governing committee to adhere to its stated goal of making the "experience at the West Side Mikvah both comfortable and meaningful" by keeping it staffed by a single full-time professional. Yael Hanover is the knowledgeable, sensitive professional who has done an outstanding job not only running the mikvah, but skillfully transforming it into a welcoming, comfortable destination for Jewish women of every background and every level of observance. The committee intends to downgrade Yael’s position from full-time professional to ‘day laborer,’ slashing her compensation package (i.e. salary and benefits) by nearly 70 percent, forcing Yael to seek employment elsewhere and leaving our community without a sensitive, knowledgeable and dependable 'go-to' woman staffing the mikvah. Their intention is - right before the high holy days - to replace Yael with an ad-hoc, per-diem assembly of trainees, temporary workers and hoped-for volunteers, most of whom would likely have to travel from Brooklyn for one night’s work each week, considerably extending the unforeseen and various learning curves. We, the women who actually use the Mikvah - along with our supporters - insist that Yael be kept on full-time, rather than rendering what is meant to be a “community” mikvah less effective, less reliable and less welcoming. The Mikvah Committee claims to want to know if there is anything they can do "to enhance fulfillment of this mitzvah.” Please consider each and every one of these signatures as a note in the reception area's suggestion box.