Photo by Roger Sadowsky.

Several disturbing stories, and a powerful letter from a local mother are in our weekly roundup of Upper West Side news published in other outlets.

Three men were charged with stealing $20,000 from the Holy Name of Jesus Church on 96th street — money that was set aside for the family of Ariel Russo, the 4-year-old girl hit by an SUV last year and killed. “[F]lavio Ramirez, Frederic Ello and Ebiowei Oroso saw it as an opportunity to line their pockets with dough, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said…Ramirez was captured on video lifting off the top of the safe with a hook wrapped in twine and fishing out cash, prosecutors said.” (Daily News)

Russo’s parents also want a criminal investigation of the 911 operator. The ambulance took an inordinate amount of time to get to her after the crash. (DNAinfo)

A 69-year-old man lying on the subway tracks at 96th street was struck by an A train early on Sunday morning. It was not clear why he was lying on the tracks. He lost his legs. “A police source said the train’s engineer applied the brakes, but was unable to stop in time.” (Daily News)

Mayor de Blasio says he won’t allow more charter schools to co-locate with traditional public schools. (NY Post)

An open letter to the police commissioner and mayor from a local mom: “If you want to know why there are so many pedestrian injuries and deaths in New York City, come take a walk with my 12-year-old…You see, my 12-year-old has found himself, more than once, in the middle of a dreaded crosswalk sandwich at a large intersection — with a car turning behind him and another cutting across in front of him in a different lane.” (Daily News)

Gale Brewer said: “if I see one more 7-Eleven, I’m going to throw up.” Does this mean that she’ll push an expansion of the Upper West Side’s mom-and-pop zoning law? It’s not clear yet. In other 7-Eleven news, a reader tells us the 7-Eleven set to open on 106th street does not appear to be moving forward, and the For Rent sign is still up. (Politicker)

Sarabeth Levine of Sarabeth’s fame has a surprisingly small kitchen in her UWS home: “‘People never say anything when they see my kitchen,’ said the wiry, bespectacled Ms. Levine, who looks like a character out of ‘Doonesbury.’ ‘Kitchens are great, and beautiful kitchens are very beautiful. But here’s my belief about kitchens: a big fancy one doesn’t make you a cook.'” (NY Times)