The story of Penn Station, as most New Yorkers know it, is told in broad strokes. In 1910, a sprawling Beaux-Arts masterpiece was erected in lower Midtown, fitted with Roman columns and 21 tracks that whisked passengers off to Long Island, New Jersey, and beyond. Then, in the 1960s, the classical masterpiece was all but torn down to make room for Madison Square Garden, an indoor arena. The Penn Station that commuters were left with was a dingy and featureless space they couldn’t help hating. As we learn in Claire Read’s documentary Penn F***ing Station, it seems history is repeating itself. During the coronavirus pandemic, plans to “revitalize” Penn Station and its surrounding neighborhood were unveiled. But in the eyes of the many people who began railing against the decision, the proposed blueprints would lead to the eviction of nearby residents and the destruction of landmarks. “All they’re doing is destroying 2,500 people’s homes, thousands of jobs, and thousands of businesses,” says one resident. Read’s film tracks both the ongoing debate and Layla Law-Gisiko, who runs for the State Assembly in hopes of halting the project. —Jack Sullivan