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New York City Commission Opens WTC Site for Mosque Construction
KAREN MATTHEWS
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK - Ignoring jeers and cries of "Shame on you," a city commission on Tuesday denied landmark status to a building near the World Trade Center site that can now be demolished to make way for an Islamic community center and mosque.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission said in voting 9-0 that the 152-year-old building isn't distinctive enough to qualify as a landmark.
"This is not a building of special aesthetic character," said Commissioner Diana Chapin, echoing the remarks of her colleagues.
The proposed mosque has emerged as a national political issue, with prominent Republicans from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich lining up against it. The Anti-Defamation League, the nation's most prominent Jewish civil rights group, also opposes it.
Former Rep. Rick Lazio, a Republican who is running for governor of New York, attended the commission meeting and criticized the group that is building the mosque, the Cordoba Initiative.
"This is not about religion," Lazio said. "It's about this particular mosque called the Cordoba Mosque, it's about it being at ground zero, it's about it being spearheaded by an imam who has associated himself with radical Islamic causes and has made comments that should chill every single American, frankly."
Lazio said the group's imam, Feisal Abdul Rauf, had refused to call the Palestinian group Hamas a terrorist organization. Rauf also had said in a "60 Minutes" interview televised shortly after 9/11 that "United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happened."
Cordoba Initiative staff members did not immediately answer an e-mail seeking a response to Lazio's comments.
Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, told The Wall Street Journal in Tuesday's editions that the center's board will include members of other religions and will explore including an interfaith chapel at the center.
"We want to repair the breach and be at the front and center to start the healing," said Khan, a partner in the building and the wife of the imam.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, speaking on Governor's Island against the backdrop of the Statue of Liberty, praised the commission's ruling.
"This building is private property and the owners have a right to use the building as a house of worship," Bloomberg said. "The government has no right whatsoever to deny that right, and if it were tried the court would almost certainly strike it down as a violation of the U.S. constitution."
Bloomberg said the firefighters and other first responders who died in the 9/11 attacks had done so to protect the constitution. To deny religious freedom to Muslims would play into the terrorists' hands, he said.
"In rushing into those burning buildings, not one asked, 'What god do you pray to? What beliefs do you hold?'" Bloomberg said of the first responders. "We do not honor their lives by denying the very constitutional rights they died protecting."
The commission's decision not to designate the existing building as a landmark means that the developers can tear it down and start from scratch. If the building had been declared a landmark, they could have created a smaller mosque and community center there.
SoHo Properties, a partner in the project, purchased the property for nearly $5 million. Early plans call for a 13-story, $100 million Islamic center, of which the mosque would be a part.
The property is two blocks north of the trade center site. Landmarks Commissioner Stephen Byrns said the building's proximity to the site, and the fact that it was struck by airplane debris during the attacks, does not qualify it as a landmark.
"The debris field around ground zero was widespread, and one cannot designate hundreds of buildings on that criterion alone," Byrns said.
SoHo Properties CEO Sharif El-Gamal said he was "deeply grateful to the landmarks commission and to its staff." He did not respond to a question about the timing of demolition and construction.
Foes of the proposed mosque say it insults the memory of those who died on Sept. 11, 2001 at the hands of Muslim extremists.
While landmarks commission members went over the existing building's architectural features like cornices and colonnades, some in the audience of about 60 at Pace University in lower Manhattan held signs telegraphing their opposition to the mosque.
Linda Rivera's sign read, "Don't glorify murders of 3,000. No 9/11 victory mosque."
She cried after the board's vote. "I lost 3,000 American brothers and sisters, including courageous policemen and firemen, and this is a betrayal," she said.
Others said they supported the mosque.
Zead Ramadan, president of the board of the New York chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, said Islam is "a religion of peace and justice."
"The people here are trying to connect this vile attack on our nation to the religion Islam, though that exact act stands against everything that Islam stands for," he said.
The Rev. Robert Chase, founding director of an interfaith group called Intersections, called the proposed mosque "a really positive example of how we can move forward from 9/11."
The conservative public-interest law firm the American Center for Law and Justice, founded in 1990 by evangelist Pat Robertson, vowed to fight Tuesday's decision in court.
ACLJ attorney Brett Joshpe said the group would file a petition in New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday alleging that the landmarks panel "acted arbitrarily and abused its discretion."
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK - Ignoring jeers and cries of "Shame on you," a city commission on Tuesday denied landmark status to a building near the World Trade Center site that can now be demolished to make way for an Islamic community center and mosque.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission said in voting 9-0 that the 152-year-old building isn't distinctive enough to qualify as a landmark.
"This is not a building of special aesthetic character," said Commissioner Diana Chapin, echoing the remarks of her colleagues.
The proposed mosque has emerged as a national political issue, with prominent Republicans from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich lining up against it. The Anti-Defamation League, the nation's most prominent Jewish civil rights group, also opposes it.
Former Rep. Rick Lazio, a Republican who is running for governor of New York, attended the commission meeting and criticized the group that is building the mosque, the Cordoba Initiative.
"This is not about religion," Lazio said. "It's about this particular mosque called the Cordoba Mosque, it's about it being at ground zero, it's about it being spearheaded by an imam who has associated himself with radical Islamic causes and has made comments that should chill every single American, frankly."
Lazio said the group's imam, Feisal Abdul Rauf, had refused to call the Palestinian group Hamas a terrorist organization. Rauf also had said in a "60 Minutes" interview televised shortly after 9/11 that "United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happened."
Cordoba Initiative staff members did not immediately answer an e-mail seeking a response to Lazio's comments.
Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, told The Wall Street Journal in Tuesday's editions that the center's board will include members of other religions and will explore including an interfaith chapel at the center.
"We want to repair the breach and be at the front and center to start the healing," said Khan, a partner in the building and the wife of the imam.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, speaking on Governor's Island against the backdrop of the Statue of Liberty, praised the commission's ruling.
"This building is private property and the owners have a right to use the building as a house of worship," Bloomberg said. "The government has no right whatsoever to deny that right, and if it were tried the court would almost certainly strike it down as a violation of the U.S. constitution."
Bloomberg said the firefighters and other first responders who died in the 9/11 attacks had done so to protect the constitution. To deny religious freedom to Muslims would play into the terrorists' hands, he said.
"In rushing into those burning buildings, not one asked, 'What god do you pray to? What beliefs do you hold?'" Bloomberg said of the first responders. "We do not honor their lives by denying the very constitutional rights they died protecting."
The commission's decision not to designate the existing building as a landmark means that the developers can tear it down and start from scratch. If the building had been declared a landmark, they could have created a smaller mosque and community center there.
SoHo Properties, a partner in the project, purchased the property for nearly $5 million. Early plans call for a 13-story, $100 million Islamic center, of which the mosque would be a part.
The property is two blocks north of the trade center site. Landmarks Commissioner Stephen Byrns said the building's proximity to the site, and the fact that it was struck by airplane debris during the attacks, does not qualify it as a landmark.
"The debris field around ground zero was widespread, and one cannot designate hundreds of buildings on that criterion alone," Byrns said.
SoHo Properties CEO Sharif El-Gamal said he was "deeply grateful to the landmarks commission and to its staff." He did not respond to a question about the timing of demolition and construction.
Foes of the proposed mosque say it insults the memory of those who died on Sept. 11, 2001 at the hands of Muslim extremists.
While landmarks commission members went over the existing building's architectural features like cornices and colonnades, some in the audience of about 60 at Pace University in lower Manhattan held signs telegraphing their opposition to the mosque.
Linda Rivera's sign read, "Don't glorify murders of 3,000. No 9/11 victory mosque."
She cried after the board's vote. "I lost 3,000 American brothers and sisters, including courageous policemen and firemen, and this is a betrayal," she said.
Others said they supported the mosque.
Zead Ramadan, president of the board of the New York chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, said Islam is "a religion of peace and justice."
"The people here are trying to connect this vile attack on our nation to the religion Islam, though that exact act stands against everything that Islam stands for," he said.
The Rev. Robert Chase, founding director of an interfaith group called Intersections, called the proposed mosque "a really positive example of how we can move forward from 9/11."
The conservative public-interest law firm the American Center for Law and Justice, founded in 1990 by evangelist Pat Robertson, vowed to fight Tuesday's decision in court.
ACLJ attorney Brett Joshpe said the group would file a petition in New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday alleging that the landmarks panel "acted arbitrarily and abused its discretion."
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Avery Dale on
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Again, I should have looked into this more before commenting as I didn't realise they already owned the building/property. The readings I saw made it sound as though it was recently bought specifically for the purpose of building the mosque.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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Chris,
Have you bothered to read any of the other responses?
"...ham lovers..."? Muslims, like Jews, don't eat pork, or was that just some left handed insult to muslims?
"...can build a temple that represents thier conquering of enemy territory..." I'm sure facts are something you don't let get in the way of a really good, ignorant opinion but...they've owned the building for years. So you (maybe not you but most people) would be hard pressed to make a claim that this is going to represent "conquering of enemy territory".
I'd strongly suggest you go back and read your new testament and try and figure out what Jesus would do. Just a guess but something about 'love thy neighbor' and 'turn the other cheek'.
As for freedom of religion, believe it or not (and I suspect you won't) but the constitution actually supports the freedom of all religions. I know that may not set well with you but that's the way it is. As for what america was founded on, I'd also suggest you read the Federalist Papers and writings of some of the founding fathers. They may have been 'spiritual' but many were not members of any specific denomination. But then, those are just more pesky facts you most likely won't bother with.
May His Noodley appendage bless you, Ramen.
P.s. Last time I looked, 'under god' and 'in god we trust' were all still there. As for merry xmas no one has taken your right away to wish it unto others. You might actually want to consider practicing what that holiday stands for.
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Permalink Reply by John L. VanAuken on
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Ok I cannot say that I disagree with one side or the other, I can say that I will never suport Islam, or any other sect of the Islamic faith. However I can say that do to the fact that the people own the building, they can build what ever they wish as long as it meets the citys rules and such. Do I agree with it being close to the site of groung 0, no I cannot, can I say they can or cant put it there, no I cant. This will be a sore subject for years to come and will be a heated one at that. I am a Christian and as I read it, I am not to judge one person or the other, I am also not to condem anyone. I am to work with others who are not Christians, not against them. That dosent mean, I have to agree or disagree with them. It is Gods place to condem and judge not mine, and those that do wrong, will have there judgement soon enough. This is my opinion, may it be at that, you all can agree or disagree, but in the end what will fighting solve? Not a dang thing just more hate on both sides and more deaths that wernt ment to be. To all of you belivers or not, may God bless you all to have safe days to come, and that we all come home when the job is done.
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Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on
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I am torn, but I also do not live in New York City. I do believe the intentions are true and just. Those who destroyed lives and murdered innocent people that day do not represent all Muslims, they represent an Extremist group. Perhaps a good example would be the Phelps' family who protest military funerals and believe that HIV is a punishment from God for homosexuality, etc. They also believe 9/11 was a punishment from God for the US's wrong doings and support of things they do not believe in. They are Christian Extremists, but they do not speak for all Christians.
Of course the scale is different, but I digress.
I do like the idea and the purpose and reasoning behind it, but I also can see why many would oppose it. I would also fear for their safety. True Muslims are peaceful people.
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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
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Todd, you've nailed it. The rights enumerated in the Constitution are easy when they are popular, but that's not why they exist! It's granting the same rights to people we disagree with that makes this country great!
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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That would be great!!!!!!!!!!!!
The wierd thing is on your profile you say you are a captain with 26 years and one of the major issues facing the fire service is "bad leadership". I guess tolerance means nothing right? I mean who cares if a Muslim were to ever work on the dept, get rid of their place of worship right?
You know the wierd thing? There were Muslims who died alongside those firefighters, those Christians, etc, I guess that makes no difference right? Too bad all that time I spent in the service was for naught, I mean who cares abouts freedom as long as you get what you want, right?
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Tony,
Explain why getting rid of all of the mosques in the U.S. "would be great!!!!!!!!!!!!".
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You guys should do some (non-Fox News) research on the guy that wants to build there. He is a Sufi (meaning he is no friend of Al Queda or Iran) and has been advocating for peaceful co-existance for years. He is exactly the message America is trying to spread, and is exactly the type of "apostate" that bin Laden has issued numerous fatwas against.
Ironically, all of the noise the right is making plays right into the hands of Moslem extremists. The thing we have that they don't is that we are a nation of tolerance and when we show our intolerant side, it strengthens the bad guys. Bush played right into bin Laden's hands for years. Gingritch & Co. are still doing it. I'm no fan of Bloomburg, but he understands how we will defeat radical Islam and their warped world view.
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Vic,
Fortunately for us (U.S.) we have christians, no more tolerant group of people exist.
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Is that sarcasm?
The Koran specifically mandates religious tolerance. Here's a page by Cat Stevens (Sorry Steve, you only get one name change) that talks a bit about tolerance in Islam: http://www.islam101.com/terror/ihotnfYI.htm
Just like the Bible, there are verses both for and against tolerating other faiths. It's really in the eye of the beholder. I like to think that in this modern era, we should be able to all get along (ha ha).
I'll leave you with a bit of Psalm 133:1 "Behold, How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity!"
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The wierd thing is that you assume the Muslims just picked that location out of the blue. WRONG! There is a reson and it is to show America how much they disrespect the US.
Funny, how you just ASSUME that is the case. Got some facts there?
Most American's still have strong feelings about what happen and if the NICE Muslims what show a little respect to America, they would build it in another location away from ground zero. That would be the respectful thing to do!
I guess the "respectful" thing would be for the churches located near the Murrah Fed site in OK City should relocate, seeing as though a so called Christian bombed that place.
Second thing, You don't know me - So you don't know anything about my leadership abilities
I'm glad I don't know much about you because judging from your ignorant posts here, you appear to be someone to allow emotions to control vs common sense. Don't let common sense and practicality get in the way of a good knee jerk reaction, right?
I noticed you like to assume a lot things - THATS SIGN OF POOR Leadership!
So far, I would think I'm pretty spot on here. Despite the other posts here, despite the common sense provided by those not letting emotions control their words, you think I just assumed this. Yet, you were the person who said "that would be great" when Jack sarcastically suggested to get rid of all mosques in the U.S. Such an idiotic, knee-jerk, reaction comment doesn't make it too difficult to judge what kind of mentality someone has. I didn't assume anything, I just took a practical standpoint to make the determination.
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Hmmm...two tours and you come away with the belief that the best thing to do is to do away with all mosques? Hard to imagine you giving much of a crap while you were there with that attitude. Then again, maybe your attitude there had something to do with any attitude you may have gotten in return.
P.s. Kind of like coming back from Nam and thinking that all vietnamese restaurants should be shut down. Or from post-war germany and thinking that all german automobiles should be banned.
Keep on making us proud.
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