NY panel to vote on landmark status for ground zero mosque site

[Dazon50]

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NY panel to vote on landmark status for ground zero mosque site

By Allan Chernoff, CNN Senior Correspondent

New York (CNN) – The building slated to house a proposed Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero leads Tuesday's agenda for a meeting of New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The 11 commissioners will vote whether to grant landmark status to 45-47 Park Place. It and an adjoining building are owned by real estate developer Soho Properties which intends to build an Islamic center two blocks north of Ground Zero.

While the public vote has been the focus of much debate about the planned Islamic center and mosque, the commission cannot prevent the developers from building such a community center. The commission, by designating the building a landmark, can only prevent Soho Properties from demolishing the building or significantly altering its exterior.

"We will continue going forward with the project. It's a project that will build bridges," said Oz Sultan, spokesperson for the Cordoba Initiative, the organization behind the planned center that says it is "committed to promoting positive interaction between the Muslim world and the West."

Cordoba opposes landmark status for the five-story building because it would like to build a taller, modern building. "It's not minarets," said Sultan, who described a mock-up of the proposed center as consistent with the latest architecture found in New York City.

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and other city leaders support the Islamic center.

Opponents, including former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, have argued against a mosque being so close to the scene of the nation's worst terrorist attack.

"Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing," tweeted Palin last month on her Twitter account.

The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that battles anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry, is asking for the Islamic center and mosque to be built further away from Ground Zero in consideration of families who lost loved ones during the September 11, 2001, attacks. "Building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain - unnecessarily - and that is not right," said the organization in a statement.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission points out its decision has nothing to do with the planned use of the structure.

"The purpose of tomorrow's vote is to decide whether the building has a special character or special historical or aesthetic interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of New York City, New York State or the nation," commission spokeswoman Elisabeth de Bourbon said Monday.

Most recently a Burlington Coat Factory retailer, 45-47 Park Place was completed in 1858. The Landmarks Commission describes it as "a prominent example of the store and loft structures that dominated the dry goods warehouse districts of Lower Manhattan" during the era.

[adgal]

I just heard an interesting comment on this issue on Anderson Cooper.  It seems that either way the terrorist groups can use this whole situation to their benefit.  If the building of the Mosque is refused, they will use it to recruit young people by showing it as an example that the west hates Islam and is at war with them.  If the Mosque is allowed to be built they of course will hold it up as a victory.  Either way, they will use it to their advantage.

I also read a bit about the Imam who is the public face on this.  He is considered a moderate and does speak to young groups of Muslims basically encouraging peace. However, at the same time, when 911 happened his comment was something to the effect of "Although the US was not to blame, they did play a part in this" or something like that.  He also does not condemn Hammas, although he is not a public supporter either.  It seems he walks a bit of a fine line and I suspect he may not be as moderate as he claims.  Just my opinion.

But yes, at the end of the day the primary thoughts should be with New Yorkers and all Americans. I can only imagine how those that were directly victimized must feel.  This is not right and should be stopped.  The claim is this Mosque is to promote peace and understanding.  If that is in fact true, it should be built elsewhere...that would go much further in promoting peace.  

[Sarajmt]

That is one of the problems.  They have thus far refused to disclose their funding source.  Not good.

But could you imagine going to Ground Zero for a memorial to your loved ones who were murdered that day and hear the Imam calling the Muslims to prayer???  Or Allah Akbar, which was the last thing hundreds heard that horrid morning in September?  It truly makes me shudder to think about it.

[adgal]

I just cannot for the life of me figure out how anyone could think this is ok.  For the radical Islamic terrorists, this must be seen as a victory to them.  And for those Muslims that have been speaking out against terrorism, they must know this is just going to incite really negative feelings....and rightly so.  Does anyone know who is really behind this?  I haven't been able to find that info and would be very interested to know.  I am thinking it has to be a more radical sect, at least somewhere behind the scenes.  Mind boggling.....

[Sarajmt]

Well said Melimeli!  I don't have much more to add.  But it does seem that the will of the people has become totally irrelevant to those in power.  The arrogance and the "we know better than you do because we're smarter" attitude MUST STOP!  

In another post, I showed what Representative Pete Stark stated about Congressional power.  They have unrestricted power.  The Constitution is irrelevant.

Homeland security head Janet Napolitano  wrote a memo about how to bypass Congress to grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.  Maybe they aren't as powerful as Stark thinks.  Is the president trying to make the Congress irrelevant?

All I know is the American people don't want these things.  We must let them know it in November!!

[melimeli]

makes me sick how the only group of people it is ok to bash are the christian foundation of of country.  The left has penetrated deep and left its mark with immorality in the guise of tolerance and acceptance.  They are the most intolerant group of people there is.  The bout accept everything so that there are no rules, no pride and no country.  We have sunk so deep as a nation.  Remember when it was when there was outrage at murphy brown portraying a single mother?  When Ellen's comedy got cancelled when she came out as gay?  Now what 10-15 years later there are so many shows where sex, teenage motherhood and being gay is the norm.  Where teenage girls are looked at as weird if they don't have lesbian tendencies.  Shows that penetrate our youths formative years.  What has it done for our country?  Our proud culture is like a glass of lemonade that has been so watered down by the left that there is no flavor left just a watered down version of what we used to be.  So now a mosque at the location where a great nation was attacked so brutally.  Killing women and children for no other reason than believing in christ?  It will be living prof that the terrorist won on 9/11.  Like putting the flag on conquered land.  Saying you won this plot of land where the great twin towers, symbols of capitalism, once stood.  Mark it with the symbol of your mosque and claim it as your victory.  While millions of Americans sit in their pop culture induced fog and let our country be transformed to the worse piece by piece.  They know how many days Lindsay Lohan spent in jail but have no idea what the name or roll of a vice president is.  The left has encroached upon us and slathered us with useless drama, in the media making pop culture news on cnn, making people feel informed if they know which star went to jail last night.  Numbing us to the fact that the important issues are not spoken allowing for the few to make decisions that will affect us negatively for centuries.  So where is the pride we once had for our country?  Gone, with our leader apologizing for who we are as a nation to countries around the world.  Teaching our youth that we should be embarrassed for who we are and where we came from.  That we are in some way bad and need to repent.  Making a nation question capitalism?  My god!  Remember when stars were black listed for being communist?  Now marxism is looked at as a utopia.  We have fallen so far so I am not surprised that we seal it with a mosque at the implosion.  Teaching all that go to ground zero that WE were really at fault for what happened that sad day...   Really marking how apathetic we have become as a nation.

[adgal]

Even this uber liberal thinks this is just awful.  For one thing it is a complete slap in the face to New Yorkers and all Americans.  Secondly, all a move like this does is continue to perpetuate distrust and even hate, even if the motive behind it is pure (note, I say IF it is pure).  There is not a single positive thing that can come from this and I can see it creating even more hostility and anger then already exists.  I cannot understand the thought process here.  

[Sarajmt]

If you really get a little nauseated (I know I did), then check out this pictorial):

http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/prayer-time-at-ground-zero-mosque/#comment-22552

Remember what the hijackers yelled as they murdered all those people:  "Allah Akbar"

Do we really need to hear that again in the shadow of the WTC?

[margypops]

For goodness sakes , they have 100 mosques in NY thats too many, how many do we have in any Islam country ?? what is the matter with people of NY get up and yell it out..no more mosques we are up to our ears in Islam ......