After Fiery Debate, Vote Approves Mosque Plans
- From: jose el fontanero <josefsoplar@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 08:24:12 -0700 (PDT)
After Fiery Debate, Vote Approves Mosque Plans
Community Board Passes Vote in late meeting
By MEGAN K. SCOTT, PEI-SZE CHENG and LYNDA BAQUERO
Updated 8:19 AM EDT, Wed, May 26, 2010
After hours of contentious public comment, a New York City community
board voted late Tuesday to support a plan to build a mosque and
cultural center near ground zero.
"It's a seed of peace,'' board member Rob Townley said. `"We believe
that this is significant step in the Muslim community to counteract
the hate and fanaticism in the minority of the community.''
The vote was 29-to-1 in favor of the plan, with 10 abstentions. The
move by the Manhattan Community Board 1, while not necessary for the
building's owners to move forward with the project, is seen as key to
obtaining residents' support.
Some board members wanted to postpone a vote until the next meeting to
gather more information about the project and the organizations
sponsoring it. But the motion failed.
The meeting was unruly, with project opponents jeering at speakers and
yelling comments such as ``You're building over a
Christian cemetery!'' while holding signs that read, `"Show respect
for 3000,'' among other things.
Many said they were not opposed to a mosque -- just not one that's two
blocks from ground zero.
As Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf spoke, praising the prospect of a Muslim
religious center at the site, he was shouted down and loudly booed by
the audience.
Abdul Rauf said "The Cordoba center and it's programs will be modeled
after the 92nd Street Y," and claimed that the Jewish Community Center
and prominent Manhattan Rabbi Arthur Schneier backed the development.
When Abdul Rauf's wife, Daisy Khan who also runs the American Society
of Muslim Advancement, said, "I cried when I watched the towers fall,"
she was also met with loud boos and heckling.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer is also among those
supporting the project saying "the possibility to have an interfaith
center where people of different backgrounds come together..modeled
after the 92nd Street Y...is a discussion worth having."
Still, there were many who felt conflicted about the move.
George Aufiero of Huntington told us "it's not that it had anything to
do with the Muslims. It was terrorists. But it's a little hard to
digest sometimes."
And Caroline Osbourne of Staten Island said "it's not that I don't
like it. It's just that it reminds me of what happened."
Michael Burke who is against the plan said, "for the record, I have a
Hispanic wife and a black son, I am not a bigot!"
Lee Hanson from Easton, CT also spoke at the hearing -- his son,
Peter, daughter-in-law Sue Kim, and grand daughter Christine Lee were
aboard United 175, which crashed into the South Tower of the World
Trade Center.
Lee was met with loud applause when he said "I am not against the
mosque because I am a bigot. I am against it because it is in poor
taste."
There's also a page on Facebook listing tens of thousands of
opponents, including many who do not live in New York.
But Jean Grillo, a Tribeca resident, whose niece was rescued from the
South Tower, said "I say bring it on. What a wonderful opportunity to
teach tolerance."
But there could be a snag in plans for demolition. Back in the 1980's,
there was a proposal to designate the building a landmark. No formal
decision was ever made.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission has been reviewing former
proposed sites, and scheduling new hearings. The Commission plans to
hold another public hearing about 45 Park Place "in early summer".
Copyright Associated Press / NBC New York
==========
An obscene Mosque at "ground zero" to commemorate the
19 Jihadists who murdered so many innocent people on 9/11
is an affront of the worst kind. Shame on the slimy politicians
who support this craven obscenity.
.
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