"Ground Zero" Mosque Likely To Get OK From LPC Today

This morning the Landmarks Preservation Commission is expected to deny protected status to the 152-year-old building at 45-51 Park Place that would be demolished to make way for a 500-seat performing arts center & lecture hall, culinary school, exhibition space, swimming pool, fitness gym, basketball court, restaurant, library, art studios and childcare. Oh, and also a "prayer space," commonly referred to as the Ground Zero mosque by critics who don't know how to read a map. Once the Commission lifts the project's last remaining hurdle, most of its opponents are expected to calmly accept the decision and move on with their lives.

Well, maybe just one more protest for old time's sake. There's a big one planned for September 11th, when demonstrators will gather outside the site of the proposed mosque, which is now officially called Park51. Opponents say the Islamic center is too close for comfort to the World Trade Center site, and they also speculate that the project's donors have Al Qaeda ties. Pamela Geller's blog, a sort of central node for the Islamophobic right, claims that one major supporter of the project is the Saudi-based conglomerate Xenel Industries, which is supposedly connected to the still-prominent bin Laden family.

But of course the Landmarks Commission is not tasked with evaluating what may or may not replace the building at 45-51 Park Place, and their votes are based on whether the "historic" designation is deserved. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who supports the Islamic center, tells the Daily News, "Their job is to take a narrow look at the architectural design and whether it has real landmark value and not to get concerned about any brouhaha."

That doesn't appease Sally Regenhard, an activist for 9/11 victims' families, who says, "The fix is in. It's not in vogue for people to step out and say something against this mosque." And former CIA operative Gary Berntsen, a Republican hoping to unseat Sen. Chuck Schumer, told Capitol Confidential earlier this month, "Militants are using these mosques. They are using front organizations against us. They are using the west’s respect and tolerance for all religions against us... We would not have allowed a Shinto shrine to be placed at the front gate of Pearl Harbor."

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By John Del Signore in News on August 2, 2010 9:31 AM

Comments [rss]

dadoc

My own feeling is that if we all just ignore all religions (all are non-sensical, and only breed division), they'll go away. While folks get all incensed about a bunch of folks build a YMMA downtown, the pols (all parties, cuz fear keeps your eye off the real ball) will be perpetrating their usual nefarious deeds. Machiavelli speaks one again, feel free to read "The Discourses". As long as you are distracted, your power is usurped.

dadoc

Obvious typos, "building" & "once" meant, trying to get the kidz to bed :)

JacqueMehoff

breaking news, a 9/11 mother had a heart attack at one of the "mosque" protests. wow, just wow. I think it was all the pointing and yelling they were doing.

etypical

@gregnyc you flatter your argument by assuming I'm some twitchy, fearful, Muslim hater. You're dead wrong. Hate and a total lack of interest in aren't the same, I don't hate anybody, I couldn't care less. Try to wrap your mind around that, you don't have to be a frothing bigot to think this isn't a good idea.

@Jacques As for the fact that I'm a woman, I can't fathom what that has to do with anything.

robingee

Not posting at all would make more of a statement about you "not caring less" than all of these posts declaring that you couldn't care less.

etypical

What exactly is Muslim culture? Algebra? Stonings? Suicide bombers? Burqas? What?

SP's Ghost

Since you are obviously so genuinely interested, maybe you should go and find out for yourself after they open their doors to the public.

etypical

I could not have less interest in Muslim culture. There are far more interesting, thriving, benevolent cultures for me to look into. These are a backwards people with backwards beliefs and no hippy dippy liberal non-thinking moron from Williamscourge will ever convince me otherwise.

But you go there and knock yourself out - I'm sure they'll welcome you with open arms.

robingee

"I could not have less interest in Muslim culture"

Then why did you ask? You started this thread.

etypical

Well, the bulk of you are so excited for this culture, I was curious as to what you were most eager for. Astoundingly (and predictably), I've yet to see one example. Guess your tolerance only permits you to pat yourselves on the back, not to actually make any sense.

robingee

Who's excited? I just don't think that keeping a Community Center away from a place 4 blocks from WTC site is doing anybody any good. Firstly, it makes Americans look afraid of the Scary Muslims and it separates us as Americans, which is what the terrorist attack was all about. Thinking that one tiny extremist faction represents everyone in a huge religion is very small-minded and Un-American. They wanted to inspire fear. Mission accomplished.

JacqueMehoff

etypical is a woman, she deleted her blog info in her profile.

gregNYC

LOL. wow, liberals have really stepped on your toes, huh? I know we are usually bigger, smarter, tougher than others. We'll look where we step from now on.

etypical, you are typical of people who are so insecure that live afraid of what they don't understand. The whole point is that NYC is a melting pot. Love it and thrive or hate it and live in the midwest. Thankfully, you don't get to decide what gets built in the city. You can be upset that you don't live in a city full of people that look like you and behave like you and do all the same things that you do. But, your hate is a useless waste. As for, your "curiousity", it's not anyone's job to prove to you that another culture is valuable. If you want answers, go get a good education.

SP's Ghost

Thanks for being honest for once.

etypical

my pleasure, I'm rarely not honest. Glad you can read an opposing opinion and not turn batshit.

SP's Ghost

Well, then you will agree with me when I describe you as a willfully ignorant hateful bigot. Because that's exactly how you described yourself.

etypical

Ah stupid me, there won't be any more Muslim angst so long as they get a cultural center and their daily Democrat and Liberal hugs. You really are so much smarter!

etypical

If you say so. I prefer to call it intelligent. If a burglar broke into my home, I'd lock the lock. If he did it again, I'd buy a gun. You'd attend a dinner at his cultural center.

You say that makes you smart and me a bigot. I say I hope when the next 9/11 comes, they find your ignorant, liberal ass first, right in their cultural center.