Bloomberg Chokes Up During "Ground Zero" Mosque Speech

Linda Rivera holds up a sign in opposition to the proposed mosque at 45-47 Park Place during today's meeting of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. (AP/Seth Wenig)

After the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to deny landmark status to the building that will be torn down to build the 13-story Islamic community center near the World Trade Center site, Mayor Bloomberg gave a speech on Governors Island applauding the decision. It's rather stirring, by Bloomberg's standards, and frames his commission's vote as emblematic of New York City's ideals of tolerance. Here's an excerpt:

We've come here to Governors Island to stand where the earliest settlers first set foot in New Amsterdam, and where the seeds of religious tolerance were first planted. We come here to see the inspiring symbol of liberty that more than 250 years later would greet millions of immigrants in this harbor. And we come here to state as strongly as ever, this is the freest city in the world. That's what makes New York special and different and strong...
The simple fact is, this building is private property, and the owners have a right to use the building as a house of worship, and the government has no right whatsoever to deny that right. And if it were tried, the courts would almost certainly strike it down as a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Whatever you may think of the proposed mosque and community center, lost in the heat of the debate has been a basic question: Should government attempt to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on their particular religion? That may happen in other countries, but we should never allow it to happen here.

Daily Politics has the entire transcript of the mayor's speech, and points out the part where Bloomberg fought back tears as he recalled that on 9/11, "more than 400 of those first responders did not make it out alive. In rushing into those burning buildings, not one of them asked, 'What God do you pray to?' " Below, more reactions from the NYCLU, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Rick Lazio and Carl Paladino.

Michael Caputo, campaign manager for Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino:

Today the nine Bloomberg stooges on the Landmarks panel did exactly as they were told and cleared the way for 13-story insult to all Americans at Ground Zero. It is especially astounding that Mayor Bloomberg, who owes his rise to power to 9-11, is fast-tracking this desecration of the district where thousands of Americans were murdered.

Enough talk. New Yorkers want the entire district around the World Trade Center declared a War Memorial. As governor, Carl Paladino will do whatever it takes to stop the Ground Zero Mosque - including using eminent domain

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer:

From the racist rants of a discredited Tea Party leader to the cynical posturing of a floundering gubernatorial candidate, this process has been manipulated by those looking to get headlines and score political points. We reject their divisive tactics. What we really need is a dialogue that facilitates community healing. Real New Yorkers need to be consulted as this project moves forward, and that includes families who lost their loved ones on 9/11.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio:

Andrew Cuomo has remained silent on the matter of an investigating the finances of this project, as he was silent on whether to have the trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed In lower Manhattan. In the absence of leadership from Andrew Cuomo I will continue to ask the questions about this project that need to be answered to insure the public safety of New Yorkers.

The NYCLU and ACLU:

The free exercise of religion is one of America’s most fundamental freedoms. For hundreds of years, our pluralism and tolerance have sustained and strengthened our nation. On 9/11, religious extremists opposed to that very pluralism killed 3,000 Americans. Those fanatics would want nothing more than for our nation to turn its back on the very ideals that make this country so great.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on August 3, 2010 2:30 PM

Comments [rss]

BillMurray

It is not a matter of religious discrimination; it is a matter of religious violence. Read the Qur'an; I have. Islam does not accept other religions. Islam is a violent religion.

dgeee

Funny, he doesn't come close to shedding a tear when he's tossing people out of their homes.

Vman

Ironically, it's the property and individual rights conservatives that scream we should use eminent domain to take over the site. I guess hypocrisy only works when you think you have God on your side.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

FUCkK. I just read Bloomberg Chokes. Damn!!!!!!

sallieballs

All you free thinking liberals will be sorry whan "WE" are attacked again by these wonderful "peaceful" people of Islam. That's right, "we" all of us in NYC. You people are morons and sheep....

bleeckerite

So suddenly American freedoms are denied because of fear and blanket statements? It's like saying you can't build a church in Oklahoma because of the Waco Siege.

You don't hate the mosque, you hate your ignorance.

BillyShears

Hating an entire nation/ethnicity for the actions of a relative fraction of their population:

9/11 Hijackers & Al Qaeda

People against the Community Center/Mosque

(Oh yeah, I went there.)

whitecastlerock

Eminent domain was used to displace Brooklyn residents to build a basketball arena, Bloomberg wasn't too choked up then. Fuck him and his bullshit speeches.

grizzzly

Good point - none of these folks were up in arms when their neighbors were being displaced to line the pockets of a foreign millionaire.

cool

Lazio got one thing right-cuomo was a coward on this issue. 3 months until the election and I'm not sure that cuomo has said a word.

adeez

"The myth that the 9/11 commission report represents an adequate investigation into the events of 9/11 is perhaps best exposed by the commissioners themselves, 6 out of 10 of whom have questioned the commission and its conclusions personally (namely Kean and Hamilton, Kerrey, Roemer,Lehman and Cleland). Commission co-chairman Thomas Kean once famously remarked that the Commission was "set up to fail...In 2009, [whistle-blower Sibel] Edmonds revealed that Osama Bin Laden had been working for U.S. intelligence right up to the day of 9/11."

Perhaps the protesters' energy would be better spent trying to figure out what we're not being told.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=COR20100305&articleId=17961

mistermarkdavis

If only we could harness the power of racism for the purpose of promoting poorly thought out conspiracy theories we woudl be closer to world peace, stopping the new world order and adopting a gold standard.

adeez

Read what I wrote. Check the link. I can provide dozens more. Stop being ignorant.

Six out of ten of the people assigned to officially investigate what happened have publicly stated that their efforts were thwarted and that their report is thus flawed. Now, without using nonsense terms like "conspiracy theory," explain how that is not at all bothersome.

And no one is talking about gold or the NWO, so try to stay focused my friend.

longacre

"An atheist?! I'd rather have a terrorist in our midst. At least they believe in a God, even if it's a smelly, brown God." –Mayor West

hotstepper

democracy win!

neutral observer

Sorry Mr. Stringer, this issue did not start with Rick Lazio, Tea Party, Sara Palin et al. It started as a ground swell from the people most directly effected by the attacks. The politicians are late in arriving. So why don't you STFU for you are a political hack of the 10th degree, whose position should be eliminated for it serves no useful purpose.

Just becaue someone against the Cordova House doesn't make them a bigot. Likewise most Muslim NYers should completely understand the opposition to it. Unless of course they secretly want to see it built as a big FU to America.

Here we are more than half way through 2010 and still 130 Liberty is still standing and the "Freedom Tower" (an oxymoron if I ever heard one) is no where near completion.

The only thing that is happening is the politicians and thier connected friends are racking in the dollars as the mess fomerly know as the WTC limps along......

As far as the poor 300+ Muslims killed on 9/11, to the radicals, it was justified. Just collateral damage.

mistermarkdavis

If you hate living in a free country you're free to leave.

dept54321

Likewise most Muslim NYers should completely understand the opposition to it. Unless of course they secretly want to see it built as a big FU to America.

This is just gobbledygook.

JacqueMehoff

hey, you're not very neutral.

chuzzlewit

i feel excited, i feel proud. fuck it - let's build TWO mosques!

potsmoker

i listened to this morning's live somber reading of the decisions and applaud them, to misuse landmarks commision for a disgusting anti mosque or anti islam community center debate move is ridiculous.

all religion is stupid.

making a building a landmark to prevent an islamic cultural center is retarded.

smoke more pot. there is no god kids.

John L

Bloomberg choked up? You mean he actually has feelings? I don't believe it, I need video!

But when he's right he's right, I criticize Bloomberg a lot but I have to give him credit here. So kudos to Bloomberg for a great speech and perserving America's ideals.

Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day!

TimSPC

Well, in Whoville New York they say that the Grinch's Mayor's small heart grew three sizes that day.

TimSPC

WTF? Why can I proof strike tags but they don't post? Darn you, Gothamist. Darn you to heck!

Potty Boy

"Darn you, Gothamist. Darn you to heck!"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LOL

nicemarmot

I love how these people who scream "war memorial" don't get that they're playing right in to exactly what Bin Laden wanted when he set up the attacks nine years ago. It wasn't a war then; it was an attack by a bunch of religious fundamentalists who wanted to start a religious war, and have partially succeeded with our reaction. They get exactly what they want everytime somebody acts like a mosque is a terrorist center, because that's how they make all their recruits. If they don't have the big bad United States where everybody is evil and hates Islam, they've got nothing.

And of course, everyone fell for it, and Bush was able to use the hatred and fear fomented by the attacks to fulfill his personal vendetta against Saddam Hussein, who had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11 at all.

And even now, almost a decade later, people are still all worked up just like Bin Laden wanted. You think he didn't throw a party when Sarah Palin got the vice-presidential slot?

mistermarkdavis

agreed. If we agree to enter a holy war everyone loses except the fundamentalists that WANT an interminable holy war.

Derek

"ISLAM builds MOSQUES at the sites of their VICTORIES and CONQUEST"

Step 1: replace "ISLAM" with "CHRISTIANITY"

Step 2: replace "MOSQUES" with "MISSIONS and CHURCHES"

Look, it's ANOTHER historically accurate and yet still painfully bigoted sign! Woot!

BillyShears

I wish I could "like" a post outside of Facebook.

jt10000

"insult to all Americans at Ground Zero"

What about Muslim American victimes of the 9/11 attack?

Paladino and his spokespeople are bigots.

S.D.

"Today the nine Bloomberg stooges on the Landmarks panel did exactly as they were told and cleared the way for 13-story insult to all Americans at Ground Zero."?

Wow, what an out right f___ing A_____e....

jt10000

"New Yorkers want the entire district around the World Trade Center declared a War Memorial. "

What? Who? No. No we don't.

Bloomberg nailed it with that speech.

Thespis

"Enough talk. New Yorkers want the entire district around the World Trade Center declared a War Memorial."

It's downtown NYC -- the busiest place on the face of the damned planet. We want it converted to a war memorial? No Starbucks? No Burger King? No churches, mosques, strip clubs? Bullshit.

You go build a war memorial somewhere else, you carpet-bagging jackass. Turn Albany or Riverdale or something into a memorial. We live here, and NYC is not a memorial.

A memorial IN our city -- great. Our city AS a memorial -- GTFO.

talldrseuss

Stop calling the place a mosque. No one calls the YMCA a church. To all the hate mongers, move on, go beaner hopping or something, isn't that what you do in your free time anyway?

John_Matrix

wow, this makes me feel a little prouder to be an american. and i'm proud of that nebbish bloomberg.

bklynbagel

by bldg a mosque there, maybe they hope terrorists wont want to blow up the new wtc

virjin

these intolerant asses are ridiculous. so basically all Muslims are terrorists? well then that must mean all Mexicans are lazy, all blacks are criminals, and all Puerto Ricans are rapists.

mistermarkdavis

And all white people are ignorant racists.

I can say that. I'm an ignorant racist :)

BDS=(Boycott.Divest.Sanction)

dont forget all americans are devils. wasnt that the thinking behind 9/11?

the irony as I see it, the hijackers projected the guilt (as they saw it) of 'american forgein policy' on to everyone in the wtc.

now some 'Americans' are doing the same thing, projecting the guilt of the hijackers on to all muslims.

judging individuals based on their country, race or religion...how can this not be wrong?

Angelheaded Hipster

yup---i hate bloomberg only 99% now, but i can't go beneath that level

LESh8r

These morons are going to burn this place to the ground the second they cut the ribbon...if not during its construction. itll be like the next vigilante demoltion following the s.fairey wall on houston.

bravo mr mayor.

LESh8r

like...seriously...BRAVO for not submitting to this belligerent ignorance that has been screaming its face off for months about this.

TimSPC

Bloomberg may think he's NYC's principal, but he's 100% right here.

JayNYC

"and frames his commission's vote as emblematic of New York City's ideals of tolerance.."

WOW! That's some bold, professional, objecttive journalism there. Gee, wonder which side John Del Signore is on? *eye roll*

mistermarkdavis

Yeah they have a pro American values anti theocracy agenda.

PKMKII

Read the sentence again. The sentence reads "It's [as in, "the speech is"] rather stirring, by Bloomberg's standards, and frames [the speech is still taking the action here] his commission's vote as emblematic of New York City's ideals of tolerance."

The sentence is saying that the speech is trying to cast the vote as representative of tolerance; it is not saying that Del Signore is making that statement.

dr zippy

I don't recall any requirement that Gothamist needs to be objective, especially in an instance where one side is following time-honored constitutional principles and the other cheap political demagoguery.