Park 51 Email Shocker: Bloomberg Is Pro-Mosque!

"Well, duh, I'm pro-mosque..." (AP)

Mayor Bloomberg has made no secret of his support for the would-be "Ground Zero Mosque," a proposed Islamic community center for lower Manhattan that isn't actually at Ground Zero. But the dallies seem mildly shocked by the "revelation" that his administration was actively trying to help Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf make the Park 51 project a reality. Among the emails released yesterday include a drafted letter written by Community Affairs Commissioner Nazli Parvizi for Rauf's wife, Daisy Khan, to send to Community Board 1, which was voting on the project at the time.

However, Community Board 1 Chairwoman Julie Menin says her board never even received the letter-in-question from Khan, and the Mayor's involvement "certainly didn't change the way we view the project." Another email stated that Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Fatima Shama expedited a temporary public assembly permit for the group to conduct prayers in January; another email noted that organizers agreed to fund a 2009 Ramadan event, Iftar, at Gracie Mansion.

Critics of the mosque charge that this proves the administration was in collusion with the project's backers to rig public opinion, but Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser said today that these kinds of assistance were typical of the regular work of the Community Affairs department.

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

By Ben Yakas in News on December 24, 2010 9:00 AM

Comments [rss]

twophrasebark

I think Gothamist kind of misses the point completely.

It's not that they assisted her with the letter that's the problem. It's not that Bloomberg is for the mosque. It's that part of the central core of Bloomberg's argument is that the government should not be involved in the matter.

That was his entire raison d'etre and kudgel against politicians who were against it. The revelation that Bloomberg's administration was actively supporting the mosque is just as bad as opposing it. It's the same difference.

Naturally, it shouldn't be surprising to anyone that Bloomberg is hypocritical, but still...

brazilian heart

By the way...Today is Christmas even and I will become a Muslim. I'm tired and ashame of all that hypocrisy.
Let's Make September 11 "Read a Koran in Public Day" #RAKIPD
Instead of promoting even more intolerance and hate, burning the Koran.

brazilian heart

@mordicai It's so sad how people still relate terrorists with Muslims. They don't realize that many Muslims also were killed on 9/11 as Jews and people from other religions as well. Right? SHOCK! Yes, it's really shocking the intolerance and ignorance of certain people. Merry Christmas!

Mordicai

Right? In other news, "Community Affairs" department involves itself in the affairs of a community! SHOCK! Horror! How dare the administration support basic Constitutional religious tolerance. The US Constitution-- terrorist sympathizer? Maybe!