Results tagged “englewood”

Just in case Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi didn't get the message that New Jersey doesn't want him visiting their state or the town of Englewood, where his country owns a 25-rooom mansion, there was a rally in Englewood to repeat the refrain, "Not In My Backyard!" The Star-Ledger reports that relatives of victims from the Lockerbie plane bombing spoke: Laurie Ciulla, whose father was killed, said that her family has been upset by the possibility of Gadhafi spending part of next month in the NJ suburb, "As a nation, we just simply cannot host Colonel Gadhafi. He is not welcome here any more than any other terrorist would be," while Jack Flynn, who son died, said it was "scary -- almost creepy" near the Libyan property (the protest was held on the neighboring property owned by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach) and that Gadhafi "was the man who ordered the bombing of Pan Am 103. There's no doubt about it."

NJ lawmakers are probably happy now: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi will not be staying at the Libyan government-owned mansion in Englewood, NJ when he comes to the U.S. next month to address the United Nations. Rep. Steve Rothman announced yesterday, "I am very pleased that Moammar Khadafy will apparently not be coming to Englewood," apparently because Gadhafi's visit—which would include a large Bedouin tent—"would have presented unnecessary safety and security issues for the residents of Englewood and the Libyan diplomats." And the public uproar probably helped pressure the Libyan government, too. Instead, the Daily News reports, "Khadafy is expected to seek rooms for himself and his large entourage at one of New York's luxury hotels." Hmm—will he seek a hotel with rooftop space for him to set up the tent?

Englewood, NJ Mayor Michael Wildes is stepping up the fight to keep Libyan leader Moammer Gadhafi—and his air-conditioned Bedouin tent—from the estate the Libyan mission to the U.N. owns. Wildes is going to court to file an injunction on the renovation work being done at the estate, "If the U.S. State Department won't shut this down, we will. New Jersey's governor, its two U.S. senators and its U.S. congressmen are all on board on this."