The Mad Rush to Build the Ground Zero Mega-Mosque

New York politicians are bending over backwards and violating protocol to build a mega mosque at Ground Zero. In warped speed they are ramming it through, removing every obstacle to expedite the process and erect a triumphal mosque at Ground Zero in time for it to meet its stated opening date, the tenth anniversary of September 11. Why? Would they do this for a church? A synagogue? This is an outrage.

Wednesday night, on less than a week and a half’s notice (at a time when most people who care are not even around), the Lower Manhattan Community Board 1 (LMCB) Landmark Commission (LMCBLC) held a meeting to consider the landmark status of 45-47 Park Place (the site of the proposed 911 mega-mosque). Refusing to wait until the entire board could meet, seven board members voted to deny landmark status to the Burlington Coat Factory building, removing another obstacle to Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf’s supremacist, triumphal mosque.

Yet the historical significance of the property is clear: the famous architect Daniel D. Badger designed the building. A number of his buildings have already been given landmark status. The New York Times obituary (in the November 19, 1884 issue, p. 2) for Badger (1806-1884) called him “the pioneer of this country in the use of iron for building purposes.”

More importantly, his building has special historical significance because of 911. It was part of the attack. The landing gear of one the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center towers flew out to the Burlington Coat Factory building, and fell through the roof to the basement. The fact that the committee ignores that fact is outrageous, and disrespects the victims of 911.

The LMCBLC unanimously (with one recusal) voted Wednesday to recommend to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) that landmark status be denied. Yes, this ugly decision was unanimous. The one recusal came from a board member who admitted to being in bed with the owner (future financial gains implied). This was the same tool who during last month’s community board meeting was shilling for the mosque. Apparently, one of the owners of the property approached him and subsequently corresponded with him. He said he was recusing himself because although there was no “immediate” financial benefit to him, he thought it appropriate given potential conflicts of interest. The same member of the LMCBLC made reference to Kristallnacht, implying that opponents of the mosque are Nazis. Outrageous, I tell you.