Corruption Surrounds Building Mega Mosque on 911 Site

The Fix Was In: Community Board Unanimously Denies Landmark Status to Ground Zero Mega Mosque Site

New York politicians are bending over backwards, 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 11th. Why? Would they do this for a church? A synagogue? This is an outrage .............

Last 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 its 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 unanimously to deny landmark status to the Burlington Coat Factory building, removing another obstacle to Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's supremacist, triumphal mosque.

One journalist noted that the "CB1 Landmarks committee, which is a stickler for details when someone wants to install new windows or awnings, voted to recommend to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission that landmark status not be given to the two antique buildings on Park Place that the owner wants to tear down to build the mega-mosque at Ground Zero."

The historical significance of the property is clear: it was designed by the famous architect Daniel D. Badger. A number of his buildings have already been given landmark status. The New York Times obituary (19 Nov. 1884, p. 2) for Daniel D. Badger (1806-1884), read in part, "Daniel D. Badger, the pioneer of this country in the use of iron for building purposes" ....... Further, the building was the headquarters of Merck &Company from 1911 to 1925.

More importantly, his building has special historical significance because of 911. It was part of the attack. The landing gear of one of 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 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.

The basis for the decision was that the LPC had not recommended landmark status for other architecturally and aesthetically significant buildings in the neighborhood -- which is patently untrue.

Atlas Shrugs