Ground Zero Imam Has Bedbugs

Ground Zero mosque imam could face up to $2000 in fines for each violation at his New Jersey apartments

But the important thing, his lawyer reminded us, is that he is a "man of peace." Never mind the mold, the bedbug infestations, the fire hazards so bad that officers were posted to warn people in case the deathtraps went up in flames. He's a man of peace.

Peace.

Peeeeeaaaace.

So, just you turn that frown upside down and stop noticing the startling incompetence with money and property on the part of people looking to build a shrine to triumphalist aggression on Ground Zero with an unprecedented sense of entitlement... and with federal money.

"Imam's challenge to Union City's fines for building's violations will be heard in Bayonne on Feb. 2," by Jean-Pierre Mestanza for Union City News, December 16 (thanks to Twostellas):

BAYONNE - The imam who wants to build a cultural center near Ground Zero has a follow-up court date in Bayonne in February.

Representatives of Feisal A. Rauf appeared in Bayonne Municipal Court yesterday to deal with fines the imam has been assessed by the City of Union City for code violations at a property he owns in Union City.

Apparently he couldn't be bothered again to show up to address his obligations to the people living in those slums. Too busy being a man of peace, one supposes.

After a 20-minute conference with both sides, Bayonne Municipal Court Judge Frank Carpenter said the case would be heard at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 2.

Carpenter added that a number of pertinent documents from a Superior Court trial had not yet been received by Bayonne Prosecutor Robert Hennessey or the imam's lawyer, Tomas Espinosa.

The case was transferred to Bayonne to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, officials said.

Union City sued Sage Development, the company owned by Rauf, over the violations that were discovered in September at 2206 Central Ave., a 16-unit building.

The building was placed in the city's receivership from Nov. 9 to Dec. 9 - long enough for Union City officials to collect a month's rent from the tenants and make the necessary repairs, Union City officials said.

Union City is seeking to enforce fines on 24 summonses, mostly dealing with a hot water heater and bed bug infestations found in the 16-unit building.

The fine for each violation can be as high as $2,000....