The Jerusalem Post - Ruling Expected on 'Ground Zero' Mosque

By Jordana Horn, Jerusalem Post

NEW YORK The New York Landmarks Preservation Commission will rule Tuesday morning on whether or not 45- 47 Park Place, a building two blocks from Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center was destroyed by Islamic terrorists, can be demolished to make way for a proposed Islamic Cultural Center.

The vote, however, will not end the controversy over the proposed building, which has stirred a national debate.

Attorney Brett Joshpe of Washington-based constitutional law group the American Center for Law & Justice told The Jerusalem Post that even if the building was denied landmark status on Tuesday, his organization would go to court over the issue.

Unfortunately, all signs point to the Landmarks Commission denying 45-47 Park Place landmark status, in blatant disregard for historical precedent and usual procedures, Joshpe told the Post. If this indeed occurs, the American Center for Law & Justice will challenge the decision in short order.

Joshpe cited New York state laws Article 78. The state law provides for the ability to challenge an agencys ruling in state court in order to determine, among other things, if there is an abuse of discretion in an agency decision.

The ACLJ represents Tim Brown, whom Joshpe characterized as a a first responder on September 11th who lost nearly 100 friends in the attacks.

Brown is one of many who understand that Ground Zero is sacred ground and not the place to build a mosque, the ACLJs Web site states.

The proposed Islamic Cultural Center, a $100 million project that would include a mosque, was originally called Cordoba House and now goes by the name Park 51. It is a creation of the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative, an organization that seeks to improve relations between Islam and the West.

The centers proposed construction has been a veritable lightning rod of protest for months. Vocal opponents to the project, including former US vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and former congressman Newt Gingrich, contend that its location two blocks away from the footprint of the World Trade Center is whether intentionally or otherwise insensitive to the memory of the September 11 attacks and its victims families.

New Yorks Mayor Michael Bloomberg has taken a stance in favor of the Islamic Cultural Center, stating that its construction and location would exemplify the citys dedication to freedom of religion even in the wake of terror.

Meanwhile, The New York Times ventured that not only might there be a conservative-liberal divide on the issue, there may be a local-national divide, as well.

To many New Yorkers, especially in Manhattan, it is a construction zone, passed during the daily commute or glimpsed through office windows, Michael Barbaro wrote in the paper on Saturday. To some outside of the city, though, it stands as a hallowed battlefield that must be shielded and memorialized.

Last Friday, the waters of debate were further roiled when the Anti-Defamation League unexpectedly issued a statement taking a position against the centers construction.

The ADLs statement on the issue, authored by director Abraham H. Foxman, opened with the organizations self-defined mandate to categorically reject appeals to bigotry on the basis of religion, adding that the ADL condemns those whose opposition to this proposed Islamic Center is a manifestation of such bigotry.

However, citing understandably strong passions and keen sensitivities at play in this particular circumstance, the ADL wrote that the controversy which has emerged regarding the building of an Islamic Center at this location is counterproductive to the healing process. Therefore, under these unique circumstances, we believe the City of New York would be better served if an alternative location could be found.

Given that the ADL has done historic work in the area of fighting prejudice in this country, and given the tortuous nature of Abe Foxmans comment clearly indicating his discomfort with the position, I imagine there was great pressure put on Mr. Foxman to oppose the center, one Jewish leader told the Post.

Everybodys Mad At Abe, the Forward's senior columnist J.J. Goldberg titled a blog piece, citing numerous left-of-center critics who took issue with the ADLs position on the Islamic center.

Time magazine columnist Joe Klein wrote that the journey of the (Anti)Defamation League from beacon of tolerance to slightly potty geyser of toxic foolishness continues apace.

Another writer, Adam Serwer of the American Prospect, wrote, Remarkable. An organization whose stated role is to counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry nonetheless opposes people building where they please simply because of the faith they adhere to.