Washington Times - Inside the Beltway - Not So Fast

The following is an excerpt taken from Inside the Beltway column by Jennifer Harper that appeared in the Washington Times on August 4, 2010

NOT SO FAST

The era of good feeling has not quite descended upon Manhattan, now that the $100 million "ground zero mosque" has gotten the unanimous blessing of the New York City Landmarks Preservations Committee, which essentially cleared the way for its construction. Republican gubernatorial hopeful Rick Lazio is calling for an investigation into the project's funding, asking New Yorkers to defend "our sacred ground." The Anti-Defamation League suggests an "alternative" site be found. Legal minds are also at work.

"The actions taken by the city of New York represent a blatant disregard for the city's own procedures, while ignoring the fact that this is a historic and hallowed site that should not be destroyed to build an Islamic mosque," says Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, which will file an Article 78 petition in state court on Wednesday to challenge the action, alleging an "abuse of discretion" in the commission's decision.

"The city has engaged in a rush to push this project through - ignoring proper procedure and ignoring a growing number of New Yorkers and Americans who don't believe this site is the place to build a mosque," Mr. Sekulow adds.