Feed: NYC Mayor “up to his neck” in Ground Zero Mosque - AggScore: 12.9

NYC Mayor “up to his neck” in Ground Zero Mosque controversy

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caption id alignalignleft width210 captionBloomberg and other politicians are quick to forget this scene from September 11, 2001. Photo NY Daily News img srchttpcdn2b.examiner.comsitesdefaultfilesstyleslargehash3e78wtc911.jpg alt width210 height170 captionA public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption has obtained documents from New York City MayorMichael Bloombergsoffice thatreveal hisadministration was instrumental in helping Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, his wife Daisy Khan and their partner Sharif elGamal obtain approval for a massive mosque and community center to be built in the shadow of Ground Zero, the site of the 911 terrorist attacks.Peel away Mayor Bloombergs sanctimonious pronouncements, he isno different than the other politicians eager to sellout their own country and its people in order to garner more power, said former New York policeofficial Bill Fitzgerald. With all due respect,Bloombergshould care more about the horrible snow removal scandal and the rising debt than about Americans objections to building a mosque at Ground Zero.The documents, obtained by Judicial Watchas a result of its attorneys open records request and related lawsuits, include email correspondence between top officials inside the Mayors office and supporters of the Ground Zero Mosque, a project spearheaded by the Raufled Cordoba Initiative.blockquoteAmong the highlightsulliA May 10, 2010, email from Daisy Khan, listed as Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, to Fatima Shama, Commissioner of the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs Is there a good time to chat tomorrow. We need some guidance on how to tackle the opposition.liliA letter supporting the Ground Zero Mosque drafted by Nazi Parvizi, Commissioner of the Mayors Community Affairs Unit, to Julie Menin, Chairman of Manhattans Community Board 1, which had considered a resolution supporting the mosque. Parvizi crafted the letter for Daisy Khans signature, asking the board to temporarily withdraw the mosque resolution due to public outrage over the project. Parvizi described the purpose of the letter in a May 15, 2010, email What the letter will do, I hope, is get the medias attention off everyones backs and give you guys time to regroup on your strategy as discussedliliA legal review of the Menin letter sent to the Mayors office by Rauf on May 15, 2010. The letter contemplates the impact withdrawing the Community Board 1 resolution could have on the effort to dedesignate the mosque site as a historical landmark at a June 22, 2010, Landmark Commission meeting, thus allowing the project to move forward emThe Borough President and Councilmember Chin have a firm policy at speaking up at public agencies only after the community board has taken a position on an item. So withdrawing the resolution may affect their thinking about how helpful they can be on June 22. That in itself may not be fatal to getting the site dedesignated but I do know that Landmark Commission Chairman Tierney was looking forward to having the political cover their support would bring him. The Landmark Commission ultimately decided to dedesignate the property.emliliA May 7, 2010, congratulations email from Shama to Rauf, Khan and elGamal after the Community Board 1 finance subcommittee expressed support for the Ground Zero Mosque project Againcongratulations!!! This is very exciting for all of you and the community at large! Daisy, as always you were AMAZING last night thank you!liliA May 7, 2010, email from Khan to Rauf, elGamal and Shama after the finance subcommittee vote Just spoke with Commissioner Nazli Parvizi. She will call Julie Mennon sic to thank them for passing the resolution and ask how she can assist.liliA January 2010 email exchange documenting Shamas successful attempt to expedite a temporary public assembly permit so supporters of the Ground Zero Mosque could conduct prayers at the site.liliA series of email exchanges regarding a September 18, 2009, meeting between Shama, Rauf, elGamal, Khan and others from the Ground Zero Mosque project. A September 22, 2009, followup email summarized the meeting It was wonderful to be with everyoneon Friday nightFatima mentioned that there are a number of concrete next steps that need to be undertaken re the Cordoba House. In terms of a point person and centralized contact, please advise Fatima as to whom she should be in direct contact with on these and all other Cordoba House matters moving forward.liliAn April 22, 2010, email from Khan to Shama asking Shama to sign a letter of support for the Ground Zero Mosque project. We have been honored to have developed a relationship with you over the last yearswe consider you amongst our closest allies and friends. The email included a draft letter for Shama to sign.liulblockquoteIn July 2010, Mayor Bloomberg told reporters it was unAmerican to investigate the individuals behind the Ground Zero Mosque. Shortly thereafter, on August 9, 2010, Judicial Watch filed Freedom of Information Law FOIL requests with the Mayors office, seeking contacts between city officials and Rauf and controversial Muslim organizations.On November 4, 2010, after receiving no response from Mayor Bloombergs office to its request and a subsequent administrative appeal, Judicial Watch filed a petition with the New York State Supreme Court to compel the Mayors office to comply with the open records requests. Judicial Watch received the documents just before Christmas on December 23, 2010.These new documents show that Mayor Bloombergs office was working hand in glove with the Muslim activists driving the unpopular Ground Zero mosque project. Now we know what the Mayor was trying to hide and why his office couldnt bother to comply with the Freedom of Information Law. New Yorkers want honesty and transparency from their Mayor, not obfuscation, said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.Rauf has made a number of radical and controversial statements regarding Islamic extremism, particularly the terrorist attacks of 911. For example, during a em60 Minutesem interview about the 911 terrorist attacks, Rauf said I wouldnt say that the United States deserved what happened. But the United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happenedwe have been an accessory to a lot of innocent lives dying in the world. In fact, in the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the USA.emSpecial thanks go to Ms. Jill Farrell, communications director for Judicial Watch, for her valuable assistance.emdivem emdiv