Any individual that purchases a piece of land in New York City, or anywhere else in the United States, must first present a building plan for aproval from the agency responsible. The building, now being discussed across America is not a First Amendment question. It is a question for whatever agency in NYC makes decsions about buildings in NYC, for whatever the purpose. When the Mayor of NYC makes such stupid statements speaking of the question as a First Amendment issue – it displays his ignorance of the laws in the city for which he is responsible. Shame on you Mr. Mayor!
Shame on you for allowing this group to shame America and Americans as anti Islamists. The group has not presented plans to develop a building, do not presently own all of the structures involved and owe the City a few hundred dollars in taxes. Their failure is ‘their’ failure. Their failure has nothing to do with the Constitution and the Fist Amendment to it. And, the Mayor buys into scolding Americans over a religous issue that doesn’t exist.
The people that request the building not be put at that particular sight do not disagree on religous issues, their problems are personal for one and cultural for another. If the Imam in charge wishes for the center to bring peoples together, why not follow Geraldo’s suggestion and take an offer from the Mayor, the governor, or from Geraldo?
NO, this is not a religous issue. Let’s get on with saving our own country from going broke, save the unemployed from homelessness and starvation, bringing what’s left of our military home unharmed, stop monitoring the world with our young people, put our health care in the hands of those who provide, and those who need, good health care, and solve a few other issues, issues that are far more important to the lives of Americans today!
