The proposed Islamic Community Center, near Ground Zero, or the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque” which is actually several blocks away from where the World Trade Center stood, has reportedly applied for federally funded grants.
In response, GOP representatives, namely Michele Bachmann, says the Islamic Community Center is “looking for a taxpayer handout.” Park51, the name for the proposed community center, applied for $5 millon worth of grants.
Officials at Park51 say they have applied for a grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and plan to use the grant in part to fund social services programs for all residents of Lower Manhattan such as domestic violence prevention, Arabic and other foreign language classes, programs and services for homeless veterans, and two multicultural art exhibits and immigration services.
The Islamic Community Center Will Create Hundreds Of Construction Jobs And Create 150 Permanent Jobs When It Opens
Representative Michele Bachman (R-MN), who lives in Minnesota and DC, said it is “outrageous to even consider federal gunds go to building a mosque at Ground Zero.”
Representative Peter King (R-NY) said that the so called Ground Zero Mosque is an “affront to the memory of all he memory of all those who were murdered on 9/11.
It’s taking, in effect, money that was appropriated after the World Trade Center attacks, taking that money, taxpayer money, hard-earned taxpayer money to use it to help to build this 13-story edifice.”
The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation was created to assist with projects associated with the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
Actually, Ground Zero or the former location of the twin towers of the World Trade Center has been filled with a very large waterfall. A huge ceremony will take place next year on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 with Mayor Micheal Bloomberg.
Officials at Park51 say their community center will provide hundreds of construction jobs and when the center is permanently opened it will create 150 permanent jobs.
The community center will have a gym, pool, pre-K, and culinary institute, as well as an amphitheatre and 9/11 memorial. Park51 says that a community center is very much needed in Lower Manhattan and that is why people who live here support it.
