HOUSTON, THE MOSQUE HAS A PROBLEM – AT 7:51 P.M. ET:  Life is so filled with complications.  By now everyone knows about the mosque that a vague Islamic group wants to build near Ground Zero in New York.  There is much controversy, pitting people with common sense and human sensitivity against elitists who think it's a grand, multicultural idea that can elevate the American soul.

But reader James Croak alerts us to something we didn't know about, that apparently no one involved in the public controversy knew about:  The people behind the mosque forgot one little detail.  From the New York Post:

Not so fast.

The developers of the controversial mosque proposed near Ground Zero own only half the site where they want to construct the $100 million building, The Post has learned.

One of the two buildings on Park Place is owned by Con Edison, even though Soho Properties told officials and the public that it owns the entire parcel. And any potential sale by Con Ed faces a review by the state Public Service Commission.

Con Ed, of course, is the electric company that services most of New York City and its suburbs.  It is less than loved by New Yorkers, who pay about the highest power rates in the country.

“We never heard anything about Con Ed whatsoever,” said a stunned Julie Menin, the chairwoman of Community Board 1, which passed a May resolution supporting the mosque.

And...

Rep. Peter King, who opposes the mosque, said the developers seemed to be “operating under false pretenses.”

“I wonder what else they are hiding,” said King (R-LI). “If we can’t have the full truth on this, what can we believe?”

The mosque guys do have a purchase option on the Con Ed building, but apparently at an undetermined price.  The state board that would have to approve the sale is controlled by the governor.

And how is the mosque campaign coming along?

...just $200 in donations has come in so far, according to Ameena Meer, head of Muslims for Peace, the nonprofit accepting the contributions.

At that rate they'll put the finishing touches on that mosque in about 400 years.  Put off thinking about house gifts.

August 8, 2010