Tacky or what?

I came across this article today, and thought it would make for a good debate topic. Now I was ok with the planning of a mosque near ground zero, but to ask for federal funds for this mosque is just down right tacky. I would feel this way no matter what the church or religion asking for the funding. That money could be used for other things. Hopefully their application for funding is denied. Is there something I'm missing?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/11/22/new.york.islamic.center/index.html?hpt=T2

Islamic community center developer seeks federal fundingBy Allan Chernoff, CNN Senior Correspondent
November 22, 2010 2:02 p.m. EST

New York (CNN) -- The developer behind the controversial Islamic community center and mosque planned for Lower Manhattan has requested federal funding through the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to support the project known as Park51.

The funding would come from money the Department of Housing and Urban Development allocated to help rebuild the neighborhood after the 9/11 attacks.

"Park51 has applied for a Lower Manhattan Development Corporation grant," said Sharif El-Gamal, CEO of SOHO Properties, the developer behind the Islamic center. In a statement, El-Gamal said the money would "in part fund social service programs such as domestic violence programs, Arabic and other foreign language classes, programs and services for homeless veterans, two multi-cultural art exhibits and immigration services."

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation received more than 265 applications seeking more than $175 million for community and cultural programs, though the LMDC has only $17 million of federal funding to allocate.

"We are now turning to the challenging but important task of sorting through the applications to identify those that address long-standing community and cultural needs," said Avi Schick, chairman of LMDC.

The grants will range from $100,000 to $1 million, according to Julie Menin, chair of Community Board 1 and a member of the LMDC board. Among the criteria used to judge applications, Menin said, are financial viability, job creation, revitalizing the community and a track record of service in Lower Manhattan.

"We have funded museums, public schools, programs to help small businesses hurt after 9/11," said Menin.

An online report said Park51 had requested $5 million, but neither the developer nor LMDC board members would confirm that amount.

The LMDC plans to decide how to allocate the $17 million "towards the end of the first quarter of next year," said Menin.

Park51 has yet to raise significant funds for the community center located two blocks north of Ground Zero, a project that could cost $100-million.

"Park51 has not launched a formal fundraising program and is currently in the process of expanding its Board of Directors to plan, manage and oversee such efforts," said El-Gamal, adding that the project has not yet applied for federal tax-exempt status, but plans to do so "in the coming weeks."

I am not okay with a mosque being built anywhere near ground zero and I really am not okay with them getting any funding of any kind.

They can have all the mosques they want,just not there and not funded by the Americans

yorkiemom wrote:

I am not okay with a mosque being built anywhere near ground zero and I really am not okay with them getting any funding of any kind.

They can have all the mosques they want,just not there and not funded by the Americans

From a moral point of view, I think building a mosque near ground zero IMO is very disrespectful. But it's private property and unfortunately they have the right to build there. Asking for government funding, now that's pretty bold and tacky, and IMO I think the owner of this project is just doing it to cause shit. If the owner of this project doesn't have the funds himself to build or can't raise the money on his own, then oh well, his mosque doesn't get built.