Intrigue at Park 51
Wow, so late last night, when all the journalists were abed or drunk, Park 51 mentions quietly that Imam Feisal and Daisy Khan are no longer with the project. The Imam instead is off on a speaking tour to correct the public's misperceptions about him, and Daisy--well, I don't know.
The imam and his wife behind a controversial plan to build a Muslim cultural center and mosque near the site of New York's September 11 attack are stepping down as leaders of the project, the center said on Friday.
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and Daisy Khan had become the public faces of the project, which they described as a cultural center open to everyone, as opposition to the project swelled last year from critics who said its location was insensitive.
The proposed 13-story, $100 million center called Park51 could be years away from completion. It would be two blocks from "Ground Zero," where the September 11, 2001, hijacked plane attacks toppled the Twin Towers killing nearly 3,000.
"Imam Feisal and Daisy Khan will not be speaking on behalf of Park51, nor will they be raising funds for the project," Park51 said in a statement.
(Just by the by: It annoys me no end when journalists use the phrase, "X said in a statement." As opposed to what? Morse code? Skits and a song?)
Anyway, can you imagine what went on behind the scenes leading up to this? Since you know as much as I do now, I'll just say that in all of this, my favorite character is real estate developer and Sopranos-walk on aspirant Sharif El-Gamal, who before he turned to Islam (and big-time real estate, which I'm guessing are pretty closely linked for him) was busted repeatedly for buying hookers and popping tenants who were late on their rent in the snout.
Best El-Gamal line ever: "El-Gamal denied he socked Vassiliev, but conceded, '[Vassiliev's] face could have run into my hand,' court papers say."
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Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Whoa. Very interesting indeed.
Oct '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
So is Park 51 on the skids and the rats are leaving the ship?
Jun '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Maybe Bloomberg made the suggestion that they weren't doing the project any favors by their association. He seems quite eager to have it go through.
I think "X said in a statement" is used to distinguish a prepared statement or press release from an interview conducted by the journalist. Presumably, the first will be carefully crafted to favor the subject's position and the latter will delve deeper to reveal truth. Of course, it depends on the journalist!
May '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
They have no money. Should have left it with that simple statement, but my head is awhirr trying to come up with a snappy musical number to announce this. Something big-bandy, from Aladdin, perhaps.
May '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
As opposed to "in an interview".
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
katievs
As opposed to "in an interview". · Jan 15 at 5:30am
Does this seem like a crucial who-what-when-where-why distinction worthy of three extra words? Would it change your understanding of the story?
May '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
katievs
As opposed to "in an interview". · Jan 15 at 5:30am
Does this seem like a crucial who-what-when-where-why distinction worthy of three extra words? Would it change your understanding of the story? · Jan 15 at 5:35am
Definitely. It alerts me to the fact they are reporting what the person or group wanted said, not what came out spontaneously under questioning. Also alerts me to the fact that the reporting of this story has likely not yet gone very deep.
Even more, it's about due disclosure--they're a way of admitting to the reader, "I did not speak to this person personally; I'm only saying what they said in a prepared statement."
Pretty efficient use of words, imo.
Dec '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
I was going to say it, but katie just said it better.
Sep '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Even more, it's about due disclosure--they're a way of admitting to the reader, "I did not speak to this person personally; I'm only saying what they said in a prepared statement."
Because they don't want to be indicted by a grand jury by admitting they stood too close
Sep '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Best El-Gamal line ever: "El-Gamal denied he socked Vassiliev, but conceded, '[Vassiliev's] face could have run into my hand,' court papers say."
2nd best line: "I'm a legitimate businessman!"
Dec '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Rauf was presented as the heart and soul of the project, the driving force and visionary behind a bold initiative to build interfaith bridges and promote healing.
The project as originally conceived is likely dead. Before the brouhaha they were probably planning to get the bulk of their funding from Saudi Arabia and other foreign sources. Once the controversy broke those sources either pulled out or could not be used because they would generate very bad publicity.
The investors who purchased the property are probably now looking for other development options.
Dec '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Amazing when you think about all the air time, ink and bandwidth that was wasted in this country on these two charlatans.
Jan '11
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Not to worry, they've already lined up a new charlatan: Imam Shaykh Abdallah Adhami
Dec '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Hmmm...
Mosque sheik-up: Imam replaced at Ground Zero center
Rauf's replacement, Imam Abdallah Adhami, who has been active in New York's Muslim community, will now handle religious programming for the project, known as Park51...
Critics of the project pointed out that Adhami has a link to Imam Siraj Wahhaj...
Tim Brown, a retired firefighter who responded to the 9/11 attacks..."Imam Rauf can't raise money needed for the project. He's toxic. He's only hurt the 9/11 survivors, not built bridges," Brown said.
Brown was troubled by Adhami's link to Wahhaj.
"Siraj Wahhaj is as radical as you can get," he said.
Edited on Jan 15, 2011 at 7:27amRe: Intrigue at Park 51
katievs
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
katievs
As opposed to "in an interview". · Jan 15 at 5:30am
Does this seem like a crucial who-what-when-where-why distinction worthy of three extra words? Would it change your understanding of the story? · Jan 15 at 5:35am
Definitely. It alerts me to the fact they are reporting what the person or group wanted said, not what came out spontaneously under questioning. Also alerts me to the fact that the reporting of this story has likely not yet gone very deep.
Even more, it's about due disclosure--they're a way of admitting to the reader, "I did not speak to this person personally; I'm only saying what they said in a prepared statement."
Pretty efficient use of words, imo. · Jan 15 at 5:57am
Okay, I'll concede the point.
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Nickolas: Hmmm...
Mosque sheik-up: Imam replaced at Ground Zero center
Rauf's replacement, Imam Abdallah Adhami, who has been active in New York's Muslim community, will now handle religious programming for the project, known as Park51...
Critics of the project pointed out that Adhami has a link to Imam Siraj Wahhaj...
Tim Brown, a retired firefighter who responded to the 9/11 attacks..."Imam Rauf can't raise money needed for the project. He's toxic. He's only hurt the 9/11 survivors, not built bridges," Brown said.
Brown was troubled by Adhami's link to Wahhaj.
"Siraj Wahhaj is as radical as you can get," he said. · Jan 15 at 7:24am
Edited on Jan 15 at 07:27 am
And where do we know Wahhaj's name from? Anyone? I told you there would be a test at the end. See why I go on and on about the Brotherhood?
Dec '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Amid Rift, Imam’s Role in Islam Center Is Sharply Cut
The differences between the imam and Mr. Gamal have been evident on a wide range of issues for many months, said Muzaffar A. Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute at the New York University School of Law and a friend of Mrs. Khan and her husband. The two men have differed over the size of the project, its commercial or noncommercial character, and whether it would be primarily a place for Muslims or for people of many faiths, he said...
In his announcement, Mr. Gamal said Friday services at the temporary mosque now operating in the building, previously conducted by Mr. Abdul Rauf when he was in town, would now be run by an imam, Abdallah Adhami, who has served another Lower Manhattan mosque for many years...
Mr. Chishti, however, suggested that the prospects for raising the estimated $100 million it might cost to build the center would be diminished. “The groundswell of support we saw over the summer for this project was not a wave of support for a developer’s rights,” Mr. Chishti said. “It was support for a vision that was articulated by Imam Feisal.”
Dec '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
And where do we know Wahhaj's name from? Anyone? I told you there would be a test at the end. See why I go on and on about the Brotherhood?
Do El-Gamal and his backers have a clue about what they are doing? This appears to be a really dumb move if they care at all about bad publicity and are serious about moving forward with the original plan.
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
Nickolas
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
And where do we know Wahhaj's name from? Anyone? I told you there would be a test at the end. See why I go on and on about the Brotherhood?
Do El-Gamal and his backers have a clue about what they are doing? This appears to be a really dumb move if they care at all about bad publicity and are serious about moving forward with the original plan. · Jan 15 at 7:41am
I suspect not.
Oct '10
Re: Intrigue at Park 51
This guy is just oily.