Islamic Center's Bid for Federal Funds Draws Fire

(Nov. 23) --The developers of a proposed Islamic community center and mosque near ground zero are seeking federal redevelopment grants reportedly worth $5 million, further infuriating some families and first responders.

"I think it's an insult to the 9/11 families. It's another smack in the face," retired Deputy Fire Chief Jim Riches, who lost a firefighter son during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, told the Daily News.

"Why would we give them money ahead of so many other worthy groups?" Tim Brown, a retired firefighter who was a first responder on 9/11, told the New York Post.

"It's so upside down," said Brown, a leading opponent of the center. "They are the ones who insist the project is not at ground zero, and then the next thing you know is they want to leverage 9/11."

The money would come from funds the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development set aside to help rebuild lower Manhattan after the 9/11 attacks, CNN said.

The center, which would have a mosque, preschool, 9/11 memorial and swimming pool, was the topic of heated controversy over the summer. Opponents complained that its location near the World Trade Center site was insensitive.

The board of the proposed center, called Park51, applied for financing from the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. about two weeks ago, The New York Times reported, citing a statement from developer Sharif el-Gamal.

"Park51 remains committed to exploring all sources of revenue and funding to build the community center in lower Manhattan," Gamal said. "It is important to note that this community center will provide hundreds of construction jobs over the next few years and when opened will provide 150 permanent jobs."

The grant request was about $5 million, The Times reported, citing an unidentified person with knowledge of the application. Gamal has said he needs to raise $140 million for the center and plans to seek funds from small donors as well as corporations and philanthropists, the Times said.

A woman whose brother piloted one of the airliners hijacked on 9/11 said the grants shouldn't be used for the project.

"This is federal money; it was not intended to fund a propaganda issue," Debra Burlingame told the Post. "If the LMDC gave them a penny, it would enrage everyone in lower Manhattan."

The developers say they'd use the grants for social service programs, like domestic violence prevention efforts, Arabic and other foreign language classes, programs for homeless veterans and multicultural art exhibits, according to news reports.

The developers face tough competition. The Lower Manhattan Development Corp. has $17 million for cultural and community enhancement programs but has received about 265 funding requests totaling $175 million.

"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," corporation spokesman John De Libero told the Daily News.

Those seeking funds must show a "nexus to revitalizing the World Trade Center site and its surroundings," Julie Menin, a member of the corporation's board, told The Times. Proposals focused on creating jobs and partnerships with other organizations in the area would be favored, she said. She told CNN the grants would range from $100,000 to $1 million.

"There are going to be very tough choices," she told The Times.

The grants are expected to be awarded early next year.