And, he added, "integrity!" Said one resident: "he doesn't take care of this building or the building around the corner, and he's going to take care of a mosque?"
Indeed, the backers of the most aggressive, insensitive, and insulting development project in recent history have shown themselves to be breathtakingly incompetent in all things real estate: we've seen the eviction of Sharif el-Gamal for non-payment of rent, back taxes owed by the same thug on the mosque property, the revelation that the mega-mosque backers don't even own all the land they intend to build on, and now this.
Meanwhile, in Union City, New Jersey, residents will be the first to observe that platitudes about peace don't clear up the toxic hazard of a mold infestation, wipe out the bedbugs, fix the sprinkler system and fire alarms, or pay the officers who are working overtime to watch the properties in case one catches fire, so Rauf's tenants don't die.
But... "peace." You just remember that, and turn that frown upside-down. "Ground Zero mosque imam Feisal Rauf is a no-show in New Jersey court," by Tom Topousis for the New York Post, September 15 (thanks to Twostellas):
While the Imam behind plans for a mosque near Ground Zero was jetting around the globe and advocating for his Downtown project, a pair of dilapidated apartment buildings he owns in New Jersey fell into such disrepair that cops have to stand watch in the event of a fire.
The fire watch, at taxpayer expense, was revealed during a court hearing today when Union City lawyers asked to have two buildings owned by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf placed into receivership so that rents could be used to fix dozens of violations, including inoperable alarms and sprinklers.
Rauf skipped today's hearing as did his wife Daisy Khan. Their lawyer, Tomas Espinosa, said he didn't know why the Imam didn't come to court.
Never mind the imminent danger to the tenants, Rauf and Daisy are stressed out:
"There have been a lot of stress on these people," Espinosa said when asked after the hearing to explain why Rauf was a no-show "The legal process will show that my client is an honorable man that has taken care of his property."
Asked why he was confident that Rauf would prevail, Espinosa said of the Imam, "There is integrity and character," adding, "He is a man of peace."
If he's a man of integrity, he should go live in one of his slums -- after all, if they're apparently okay for the people who live there, they should be good enough for Rauf and his wife.
For that matter, a man of integrity would have set his own proverbial house in order before rushing headlong into Lower Manhattan. But such things can't wait for the impulses of Islamo-hubris.
But Union City officials insist Rauf is a slumlord.
Christine Vanek, a lawyer for Union City, said cops were put on fire watch rather than evict tenants from 16 apartments in one of the buildings after a Sept. 7 inspection determined there was an imminent hazard. Rauf, she said, did not respond to an order to hire a private fire patrol.
"The city immediately put a police officer there and sent a detail officer, which means we have to pay over-time," Vanek said of putting an extra cop on duty just to watch Rauf's building. She did not say how much it is costing Union City, and other officials did not return calls for that information.
Espinosa, however, said he was told a fire alarm contractor has been working at the building and is putting together a plan to fix the alarms and sprinklers.
But Judge Thomas Olivieri bristled when Espinosa said he had no documents to show what work was done or what might be planned and then asked the judge for more time "to come here with a total picture of what has been done."
"The allegation here is that nothing has been done," Olivieri said. "The city is spending taxpayer money to put a fire person, man or woman, at the building that is occupied to monitor it so that there's not a fire that occurs."
Olivieri then blasted Espinosa for coming to court empty-handed.
"There is no reason whatsoever, none, in the last 48 hours why your client could not have submitted something to you that hyou [sic] could have submitted to the court. this is serious. I am somewhat suprrised [sic] that I have nothing from the defense -- nothing.
"And I reject that you were busy and they were busy," the judge said....
There is more at the Post's website. More on what's wrong with Rauf's slums: "Residents of N.J. building owned by imam in Ground Zero clash have list of complaints," by Bob Considine for the Star-Ledger, September 15 (thanks to Ron):
In the third-floor Union City apartment where Paola Leiva and Wendy Lopez live, the back wall of the tiny shower is stripped of its tiles and covered by a black garbage bag. Mold is everywhere. In the ceiling, there's a hole the size of a fist.
"It's from leaking in the bathroom," Leiva said. "It's a big problem. The kids cannot take a shower. I pay the rent every month, but I don't know why the guy never come to fix it."
Today, The Star-Ledger was permitted access to one of the 16 apartments at 2206 Central Ave., a building owned by Feisal Abdul Rauf. Multiple, unaddressed complaints of leaks, mold, bedbug and rodent infestation and fire hazards at the dwelling are why Union City is suing Rauf, the imam leading efforts to build an Islamic cultural center and mosque two blocks from the World Trade Center, Mayor Brian Stack said.
The city claims Rauf, named as the sole officer of Sage Development LLC, has failed to properly maintain two apartment buildings at the corner of Central Avenue and 22nd Street. It is asking the court to appoint custodial receivership that would collect rents and apply the funds to correct repairs and hazards, while also settling fines imposed by the city.
Rauf has not been available for comment, but he and/or his attorney are scheduled to appear for a hearing in Superior Court in Jersey City. Some tenants say they are eager to hear whether their complaints will be heard.
As the Post said above, Rauf didn't show.
"I've been here since the building opened (in 1990) and it hasn't been peaceful with this owner," said Cindy Balko, who lives on the first floor. "He cares nothing about the people who live in this building. Not a thing."
Balko did not allow The Star-Ledger access to her apartment, but complained of "leaks galore" and said she has asked for repairs repeatedly over the past eight months. She also said her complaints were not motivated by the imam's controversial position to build the mosque.
"It's fine and dandy that he can build a mosque," Balko said. "But he doesn't take care of this building or the building around the corner, and he's going to take care of a mosque?"
The Star-Ledger was allowed inside the apartment shared by Leiva and Lopez and their children. In addition to the mold and leaky bathroom, the living room window did not have any child-safety protection. Leiva said she had made a request for such protection with the landlord, but it has gone unheeded in the eight months she has lived in the building.
Inside the building, the yellow-colored hallways were clean, although there was a musty odor. Repairs were being made to a hallway light. On Monday, signs were posted on all residents' doors that a fumigation for bedbugs would take place Sept. 18.
A second adjacent building that Rauf owns, at 618 22nd St., which once had 32 apartments, has been vacant since a fire on Feb. 8, 2008. Union City says it issued 12 fire code violations Rauf ignored prior to the fire. It also said Rauf boarded up the building and barred residents from their apartments after the fire, rather than address previous violations.
Although Stack singled Rauf out as the city's worst landlord, Union City spokesman Mark Albeiz said the city files similar lawsuits against other landlords "several times a year."...
Someone should get some pictures of these buildings and the conditions which these people are living. It will go a long way toward getting more of the American public to repudiate this man.
Although Stack singled Rauf out as the city's worst landlord, Union City spokesman Mark Albeiz said the city files similar lawsuits against other landlords "several times a year."
I used to use this argument when I was 10. It's called the "I know you are but what am I?" tactic.
How many times have we heard this 'rebuttal' when debating muslims? Only it usually goes like this:
Infidel: "Islamic violence is encouraged by specific verses in the quran."
Muslim: "But the Bible has violence in it too!"
I wonder if Rauf, and Daisy, realized what the level of scrutiny was going to be, when they started pushing for the GZ mosque.
Same with Gamal.
I also wonder how the US State Department chief feels, knowing that she has promoted a notorious slumlord. I guess the State Department didn't have enough agents available, to do a little checking up on Raufs background.
Good job, Rauf and Daisy ! The GZ mosque is blowing up in your faces !
And "State" send a slumlord as an ambassador to the Islamic world and are not ashamed!? Why am I not surprised. I wonder what he's telling them in the Dar al-Islam... "hey guys, remember those squalid melahs we used to make the Jews live in? Well you should come and see what we can do to the infidels in the USA, man, it's just as much fun."
You couldn't make this stuff up. This news has just made my day. Bloomberg, the State Department, the MSM, etc. are all revealed as the complete and utter morons that they are. Bloomberg, if you thought you had a chance to be President, think again. I am laughing my head off.
Mayor Bloomberg and President Obama are now in bed with a slum landlord. O'Reilly on FOX news has also revealed that Rauf is friends with and in business with a 911 "truther". This "truther" has also preached at Rauf mosque. I suspect more scandal involving this imam will be coming out everyday.
Imam Rauf is the "slumlord of peace"!
Indeed, the backers of the most aggressive, insensitive, and insulting development project in recent history have shown themselves to be breathtakingly incompetent in all things real estate: we've seen the eviction of Sharif el-Gamal for non-payment of rent, back taxes owed by the same thug on the mosque property, the revelation that the mega-mosque backers don't even own all the land they intend to build on, and now this.
...................
Actually, what I find considerably more disturbing than the above is that Sharif el-Gamal once violently assaulted a tenant who was late on his rent, punching him in the face and breaking his nose and cheekbone—and this, despite the fact that el-Gamal has a history *himself* of being late on payments.
More:
...Stack singled Rauf out as the city's worst landlord
...................
Keep in mind how difficult this is—Union City, New Jersey is full of run-down, poorly maintained properties. Having, say, a roach infestation or failing to paint the apartments for years on end is almost routine in some neighborhoods.
"Earning" the title of "Union City's worst landlord" takes some doing, and means maintaining buildings that are not just dirty and in bad repair, but that actually are dangerous.
Rauf's lawyer:
"The legal process will show that my client is an honorable man that has taken care of his property."
LMAO - what a tool.
Rauf wouldn't be going through this legal process if he was an honorable man who has taken care of his property.
Imam Rauf:
I am sure you are reading this website.
You had better start working on your Nafs.
Are you feeling ashamed? Are you humiliated?
I'm glad that I don't come from a shame/honor culture like you.
You are now the laughing stock of the Muslim world. They are all laughing at you now, from Mecca to Istanbul to Jakarta.
And the infidels who despised you for your arrogance and deceit, now have nothing but the utmost contempt for you!
I wouldn't let you clean my toilets.
''Imam Rauf No Show Slumlord''
Imam Feisal Rauf the one that proposed building a mosque in the GZ area did not show up for court, a no show on ''slumlord'' allegations?
Imam Feisal states that U.S. law and Sharia law are about the same; and yet he still did not show up for court?
View youtube video . . .
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf: "Sharia Law And US Constitution is The Same"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT8s1a1E4nk
Imam Feisal may need to go to following site and read . . .
http://bigpeace.com/ndarwish/2010/08/26/sharia-for-dummies/
In reality U.S. law and Sharia law are not the same, most judges in the U.S. would like it if you show up for court when you are charged with building code violations. Violations that endanger the lives of the tenants in your buildings!
I hope everyone who has supported that dirtbag Rauf is proud of themselves, too.
Suckers...
The New York Slimes hasn't give up on the Imam. Look at this puff piece:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/nyregion/17rift.html
The only journalist I have any respect for at the Slimes is Gina Kolata. The rest are all just morons, especially Kristof, Rich and Dowd.
This should be a warning to America as to how Rauf,an iman and representative of izlam treats INFIDELS, with total contempt.
This is what should be on the front page of all American newspapers.
Anyone adherent of a fatalistic 'religion' is not going to lift a finger to fix anything. Inshallah, the leaking roof will stop leaking of its own accord, the broken windows will, inshallah, mend themselves etc....
I lived in the Middle East and saw exactly the same attitude.
Now here's a question: Are Mo'slums the inevitable result of the inshallah-fatalism of Islum?
"Earning" the title of "Union City's worst landlord" takes some doing, and means maintaining buildings that are not just dirty and in bad repair, but that actually are dangerous."
So dangerous that they have had to stake police outside of the building while they got the fire alarms installed or fixed. If it's that bad a cop has to be stationed at the building 24/7 I think I would move or try to find friends and get the heck out of there.
I used to use this argument when I was 10. It's called the "I know you are but what am I?" tactic.
The formal name for this logical fallacy is "Tu Quoque".
"So dangerous that they have had to stake police outside of the building while they got the fire alarms installed or fixed ".
Just a thought - why do the taxpayers, yet again, get stuck footing the bill, because of Raufs incompetence and indifference ?
It must be expensive to maintain a police presence, outside of his building, on a fire watch.
Not to mention the fact that these officers could be out doing other things, like going out on patrol to find and catch criminals.
Rauf, at the minimum, should be forced to reimburse Union City for the cost of maintaining the police presence, out of his own pocket.
The police are not his private security force.
Rauf, at the minimum, should be forced to reimburse Union City for the cost of maintaining the police presence, out of his own pocket.
What's odd here is that's usually what happens: the city imposes a code enforcement lien on the property for those costs, and forecloses on it if they aren't paid. That they aren't in this case, when the NJ cities I'm familiar with are usually quite aggressive in pursuing CE liens, is truly bizarre.
Thanks Marisol - I doubt many people here are surprised. From the start it's been difficult to distinguish between
huckstering and ideological motivation. Maybe it's both, maybe it's the former more than the latter.
Rauf isn't a slumlord. He's giving, as an object lesson, how the infidel will fair under dhimmitude unless they convert. Da'wa has a voice and it's home is the Gazwa Hero Mosque.
Ground Zero mosque supporters including the Dhimmi Elf Mayor of NYC ought to be right proud of both the deadbeat and the slumlord they have backed so adamantly.
"Man of peace" apparently doesn't equate to clean, caring, or respectful of our courts. There are other names to use when describing people like Rauf and El Gamal, but this is a family show.
But, but...he's a man of peace! He's extending his hand to us! Or is that just his middle finger?
Ah, nothing says "man of integrity" like owning a chain of dilapidated, crumbling and unsafe fire traps in Joyzy.
The Rauf story just keeps getting "curiouser and curiouser."
Keep the fire under his feet going, Robert and supporters!
Kudos to Tom Topousis of the 'New York Post' and to Bob Considine of the 'Star-Ledger' for digging up this grubby stuff, and to their respective editors, for publishing it.
Keep digging, guys, and keep publishing.
''. .man of peace. . .'' y'know that sometimes Shaytan. .comes as a man of peace.
Apologies to Mr Dylan for borrowing the punchline of your song. Espinosa may be confident of a fat paycheck, whichever way the case swings, however I think he has not carefully considered, as yet, for whom he plays the advocate.
A Police Officer on "fire watch"???-Really???
Are we sure the Cop isn't there to make sure someone doesn't burn the place down that isn't a tenant???
The building is either safe to occupy or it isn't.
Yes. FIRE WATCH!
Often an officer( sometimes a community service officer) is stationed at FIRETRAP buildings(usually unoccupied) if that BUILDING is considered a danger to people in the neighborhood, business', schools or homes in an area.
Perhaps you do not understand the meaning of an inoperable fire alarm system in a building in which tenants live.
THIS IS AGAINST THE LAW IN NEW JERSEY, I HAVE BEEN TOLD.
Landlords can be prosecuted for felony crimes if there is a fire WITH injuries or DEATH.
Mr. Rauf's behavior as a slumlord is fast outpacing his usefulness as a proponent of the GZM, which makes me wonder if the mosque organizers will replace him, i.e., move Rauf but not the mosque.
Being on "fire watch" must be a major source of employment in NJ.
A slumlord recreating an islamic cesspit paradise!!!