Updated 08/31/2010 06:23 PM
Poll: Most New Yorkers Favor Moving Islamic Cultural Center From WTC Site
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Despite being torn in their viewpoints, most New Yorkers appear to favor moving the proposed Islamic cultural center away from the World Trade Center site.
A poll from Quinnipiac University shows strong support for the feelings of families of September 11th terrorist attack victims and freedom of religion.
According to the poll, 54 percent of voters agree Muslims have a right to build a mosque two blocks from the WTC, with 40 percent opposed.
Yet, 53 percent of voters say the sensitivities of victims’ families should keep it from being built.
A majority of voters, 71 percent, says the group behind the project should voluntarily build elsewhere, because of opposition to the plan.
Also, 71 percent of the respondents said State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo should investigate the financing of the mosque.
Quinnipiac surveyed almost 1,500 voters statewide from last Monday through Sunday. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has always supported the developers' right to build an Islamic center in Downtown Manhattan, said investigating the mosque's finances would be a bad idea.
"It's a terrible precedent. You don't want them investigating donations to religious organizations. There's no reason for the government to do so," said the mayor.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg and Governor David Paterson today brushed off reports about the developer's arrest record and tax issues.
"I knew that there would be background checks on everybody involved and anybody involved who tripped some kid on the playground when they were 13," said Paterson. "I'm sure they'll be on some cable network tonight saying, 'I knew there was a problem then.'"
"I don't know about his personal life," said Bloomberg. "The issue here to me is very simple: the government shouldn't be in the business of telling people who they pray to, where they pray, when they pray and what they say."
The debate surrounding the mosque, and Islam in general, has left some Muslims feeling vulnerable. In Orleans County upstate, shots were fired at a mosque and five teenagers were arrested today in connection with the incident.