9/11 firefighter Timothy Brown’s law suit against the city was dismissed on Fri., July 8, eliminating a potential obstacle in the creation of the Islamic community center known as Park51.
With the intent to stymie the construction of the center, Brown sued the city in August of last year, contending that the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission’s decision to deny landmark status to the building at 45-51 Park Place was improperly influenced by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
State Supreme Court Judge Paul Feinman concluded last week that, while Brown was “an individual with a strong interest in the preservation of the building,” he lacked individual standing in its landmark status.
Brown intends to appeal the decision, according to his attorney Brett Joshpe, an attorney for the American Center for Law and Justice who is representing Brown.
The decision, Joshpe said, “fails to give appropriate consideration to first responders and others who risked their lives and lost loved ones on September 11th. If Mr. Brown does not standing, then who does? We remain confident that this mosque will never rise above Ground Zero.
