A small Georgia city has voted to ban an Islamic group from renting a retail space to open a temporary mosque in the city, even after the landlord agreed to the deal.
The City Council of Kennesaw, a city of about 30,000 people in north Georgia, ultimately voted down the Muslim group’s request 4-1.
The issue has engendered a lot of tension in the town, and from critics outside of it. To give you a small idea of the intensity of the attitudes at play, here’s the video’s description from the man who recorded this week’s City Council vote: “The scumbag lawyer for the terrorist org. says he will sue... good luck with that.”
Attorney Doug Dillard called the decision unconstitutional and “a blatant attack on First Amendment rights." He says the group will continue to fight and is strongly considering a federal lawsuit against the city.
Anti-Muslim protesters stood outside the meeting with signs such as “Ban Islam” and “Islam Wants No Peace!” but the issue of religion didn’t actually come up in the meeting itself.
That was deliberate. Mayor Mark Matthews forbade comment from the public about religion, so critics instead said they opposed the temporary mosque on the grounds of the center’s hours of operation, attendance, and parking.
The Muslim group had already agreed to limit attendance in the 2,200 square foot space to 80 worshipers at a time, building 40 parking spaces, and signing a two-year lease. In the end, it wasn’t nearly enough—because those were never the biggest issues at play.
A public hearing last month had no off-limit topics, so many citizens were blunt about their opposition to the mosque.
“I am first a Christian and then an American citizen,” resident Jo Talley said. “As a Christian I am to put no other God before my Lord, and I am also to love my neighbor. If you know me, then you know that I do my best to do those things … but I also have the right to protect myself. This project has to do with Sharia law.”
Resident Anthony Bonner said the debate was “bigger than just zoning and parking. This is bigger than right and wrong. This is not a religious debate. This is about a comment on the value and the merits of a community.”
In fact, the Marietta Daily Journal reports that the city allowed a Pentecostal church to rent a retail space for exactly the same purpose in July.
“You know, if Christianity were killing people, I’m pretty sure I would have a problem with it," Pastor C.S. Clarke of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship Church told the media. "Then I would be concerned with that moving into my neighborhood. But, I’m open, I’m inclusive. Christianity does teach love, inclusiveness, creating a better environment for everyone.”
“You know, if Christianity were killing people, I’m pretty sure I would have a problem with it," Pastor C.S. Clarke of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship Church told the media.
This cannot be real life, right? RIGHT? Has this guy never heard of the crusades? Or maybe because that isn't recent we'll pretend like it's never happened.
“You know, if Christianity were killing people, I’m pretty sure I would have a problem with it," Pastor C.S. Clarke of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship Church told the media.
This cannot be real life, right? RIGHT? Has this guy never heard of the crusades? Or maybe because that isn't recent we'll pretend like it's never happened.
“You know, if Christianity were killing people, I’m pretty sure I would have a problem with it," Pastor C.S. Clarke of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship Church told the media.
This cannot be real life, right? RIGHT? Has this guy never heard of the crusades? Or maybe because that isn't recent we'll pretend like it's never happened.
“You know, if Christianity were killing people, I’m pretty sure I would have a problem with it," Pastor C.S. Clarke of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship Church told the media.
This cannot be real life, right? RIGHT? Has this guy never heard of the crusades? Or maybe because that isn't recent we'll pretend like it's never happened.
I just moved here. Definitely having a sense of being not in Kansas anymore. Or rather, right back in the small town Midwest I thought I had escaped from.
I just moved here. Definitely having a sense of being not in Kansas anymore. Or rather, right back in the small town Midwest I thought I had escaped from.
You really wouldn't know that this is the "New South" would you?? This county doesn't seem to have gotten that memo.
I just moved here. Definitely having a sense of being not in Kansas anymore. Or rather, right back in the small town Midwest I thought I had escaped from.
You really wouldn't know that this is the "New South" would you?? This county doesn't seem to have gotten that memo.
I should probably post the letter I got from my real estate agent. It details, literally and specifically, plans to raze an apartment complex of primarily Hispanic people, and how it will improve the local elementary school by reducing the Hispanic population. I kid you not. Calls and emails to the city hall got me exactly nowhere.
You really wouldn't know that this is the "New South" would you?? This county doesn't seem to have gotten that memo.
I should probably post the letter I got from my real estate agent. It details, literally and specifically, plans to raze an apartment complex of primarily Hispanic people, and how it will improve the local elementary school by reducing the Hispanic population. I kid you not. Calls and emails to the city hall got me exactly nowhere.
I think the worst part was that my REA had no idea it was obscenely racist. When I replied back something about not being comfortable with the desired outcome of a project being a reduction of diversity, she sent back something bubbly about maintaining the charm of the city.
I think the worst part was that my REA had no idea it was obscenely racist. When I replied back something about not being comfortable with the desired outcome of a project being a reduction of diversity, she sent back something bubbly about maintaining the charm of the city.
You really wouldn't know that this is the "New South" would you?? This county doesn't seem to have gotten that memo.
I should probably post the letter I got from my real estate agent. It details, literally and specifically, plans to raze an apartment complex of primarily Hispanic people, and how it will improve the local elementary school by reducing the Hispanic population. I kid you not. Calls and emails to the city hall got me exactly nowhere.
I should probably post the letter I got from my real estate agent. It details, literally and specifically, plans to raze an apartment complex of primarily Hispanic people, and how it will improve the local elementary school by reducing the Hispanic population. I kid you not. Calls and emails to the city hall got me exactly nowhere.
Call the Feds - Justice Dept.
Didn't think of that. I tried the mayor's office, and when they wouldn't answer, Mother Jones. They didn't get back to me either.
I should probably post the letter I got from my real estate agent. It details, literally and specifically, plans to raze an apartment complex of primarily Hispanic people, and how it will improve the local elementary school by reducing the Hispanic population. I kid you not. Calls and emails to the city hall got me exactly nowhere.
Call the Feds - Justice Dept.
And your realtor is violating a few federal housing discrimination laws with that letter. He or she could lose their license. And should IMHO. Report that as well.
You really wouldn't know that this is the "New South" would you?? This county doesn't seem to have gotten that memo.
I should probably post the letter I got from my real estate agent. It details, literally and specifically, plans to raze an apartment complex of primarily Hispanic people, and how it will improve the local elementary school by reducing the Hispanic population. I kid you not. Calls and emails to the city hall got me exactly nowhere.
This is a very clear violation of fair housing laws and real estate licensing laws. In Illinois, you would contact the IDFPR, but I am not sure what department it would be in Georgia. I would google to figure out who issues the real estate licenses there and contact them. If you still don't get a response, you might try contacting HUD. I think that is who would be in charge on the federal level. If I sent out a letter like this in Illinois, my real estate license would be gone in a second.
Just to make sure I'm not overreacting before I go federal burn shit down. The newsletter is about selling to the community a fancy new live/work/play development. The exact text:
"Property values and community impact: The project could very well be a key to unlock the property values of several large neighborhoods on the east side of *city*- especially *specific development*. This neighborhood has 1,964 homes whose property values have been held down largely because of its elementary school, and my alma-mater, *elementary school*. The school has a high, 40% Hispanic population and ranks 1,136 out of the state's 1,799 elementary schools. It has been very hard to sell houses to families with children in this school district.
*Proposed development project* will reduce much of that Hispanic population because the project will raze a massive apartment community that feeds into *elementary school*. You could expect over the next year or so to see the impact as it begins the process of ending existing leases.
Aside from propping up *Elementary*, the project will also add fresh infrastructure in an aged area."
Just to make sure I'm not overreacting before I go federal burn shit down. The newsletter is about selling to the community a fancy new live/work/play development. The exact text:
"Property values and community impact: The project could very well be a key to unlock the property values of several large neighborhoods on the east side of *city*- especially *specific development*. This neighborhood has 1,964 homes whose property values have been held down largely because of its elementary school, and my alma-mater, *elementary school*. The school has a high, 40% Hispanic population and ranks 1,136 out of the state's 1,799 elementary schools. It has been very hard to sell houses to families with children in this school district.
*Proposed development project* will reduce much of that Hispanic population because the project will raze a massive apartment community that feeds into *elementary school*. You could expect over the next year or so to see the impact as it begins the process of ending existing leases.
Aside from propping up *Elementary*, the project will also add fresh infrastructure in an aged area."
You are not overreacting. Real estate agents are not allowed to talk about the racial make up of a community.
How is it even possible to vote like that? I was unaware that a place of worship opening up was dependent upon a vote. This whole thing is pretty gross, and while I sadly live in GA, at least I don't live anywhere near Kennesaw.
How is it even possible to vote like that? I was unaware that a place of worship opening up was dependent upon a vote. This whole thing is pretty gross, and while I sadly live in GA, at least I don't live anywhere near Kennesaw.
Its zoning. Without seeing the code I'd imagine that this is a retail zone where a place of worship is a special exception or conditional use. If this was a storefront Christian church they'd probably just have to put tigether an application detailing this hours of operation and seating capacity to prove there wouldnt be parking or traffic issues. Maybe contract for an off duty cop to direct thr post service sunday rush traffic.
And then they'd get approved.
But scary Muslims? Well...
I hope they sue under the rluipa. It's federal. They'll win.
That realtor letter is bad. No overreaction there whatsoever. I agree with notifying the board of realtors. In my state, the state department of labor and licensing oversees real estate licensees so I would check and see if there is something similar in GA.
Also, I grew up in Georgia (Dekalb co) and went to a much, much more diverse school here compared to when my family moved to Maryland. I am thankful for that experience because I had I grown up in MD, I know I would have a much different (more narrow I believe) perspective.
Post by mrsdewinter on Dec 7, 2014 11:08:48 GMT -5
That letter is awful. I really hope you report her. I would contact your regional HUD office because it's a violation of federal fair housing law and racist as fuck.