[TheThirdRuffian]

I am a constitutional conservative, not a nanny-stater.

I fear the government, and sometimes permitting a bad decision (e.g., a mosque) is best to deny the government power that it will ultimately abuse.

[stuartcr]

Good luck with that.

[El Gato]

I fear the government, and sometimes permitting a bad decision (e.g., a mosque) is best to deny the government power that it will ultimately abuse.

Even churches and other religious facilities are subject to zoning laws. NY City could probably deny them a zoning variance (which would have to be general, not "no mosques" or even "no religious facilities"), and they'd have to put their "Victory" mosque somewhere else.

[BelegStrongbow]

What’s the problem with declaring the area a National Historical Monument, thus forbidding anyone from building anything not relating to the historical purpose of the site?