The efforts to launch the $100 million Cordoba House (now dubbed Park51) two blocks north of the World Trade Center site have been an uphill battle from the start, and not just because of controversy. [. . .] New York government officials and real estate insiders are privately questioning whether the project has much chance of coming to fruition. The Cordoba Initiative hasn’t begun fundraising yet for its $100 million goal. The group’s latest fundraising report with the State Attorney General’s office, from 2008, shows exactly $18,255 – not enough even for a down payment on the half of the site the group has yet to purchase.

The group also lacks even the most basic real estate essentials: no blueprint, architect, lobbyist or engineer — and now operates amid crushing negative publicity. The developers didn't line up advance support for the project from other religious leaders in the city, who could have risen to their defense with the press.

[. . .] “As I understand it there’s no money there,” said another prominent business official. A prominent supporter of the project was blunt: “This is amateur hour,” he said. “That’s why the idea that this is some big conspiracy is so silly,” said the supporter. “Yes, you could say this is not a well-oiled machine.”

Who knows if this is even a serious project? But most important is this:

[The Cordoba Group] can build on the site as of right[.] [A Community Board] hearing gave the impression nationally that there was some kind of government approval required, when in fact it wasn’t the case. A subsequent New York City Landmarks Commission hearing was forced by opponents trying to stop it.

A major piece of misinformation is the idea that government has a role in stopping the center[. . . .] The project is a completely as-of-right project, meaning it requires no governmental approvals.

“The mosque has no money, the politicians have no money, the politicians have no say about the money because it's a charitable institution,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic strategist[. . . .]

The government has no role in this and yet pols are being asked to give their "position." I ask position on what? Are they being asked to vote on anything?

Everyone should have kept their mouths shut, like Anthony Weiner wanted to do, until the Greg Sargents of the world hounded him onto making a statement.

As I said, sometimes, silence is golden, and this situation is proof positive. No good has come of pols speaking about this "issue." None.

Speaking for me only