The project has the blessings of my community board, Mayor Bloomberg, and other prominent members of my community. We do not need your stinking approval.

Cordoba House is envisioned as a non-profit cultural and community center that will serve the Lower Manhattan neighborhood, the New York public, and visitors from around the world. Plans for the 13-story building located at 51 Park Place, just west of Church Street, include a wide range of amenities that will improve the quality of life in the neighborhood while respecting the sanctity of the surrounding area; these plans include: a Sept. 11 memorial and meditation room, cultural amenities including exhibitions, education programs, a 500-seat auditorium, a library and art studios, a Muslim prayer space, fitness facilities (a swimming pool, gym, and basketball court), a restaurant and culinary school, and childcare services.

Once open, the center is expected to create over 150 full-time and over 500 part-time jobs, in addition to many trade and construction jobs.

Many of New York's most prominent civic and faith leaders have endorsed the project, including: Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Community 1 Chairperson Julie Menin, Financial District Chair Edward Sheffe, Congressman Jerry Nadler, New York City Comptroller John Liu, City Councilmember Margaret Chin, City Councilmember Robert Jackson, District Leader Paul Newell, District Director Robert Gottheim, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Canon Anne Malonee of Trinity Church, and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows.

To make the story worse (yes, it's possible to be worse), one of the victims and her mother are furious that the grand jury in Dye's trial declined to indict her for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, instead going for misdemeanors. It is unclear why the grand jury made this choice but it might have something to do with questions over whether the alleged victim was 15 or 16 at the time of the relationship as 16 is the age of consent in the area. The victim's mother claims they have evidence proving that the girl was 15 but that investigators refused to accept it.

Gina was a playful 2-year-old German shepherd when she went to Iraq as a highly trained bomb-sniffing dog with the military, conducting door-to-door searches and witnessing all sorts of noisy explosions.

She returned home to Colorado cowering and fearful. When her handlers tried to take her into a building, she would stiffen her legs and resist. Once inside, she would tuck her tail beneath her body and slink along the floor. She would hide under furniture or in a corner to avoid people.

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