ALBANY, New York (AP) — Developers of an Islamic cultural center and mosque near the World Trade Center site say they never planned to meet with New York Gov. David Paterson over his offer to help find an alternate location.
The developers from the Cordoba Initiative say there never was a meeting planned with Paterson. No reason was given in the brief written response to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Since Aug. 10, Paterson has publicly sought a meeting with the group to discuss the tensions surrounding the project and to offer options for an alternate site.
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Paterson says the group postponed a meeting that had been scheduled for Monday because its imam leader was traveling.
Paterson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement.
The plan to build the $100 million community center, including a mosque, two blocks north of where Islamic extremists brought down the World Trade Center in 2001 has created some controversy.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
