A messianic Christian center backed out of hosting a Brooklyn polling place Monday amid an outcry from upset Orthodox Jewish voters. The Board of Elections had tapped Life in Messiah to host voting for four election districts in Midwood.
The polling place was switched to the center from a nearby public school that isn’t accessible to the handicapped.
Jewish voters complained to the board, noting their strict faith wouldn’t allow them to vote at the center.
The controversy prompted the Christian group to pull the plug.
“We have a deep love and respect for our Jewish neighbors,” said development officer Marilyn Miller. “We understand that coming into a Messianic Center might be uncomfortable for some. … The right to vote is a valued freedom, one we do not wish to hinder in any way.”
“I’m relieved,” said Moshe Klass, 40, of Midwood. “I’ve voted for 22 years, but I might have [had] to break my streak.”
Board attorney Stephen Richmond said there were no rules against having a religious facility serve as a polling site. “We’re now scrambling at this point,” he said. If officials can’t find a substitute spot by Nov. 2, voting will take place at Public School 119.
Local politicians had pushed the board not to use the Christian center. “It’s really crazy that the people [at Life in Messiah] understood, but the Board of Elections, they didn’t have a clue,” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Borough Park).
Meanwhile, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn blasted the Board of Election’s “galling” decision to spend thousands of dollars on new furniture, like luxurious chairs for commissioners.
“We were appalled to learn in [Monday’s] Daily News that the Board of Elections spent $200,000 on office furniture this year – especially because you consistently use a lack of funding as an excuse for the board’s poor performance,” Quinn wrote in a letter to board Director George Gonzalez.
{NY Daily News/Matzav.com}
While not condoning the center’s activities, who can help but note what an interesting contrast in attitudes! The WTC Mosque folksd proclaim their community mindedness, yet fight tooth and nail to maintain their position, while the quote:
We have a deep love and respect for our Jewish neighbors,We understand that coming into a Messianic Center might be uncomfortable for some. The right to vote is a valued freedom, one we do not wish to hinder in any way.
Says it all. So much for Islam, the religion of peace.
te:
Way to go Josh Corey.When you speak people listen.