Community News 17-3

New Castle’s planning board takes up mosque proposal

CHAPPAQUA,NEW YORK–New Castle’s planning board has decided to look into the proposal of Westchester Muslim Society’s proposed new mosque. The Daily Voice reports that the group  is seeking several approvals from the board, including for a tree-removal permit, a steep-slope permit, a wetlands permit, a stormwater pollution prevention plan and a merger of the property’s two lots.

The Planning Board voted to schedule a public hearing for Jan. 20, although it is conditioned upon the society having sufficient material submitted in advance. Some neighbors have opposed the plans citing traffic concerns and of potential damage to a nearby lake.

The proposed mosque is slated to be about 25,000 square feet located on an eight acre lot.

Jaylani Hussein named executive director of CAIR-MN

MINNEAPOLIS,MN–Jaylani Hussein has assumed responsibility as the  executive director of the regional chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR Minnesota) earlier this month.

His last job was a community liaison officer for Mteropolitan State University. In that role he was widely praised for establishing strong relationships between the university and neighboring communities, according to a press release from the university.

“Jaylani’s broad experience and subject matter training have enabled him to make substantial contributions to our planning and prioritizing of the university’s community engagement work,” said Devinder Malhotra, interim president. “He has quickly become a valued member of the university community and my leadership team. He will also be missed by our many community partners who have come to rely on his creative contributions to the area’s vitality.”

Queens Police Officer Hashmi Receives Award

QUEENS,NY–Queens’ police officer Syed Hashmi received ‘Cop of the Month’ award at the 100th Precinct Council Meeting last month. He was recongized for his arrest of a suspected wanted in two robberies.

Capt. Carlos Fernandez told the Wave Newspaper that  the arrest by Hashmi was critical in “preventing crime from spreading.” The arrested suspect reportedly confessed to committing multiple other crimes.

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