Golden, Malliotakis Call for Action on St. Nicholas Church
June 27, 2011
Senator Martin Golden (R,C,I-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R,C-Brooklyn, Staten Island) recently joined the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association at Ground Zero calling for immediate action regarding the reconstruction of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in lower Manhattan. The pair urged the Port Authority, Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to make the issue a top priority as St. Nicholas was the only house of worship to be destroyed in the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001.
Senator Marty Golden, who attended the rally stated, "It has been almost ten years since Osama Bin Laden attacked America and destroyed the heart of this City, this State and this Nation. But we are a strong people and we have the resolve to rebuild lower Manhattan, including St. Nicholas Church, as a testament to those we lost on the morning of September 11th. Negotiations must start again with the Port Authority so that St. Nicholas Church can be rebuilt and that this faith community, and all New Yorkers, can continue to heal."
“Among the infinite destruction and devastation spread across New York City as a result of the horrific attacks of September 11th, a single house of worship was torn to the ground in lower Manhattan – St. Nicholas Church,” said Malliotakis. “Nearly a decade has passed since that infamous day, yet our city’s Greek Orthodox community is still without this treasured religious center. I was proud to join with the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association this past weekend at Ground Zero to call on The Port Authority, Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to turn immediate attention to this long-overdue project. Rebuilding this church is not only important to the Greek community, but to this city, state and everyone across the nation that believes in religious freedom. It is now time to make the reconstruction of St. Nicholas Church a top priority at the state and local level.”
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