Iraqi Shiite Cleric Bids to Re-Develop Roosevelt Island as Sadr City 2
We all know that Roosevelt Island has too often been treated like an unwanted step-child by the State of New York but, despite the severe fiscal and budgetary problems being experienced by New York, I never thought the State of NY would sell off its leasehold interest in Roosevelt Island to Iraq's Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. It has been reported that:
With the US real estate market in the crapper, Iraqi Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has taken an incredible gamble by bidding on some prime Manhattan propertiesThe supporters of the Louis Kahn/FDR memorial are not concerned with these new circumstances. After all, they can easily remove the name of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the 4 freedoms inscription from the memorial walls and retain the Louis Kahn design without making any alterations to the basic memorial structure - the stewardship of the Louis Kahn legacy being most important to them anyway.
... This research has led to a plan to turn Roosevelt Island into a fundamentalist Muslim Shiite enclave across the 59th street Bridge. Muqtada al-Sadr told the NY press that he could not wait to hear the Islamic call to prayer echo across the East River and through the canyons of NYC skyscrapers: "On Roosevelt Island, soon to be renamed Sadr City II, we will follow Sharia law...
Have you gotten over the shock yet? Take a deep breath.
The story is fictional. It was written by the satire site The Spoof. My contribution was the Louis Kahn/FDR memorial portion. Hat tip to Roosevelt Island 360.
HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!
