Hi,
My name is Hans Hass. I’m a member of the Sufi Muslim community center in Sidney Center that has been in the news lately. Most likely some of you have seen some things in the news or on T.V. If you haven’t, you can click on the links below. Unfortunately, Sidney has gotten a lot of negative publicity nationally from this, and it seems to be going international. None of us wanted this to become such a big deal. I am writing to you as businesspeople in Sidney to ask for your help in laying this matter to rest.
I was at the last Sidney Town meeting three weeks ago asking Town Supervisor McCarthy and the other Supervisors why they were doing this. I was shocked to find out that not one of the Supervisors had any real knowledge of the basic facts of the cemetery, the legal steps that we had gone through or even of the Town’s own zoning law specifically permitting a cemetery on at least 15 acres (we have 50). No one had talked to Dale Downin, the Town Code Enforcement with whom we consulted when we first set up the cemetery in 2005 and who gave us written approval. I ran into Dale the other day and he told me the first he ever heard of their actions was when the Oneonta Daily Star article came out. I’ve also been told that Mr. McCarthy and the Town Clerk are not even on speaking terms. I was kept being told to speak to the Town Attorney Joseph Ermeti who won’t respond to anyone for the last few weeks, including our attorneys. One Supervisor at the meeting, Eric Wilson, took my phone number and assured me that he would contact the Town Attorney and get back to me as to what was really going on. He called the next day to say Ermeti was out of the office that day and then never called back. Obviously our town government is not working.
Mr. McCarthy, despite having been shown the documents and the law by myself and several reporters, continues to maintain that we are “illegally burying bodies” and seems intent on pursuing the matter legally. He has been sending out mass emails accusing us of all kinds of bogus things and spreading rumors about us. Several prominent attorneys and civil rights groups have contacted us offering their services for free and suggested we have an excellent civil rights case against the town.
All we want is for Mr. McCarthy and the Town Board to admit that they made a mistake and leave this behind us. If Mr. McCarthy cannot do this, he must resign or be forced to resign for the good of the town. I was hoping one of you could talk to him.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann/#39390631
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-muslim-graves,0,7141681.story
http://www.yursil.com/blog/2010/09/colbert-report-muslim-cemetery-attack/
http://www.wbng.com/news/video/Town-Wants-Islamic-Cemetery-Removed-103954864.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-reinbach/tiny-upstate-new-york-tow_b_739832.html
http://binghamton.ynn.com/content/518995/muslim-group-fights-to-keep-cemetery/?ap=1&MP4
16 Comments
Trackbacks
- Tweets that mention Letter to the Local Community of Sidney, NY | Mind, Body, Soul -- Topsy.com
- Hans Hass: We Want [Sidney] Town Board To Admit Mistake « SEYFETTİN
the truth on 
m.a.kidwai,CME/IND.RLY.(retd.) on 
Mr. Hass~
Thank you so much for clarifying what so many articles did not. I grew up in Sidney and, at the time, was proud to call it my home. Today, it seems, one hand doesn’t seem to know what the other is doing. Plus, you have someone that is apparently very strong in his convictions to have this cemetery desecrated. I apologize on behalf of many of us that are quite ashamed that this is happening. This is not provoked, nor is it deserved.
I appreciate the perspective that you have given all of us on the situation. I do hope that a resignation by at least one member of the Town of Sidney will be forthcoming in the immediate future.
All my best,
Leslie A. Oakley
This McCarthy guy sounds like a tool. Randy Mertz for Mayor!
Just what we need is a druggie running our town. Are you kidding me!?!?
Are you kidding me?? Wow – I can’t believe you actually wrote that for print.
Mr. Hass,
I’m sorry you and your group has been subjected to such prejudice. Please know that there are many people out here who support you and believe in the principles this country was founded on. I hope this gets resolved quickly in your favor. Mr. McCarthy’s behavior is reprehensible and I don’t think he should be in that position! Good luck to you!
Mr. Hass,
Please add my voice to the chorus of support. I am so ashamed of some of the officials in my home town. It’s unbelievable that anyone would want to desecrate a cemetery, and it seems clear to me that the real motivation is to harass your group.
It’s wonderful to see people of good sense standing up for what is right.
Peace be upon you.
Peace be upon you too and Allah’s Mercy and Blessings.
Dear Mr. Hass,
I grew up just a short distance from Sidney, NY and still personally know a few residents who live there (and nearby) who find McCarthy’s remarks and (in)actions despicable.
Please know that the Sufi community has many supporters on a local, regional, and national scale.
I hope that Sidney can repair its national image, that the town board will apologize and do what it right, and that the rational people of Sidney will stand up and speak out on your behalf. It is very important for not just all people, but Sidney residents – to speak up against McCarthy.
I have been personally spreading the word, as have been my friends, so that others are aware of this issue.
It is my hope that this can rectified peacefully and without much further trouble, and that this type of irrational harassment will not spread to any other communities in the US.
All my best to you and the Sufi community of Sidney!
Dear Hans and members of the Sidney Center Sufi Muslim Community,
As a resident of Sidney for almost 50 years I too am ashamed and saddened by the actions of Mr. McCarthy. Please understand and accept that he does not speak for all of us nor do we all share his beliefs. Many who grew up here and have moved away are as sickened about this as those who still live here.
This Town and Village has always been a caring, understanding and accepting area with a diverse group of ethnic and religious backgrounds. That is what has helped to build this community. Our history certainly shows that through the early railroad years,the silk mills, glass factory, Scintilla, Keith Clark and several other businesses. Many came from out of the area to work in these factories. Many were from other countries. That is what makes us who we are.
As you know through experience when Denny had the store, there are still a group of very close minded people that live within our community. Mr. McCarthy appears to be one of them. Unfortunately with all the press attention this is causing the community is suffering due to the way that the press is saying “the residents of Sidney, NY” instead of Mr. McCarthy.
He is making all of us look bad world wide.
My hopes are that you and your community stay strong, positive and fight respectfully and peacefully for the rights that you are entitled to. Best wishes for a successful closure to all of this.
Thank you too for the dedication and time you donate to our community through your volunteer work .As we all know “Volunteers” are what helps make our community a better place.
Respectfully,
Alana Bailey
Thank you for those kind words, Alana Bailey
I have lived in Sidney all of my life, this has to be just about as LOW as I have seen our local government go. I am in agreement that Bob McCarthy should step down or be forced to leave his position.If you do not get any results you should continue your fight and enlist the help of the lawyers and the civil rights groups that have offered support to you.
also to the former post.. Bob McCarthy is just the supervisor,,, not the Mayor and I have never known Randy Mertz to be a drug addict ( I have known him all my life too) Stop the Slander… This is our piece of the world and we need to live in it together.
I ALWAYS BELEIVED EDUCATION MAKES A PERSON OPEN THEIR EYES AND MIND, WHICH LEADS TO COMMON SENSE THINKING PROCESS. BUT IN THIS CASE MR. MCCARTHY HAS BLOCKED HIS MIND FRAME. HE IS A LEADER OF A TOWN AND HAS TO BE RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE IN HIS COMMUNITY, THAT INCLUDES MUSLIMS, JEWS, CHRISTIANS, OR WHATEVER THE PERSON BELIEVES IN. HE SHOULD HAVE APPROCHED TO SHIEKH AND DISCUSSED THE MATTER DIRECTLY. THE WAY IT WAS HANDLED BY MR. MCCARTHY SHOWS HE IS BEING BIAS TOWARD THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. THE PEOLPE IN SIDNEY, NY ARE GOOD HARD WORKING AND HUMBLE FOLKS.
I practically grew up in Sidney. I can’t believe that the quaint town is getting this kind of attention because of a scumbag named Bob McCarthy. Yo Bob do us all a favor and resign you ass!
Shalom,
I want to add my voice to those who disagree with this injustice.I think there is more to it,and that Mr. McCarthy is probably a tool to some bigger people than himself,unfortunatly…This logic of hate is quasi-satanic,and will destroy at the end those who started it.If only,people could understand that there is Karma to every action!:(
May the flag of truth and light fly always high.
Yours truly.
BismillaharRahmanirRahim
Amin.
I am a live and let live person and think it a shame these folks are getting a raw deal.
Most of it is because of 9/11.
They have always been friendly and deserve better.
Just so they know I am not one of the small minds in this town.
Pat DeGrace