Legal Battle Resumes After Town Cancels Mosque Deal, Citing Pedestrian Safety for Seniors

OYSTER BAY, NY - A landmark $4 million legal settlement, poised to resolve a bitter years-long dispute between town officials and the Islamic Center of Oyster Bay, has abruptly unraveled, plunging the community into a fresh controversy and igniting accusations of institutional bias masked as bureaucratic concern.

The deal, which would have permitted the long-sought expansion of the Masjid Al-Salaam worship center, disintegrated after a sudden and fierce resurgence of opposition from a segment of residents and several town board members. The official justification, repeatedly cited in public sessions, hinges on a single, seemingly mundane issue: traffic congestion and pedestrian safety on otherwise quiet Willow Street.

However, a deeper investigation into public records and exclusive interviews suggests that the traffic concerns may be a convenient pretext for a more deeply rooted resistance, raising uncomfortable questions about religious freedom, NIMBYism, and the true cost of legal brinkmanship in this predominantly affluent, historic Long Island enclave.

Beyond Gridlock: Unearthing the Core of the Dispute

While Town Supervisor William Bradford stated the reversal was due to "newly presented traffic studies highlighting untenable risks to our senior residents," internal emails obtained by this publication reveal a different narrative. Correspondence between planning board members from as far back as three years ago questions the "architectural compatibility" of the proposed dome and minaret with the area's "traditional New England character."

"This was never about traffic. That's the dog whistle," asserted civil rights attorney Evelyn Rossi, who is not directly involved in the case but has reviewed the documents. "When a municipality rejects a settlement it itself negotiated, after years of litigation it was losing, it signals that the objection isn't logistical-it's ideological. They're banking on the mosque simply running out of resources to continue the fight."

The financial stakes are now astronomical. Legal analysts estimate the town has already spent over $1.2 million in outside counsel fees defending the initial denial. By retracting the settlement, Oyster Bay not only reopens itself to the original federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) lawsuit but also potential new civil rights claims, potentially exposing taxpayers to a judgment far exceeding the initial $4 million.

A Community Divided: Fear, Faith, and Property Values

The controversy has fissured the community. For every resident like Marjorie Thistle, who told a town hall meeting, "This is about safety, pure and simple. The narrow streets can't handle more cars," there is another like Amir Khan, a 20-year resident and congregant.

"My children walk these streets every day. Their safety is my primary concern too," Khan countered. "The mosque's traffic management plan was developed by one of the top engineering firms in the state and was deemed more than adequate. To have it dismissed out of hand feels personal. It feels like our presence here is merely tolerated, not welcomed."

This sentiment points to a potential underlying factor rarely stated aloud in official hearings: property values. For some homeowners, the fear isn't just traffic, but the perceived change a larger religious institution might bring to the neighborhood's socio-cultural fabric-a concern that often manifests as coded opposition to the institution's faith.

What Comes Next?

With the settlement voided, the Islamic Center of Oyster Bay now faces a difficult choice: return to a costly and protracted legal battle or scale back its vision for a community that has, thus far, resisted its growth.

The imam, Dr. Ahmed Farooq, struck a somber but resolved tone. "Our faith teaches us patience. We extended an olive branch in agreeing to the settlement, hoping to build bridges. While this setback is profound, our commitment to our congregation and our right to worship freely is unwavering. We will consult with our legal team and our community to determine our path forward."

The Oyster Bay town board is expected to vote on a formal motion to rescind the settlement offer next week, a move that will likely be watched closely by advocacy groups and legal scholars far beyond the town's borders, turning a local zoning fight into a national case study on modern discrimination.