How Oyster Bay Town defines itself: Voices needed on Bethpage mosque

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino was quite clear in his statement on a settlement reached in August with Muslims on Long Island Inc. 

"This agreement resolves outstanding planning concerns and allows us to move forward in good faith as one community," he said.

Ten days later, Oyster Bay backed out of the agreement that would have allowed the expansion of a Bethpage mosque. So much for good faith and one community.

The dispute between the town and MOLI, which owns the Masjid Al-Baqi mosque, stems from the group's desire to build a new, larger mosque. As the mosque's application was pending in 2022, the town added new parking restrictions. Then, in December, Oyster Bay's planning board denied the application. The religious group filed a federal lawsuit and significantly, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division supported its request for a preliminary injunction. 

The town's decision — made behind closed doors — cited renewed concerns over traffic. Town officials subsequently told the editorial board that the town board also objected to the $3.95 million Oyster Bay was to pay the religious group and sought stricter requirements for keeping local roads safe.

But those explanations don't make sense. It's improbable, if not impossible, to think the town attorney didn't go over every settlement detail with elected officials before signing off.

This backtracking isn't about traffic or parking. Instead, in court papers seeking an October trial date after the agreement fell apart, attorneys for the religious group cited another factor. After the settlement was announced, the town was "faced with a fresh wave of anti-Muslim agitation from local residents."

"GET THESE MUDSKINS OUT!" said one petition signer.

"We don't want them here," said one social media commenter.

"You know there's plenty of desert countries with mosques everywhere," wrote another.

"Oyster Bay mosque are words that do not belong in the same sentence," said a third.

And then, a comment that underlined the timing:

"If this goes through, I hope you all remember when it's time to vote. Every single member of the town board (without exception) should be voted out if they allow this to be built."

Such ugly commentary from bigoted individuals who can't see past the color of their neighbors' skin, and the Oyster Bay board's reprehensible decision to bend to those sentiments, are deeply disappointing. Instead, Saladino and the town board could have — and should have — condemned the racism and moved the deal forward despite it. Now, they should try again to finalize a settlement. If they don't, they could lose in court, costing taxpayers even more money. Town officials note Oyster Bay has approved mosques before; they claim this isn't discriminatory. So far, there's little reason to believe them. 

This is a moment for Long Islanders to speak out for fairness and condemn the disturbing language and actions surrounding the Bethpage mosque.

Is this really how the Town of Oyster Bay wants to define itself?