A meeting of the Lower Manhattan Community board became the scene of a heated debate today as hundreds people weighed in on whether it is appropriate to build an IHOP just blocks away from the site of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the city. Many feel that the presence of a restaurant know not only for it's outreach to foreign countries, including those in the Middle East from which the terror attacks originated, but also for its varied and reasonably priced breakfast menu is insensitive to the memory of those lost when the World Trade Center towers fell.
"It's a slap in the face to the families of those who perished on that terrible day," said Phil Perkins, director of the "StopTheHop, an organization devoted to preventing the IHOP from being built on the site. "Think about what time it was when those planes crashed into those towers. It was 8:45 a.m. when the north tower was hit, 9:03 a.m. when the south tower was hit. That's breakfast time, man. BREAKFAST! Every time someone sees that IHOP sign in this neighborhood, they will be reminded of that day. Do we want to subject the 9/11 families to that?" Perkins' comments were greeted with shouts of approval from many in attendance.
Community board district manager Paul Goldstein struggled to maintain order at the meeting as supporters of the IHOP, almost equal in number to the opponents, also gave their opinions. Many made passionate pleas for tolerance and cited IHOP's Constitutional right to serve breakfast at any hour of the day. Goldstein repeatedly called for order, reminding the unruly crowd that the board was only voting on approving zoning permits for the restaurant.
The issue has already caught the attention of politicians. Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman has called for a congressional investigation into DineEquity, Inc. parent company of IHOP. "I think it's only fair to ask 'who are these people, and what are they doing in our country?' said Lieberman, over a stack of pancakes with a side of hash browns. Lieberman also questioned the patriotism of IHOP, citing its "Viva La French" French toast eggs and bacon combo. If it were me, I would say, "Viva La America." As a gesture of solidarity with IHOP opponents, Lieberman did not leave a tip.
Morley Sobol
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