Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NJ Mayor Pitches Lawsuit Against Gadhafi, His Tent
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 28, 2009
Modified Aug 28, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 28, 2009
Modified Aug 28, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Englewood, NJ Mayor Michael Wildes is stepping up the fight to keep Libyan leader Moammer Gadhafi—and his air-conditioned Bedouin tent—from the estate the Libyan mission to the U.N. owns. Wildes is going to court to file an injunction on the renovation work being done at the estate, "If the U.S. State Department won't shut this down, we will. New Jersey's governor, its two U.S. senators and its U.S. congressmen are all on board on this."
Gadhafi is scheduled to travel to the U.S. next month, with a speaking engagement at the United Nations on September 23. Thus, work on the mansion has been taking place. According to the AP, "Wildes said mansion workers have violated numerous city ordinances by tearing down trees and part of a neighboring fence and expanding the mansion's pool without proper permits. He said they may also have violated state environmental rules by encroaching upon a stream that runs through the 5-acre property." While Englewood officials have filed stop work orders, the workers at the estate have ignored it—so now the injunction would allow cops onto the property. Just want the press wants: NJ cops facing off against workers hired by the Libyan government!
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach who lives next to the 25-room mansion told the NY Times that the Libyan mission isn't concerned with fines, "They don’t care how much money they spend on fines because they have an endless supply of oil money." The Times also spoke to Wildes, who didn't mince words, "I would have no problem of any diplomat sleeping within the city limits. I have every problem with a person who admittedly blew up a plane killing 38 New Jersey residents and has the audacity in recent days to give a hero’s welcome to a convicted terrorist. To have to remove his rubbish free of charge is insulting." We suppose that's why NYC officials refused Libya's request for Gadhafi to set up his tent in Central Park—damage to the Great Lawn, and all.
A State Department official anonymously said, "We expect we’ll be able to come to an arrangement that will respect the sensitivities of the local population."
Tagged
Abdel Baset Al-Megrahi
englewood
libya
lockerbie bombing
moammer gadhafi
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .