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Michael Alonso is seen filing paperwork in June to run for a Bayonne school board seat. The former candidate for state Assembly and freeholder is among a group that is attempting to recall Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis. (Journal file photo)

(Journal File Photo)

BAYONNE -- Even as the city's Muslim community condemned Sunday's Orlando massacre as a "barbaric attack," a recently formed Republican group has cited the tragedy as a reason to oppose a planned Islamic community center.

Former candidate for state Assembly, freeholder and school board Michael Alonso, who has billed himself the leader of the "Real Republicans" group in Bayonne, mentioned the massacre in a statement on Monday.

"In light of the Orlando terrorist attack recently committed in the name of Islam, a mosque in Bayonne would be unsafe and unwise," the Bayonne resident said in his press release.

Early Sunday, 49 people were killed and dozens more were injured at an Orlando nightclub in what authorities are calling a terrorist attack. The gunman, Omar Mateen, was killed in the shootout.

The local Muslim community has proposed converting a warehouse at 109 East 24th St. into a community center that would include a mosque, classrooms and a soup kitchen. The city zoning board is slated to decide whether to approve the plan at its June 28 meeting.

Bayonne Chief of Staff Andrew Casais called Alonso's comment "insensitive and inappropriate."

"It is shameful that Mr. Alonso would spread these inflammatory comments and try to use the tragic attack in Orlando to capitalize on his local opposition to an application before the Zoning Board," he said.

Meanwhile, Bill Finnerty of Bayonne-based law firm Hughes & Finnerty, who represents the Muslim group seeking to build the center, responded to Alonso's remark by saying "It's what I would expect from someone like Mr. Alonso."

In the weeks leading up to New Jersey's June 7 primary, a political advertisement resembling a newspaper was distributed in Bayonne with "Published by The Real Republicans" on the front page. The ad encouraged readers to vote for Alonso's ballot column in the local Republican committee election.

Similar to Alonso's press release on Monday, the ad sought to paint current Bayonne Republican Chairman Vincent Cuseglio and one of his business partners in a negative light on several points, including their support of the proposed Muslim community center.

One section of the ad contained a photo of the World Trade Center burning on 9/11, along with the words "Remember 9/11," and accused Cuseglio and others of having "already forgotten."

Cuseglio has called Alonso's attacks on him "childish and foolish," adding that they have had the effect of strengthening his resolve to stand up for the local Muslim community.

"(Alonso) ran for a lot of things, he lost. I don't know what his agenda is now," Cuseglio said.

Alonso is one of three city residents leading an ongoing recall effort against Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis. His group is also affiliated with an effort by three other city residents to recall Second Ward Councilman Sal Gullace.

On Jan. 19, the zoning board postponed its decision on whether to approve the plan

for the center after a three-and-a-half hour public hearing, saying there were two expert witnesses who still needed to be heard.

The stalled decision came after spirited demonstrations both for and against the center were held earlier that evening in front of City Hall.