Lino Lakes City Council reprimands member accused of anti-Muslim behavior

LINO LAKES, Minnesota — The Lino Lakes City Council voted Monday evening to censure one of its members who is accused of anti-Islamic behavior.

Chris Lyden came under fire for appearing to welcome an anti-Muslim email. The email in question contained, according to the Council resolution, “very explicit negative and derogatory comments regarding the Quran and the Muslim faith.” It was allegedly sent in response to a New York Times article about the development of the Madinah Lakes projectwhose aim is to transform 156 acres of a turf farm in the city into a community with a mosque, shops and housing.

The no-confidence motion passed Tuesday night, which said Lyden's response to the email was “inappropriate and reflects poorly on the city,” passed three to one.

Lyden criticized the wording and content of the resolution and also denied allegations of bias.

“I have made no judgment or expressed any opinion on the actual content of the email in question,” Lyden said. “I suggest you throw [the resolution] in the trash.”

Lyden said that in his various roles as a council member, coach and teacher, he has “never been accused of being a racist.”

The Madinah Lakes Project has divided residents for several monthswith several controversial town meetings and online petitions garnering hundreds of votes for and against, with slightly more signatures for a suspension.

Despite an expected moratorium on the project The city council voted 3-2 in July to delay the proposal.City leaders and some residents stressed that their main concerns were issues such as water availability, safety and cost, rather than the potential influx of Muslim residents.