Mayor: WTC decisions already made
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/am-wtcmem0531,0,3484984.story?coll=ny-nycnews-headlines
OP-Ed: ELIOT’S ERUPTION
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We have come a long way and many of our issues are at least being reviewed.
We will continue to keep your concerns in the spotlight.
As you know we are up against some very formidable opponents with very deep pockets.
Unfortunately the volunteer efforts are not enough.
In order to continue our efforts we will need financial support. We are asking for a small donation from our supporters to help us cover expenses (Web Design and Maintenance, Outreach (copying expenses, sign making etc) and other miscellaneous expenses). Please note that all funds will go directly to Put It Above Ground projects.
When we win this fight, AND WE WILL WIN, all remaining funds will be donated to a proper and fitting Memorial at Ground Zero.
Please help us make this a reality or we will wind up with this
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.
Hopefully our elected officials are listening as well. For too long the LMDC has been allowed to totally control what information is released to the public.
They have continually ignored the safety and security concerns that have been raised by the family groups.
When information from the Governor’s counter terrorist expert confirms these suspicions the LMDC ignores the recommendations and withholds the information from the public and the City Council.
They continue to act as judge and jury with everything from the memorial to the proper handling of remains.
They continue to act as if they do not answer to anyone but themselves.
Instead of beginning an investigation as to who leaked the report to the Times, as recommended, it is time that someone calls for a formal investigation into how the LMDC has been operating over the last four years.
The time has come for this to be done, and then maybe we can get something done at Ground Zero. Â
With recent pressure from the Attorney General hopefully this will be done. It would be nice for the press to call for it as well.
“Let me be very clear, the L.M.D.C. is an absolute failure,” he said, referring to the public authority responsible for the rebuilding.
“They violated their duty to the public and to those they’re supposed to be representing, and now they’re beginning to throw in the towel one by one, departing the scene with an abject failure behind them.”
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Below please find a quote from an article in a local newspaper in Oregon. This is a perfect example of how the rest of the country views what has been going on at Ground Zero. The memorial has become more of an afterthought.
It is very disheartening that both the LMDC and the WTC Memorial Foundation have allowed this to happen.
They will now try to use the recent resignations as excuses for more delays with the plans and fundraising.
The memorial was to be the heart and soul the centerpiece of the rebuilding of Ground Zero.
But because of the fact that the LMDC and the WTC Foundation will not admit that they made a mistake after four years we are left with a giant hole in the ground.
Tomorrow is Memorial Day. I took a moment and surfed the net looking at all of the memorials to the brave souls who lost their lives protecting our country.
All of these had two things in common. They contained an American flag and were above ground.
Don’t you find it odd that the memorial at Ground Zero that was to be the heart and soul, the centerpiece of the rebuilding in what was described as this “cradle of democracy” does not include either of these elements.
But it will be the most elaborate and expensive memorial in America and it will be built nearby the Freedom Tower.
It is not a shame it is a disgrace
“Eventually, this magnificent city’s spirit will prevail and the shrouded deathtrap will come down, piece by piece. The 1,776-foot Freedom Tower will rise from the crater at ground zero as a symbolic replacement for the twin towers, and a $1 billion memorial — America’s most elaborate and expensive — will be constructed nearby.”
The Oregonian May 28
For full article “Celebration day at Ground Zero” and other related articles go to
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=23&sid=acf2375595daaa58cf4d887edc2ce60c
From today’s NY Post
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http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/69216.htm
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Today’s resignation of Gretchen Dykstra as the President of the WTC Memorial Foundation is just the latest example of the breakdown that is occurring at both the Foundation and the LMDC.Â
For too long these two entities have been allowed to operate answering to no one but themselves.Â
On numerous occasions our concerns were completely ignored and the arrogance of some of the people we had to deal with was almost intolerable.Â
But here lies the difference between us and them.Â
We have had to fight every step along the way. Nothing has ever been easy. Not even things that should have been.Â
But we did not give up and we never will.Â
Now that things are getting a little difficult for the LMDC and the WTC Memorial Foundation people are starting to leave.Â
When no one but the families questioned the decisions that they made it was easy to sit in their ivory towers and rule over Ground Zero with an iron fist.Â
But recently other people finally began to listen to our concerns.Â
They began to realize that we were not just trying to make things difficultÂ
That just maybeÂ
There were security and safety issues with the selected design (they still have not explained why the Kallstrom memo was concealed)Â
That the cost estimates were grossly understated.Â
That the majority of the families were opposed to an underground memorialÂ
That the selected design never met the minimum requirements of the WTC Memorial Mission StatementÂ
This is probably not the last resignation we are going to see.Â
As more is revealed fewer and fewer people are going to want to be associated with what has unfortunately become a national disgrace.Â
Had this really been an open and democratic process we would not be in this situation.Â
We need to make sure that the remaining issues are resolved.Â
The following is a quote from a member of the WTC FoundationÂ
“It is regrettable to lose Gretchen, in her time with the foundation, we raised almost one half of our total goal to build the memorial and museum and extensive plans have been made to build and operate them.”Â
The last estimate was close to $1 billion the Foundation raised $130 million. You do the math.Â
As you can see they are still distorting the facts.Â
One only has to look at the timing of the press release to announce this latest resignation. Late afternoon on a Friday of a holiday weekend, not the best time to get reaction or press coverage. At the time of this writing the press release still does not appear on either website.Â
Unless things like this change we will never get a safe and secure above ground memorial.Â
We wish Gretchen nothing but the best in her future endeavors.Â
Here is a quote from us for those who remain with the LMDC and the WTC Memorial FoundationÂ
“We will continue to hold both the LMDC and the WTC Memorial Foundation accountable for their actions.â€? “We will continue to fight for a dignified, safe and secure above ground memorial that respects the footprints and the historical artifacts and eliminates the random placement of names.â€?Â
And we are not going away.Â
THE PUT IT ABOVE GROUND CAMPAIGNÂ
Gretchen Dykstra Resigns As Head Of WTC Memorial Foundation
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=203&aid=59772Â
Woman Heading 9/11 Memorial Fundraising Resigns  Â
  http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=9_11&id=4208801
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President of Sept 11 Memorial Foundation Resigns
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http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/am-wtc0527,0,771436.story