Put It Above Ground

The Skyscraper Safety Campaign

September 21, 2006
Contact:
Prof. Glenn Corbett (201) 993-2814
Sally Regenhard ( 646) 266-1987

The Freedom Tower at GZ:
The Port Authority Doesn’t Want It - So Why Should We?

The Skyscraper Safety Campaign (SSC) calls attention to the proposed forced relocation of government workers to the building and fire code exempt Freedom Tower at Ground Zero. The SSC is appalled that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) refuses to move its own workers to the Freedom Tower, yet expects other “guinea pigs” to take space in this building.

Today, the PANYNJ professes the safety of the Freedom Tower just as they claimed that the former “twin towers” met or exceeded all codes, despite the fact that a federal investigation has shown that the towers did NOT meet all regulations. The PANYNJ will build the Freedom Tower just as they built the twin towers - immune from local New York City construction regulations and enforcement.

The Skyscraper Safety Campaign calls for the following actions by our elected officials:
• Governors Pataki and Corzine must place safety ahead of financial interests by directing the PANYNJ to give up their code immunities and to turn over all plan reviews, inspections, and code enforcement to the NYC Department of Buildings and the FDNY. A “memorandum of understanding” is not acceptable.
• Governors Pataki and Corzine should direct the PANYNJ to place all their executive offices in the topmost office floors at the Freedom Tower to demonstrate the safety of their building.
•
• Governors Pataki and Corzine should also place their respective offices in the upper portions of the building.

.

Sally Regenhard, Chairperson, Skyscraper Safety Campaign
“Let us not grow tired in doing good.
For at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
B: 718-671-7326
Please note new Cell: 646-266-1987

Website: SkyscraperSafety.org
ChristianRegenhard.com

Dear Editor,
            In response to your article of 9/20, “Plan to Fill Freedom Tower Stirs a Debate� I would have to whole heartedly agree with Professor Sclar.  It is totally absurd that we should once again use tax payer money to bail out the WTC Project. Not only are the government agencies going to be paying over the top prices but they are also going to be vacating perfectly good office space to facilitate this. Are we also going to be responsible for the leases on the vacated locations? Also what about the local businesses that rely on these government employees at their present locations? Who is thinking about them?
            You would also think that Federal and in particular state agencies would want to be housed on NYC or NY State property over which they have some type of control (Fire and Building Codes) and not on Port Authority property.
            This is just another example of how everything going on at Ground Zero has gone wrong. We will inflate the occupancy rates of these buildings to make them look like viable projects. At the same time we will charge family members and visitors to visit the Memorial and Memorial Museum.
            Somebody has to step up because the inmates continue to run the asylum at Ground Zero.
Dennis McKeon

Plan to Fill Freedom Tower Stirs a Debate

New York Times - United States
The new plan to have federal and state agencies occupy at least one million square feet in the Freedom Tower at ground zero has opened a vigorous debate

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/20/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/20freedom.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

For Related Articles Go To

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=23

To All,

Take a moment and read these two articles. The first gives you a real sense as what we have been living through for the past five years. The second makes you really wonder if they have been listening to our safety and security concerns at all. Obviously not! They don’t even want their own workers in the buildings. Dennis

Broken Ground: The hole in the city’s heart

International Herald Tribune - France

… Adirondack granite cornerstone — flecked with garnet, the state gem — for what was to be the first building to rise at the new World Trade Center: the 1,776

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/19/america/web.0919groundzero.php

Official Affirms Remarks About New Tower at Ground Zero

Washington Post - United States
… of the agency that owned the World Trade Center defended his decision not to ask employees to move into the proposed Freedom Tower at Ground Zero because of

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR2006091801223.html

 

Jim McCaffrey on News 13

 

https://www.news12.com/NewCDA/articles/media_pop?region=WC&id=182325

L.M.D.C. shakes budget, finds $200 million

 

http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_175/lmdcshakesbudget.html

Albany: Governor Vetoes Bill Blocking 9/11 Memorial Fee
By DANNY HAKIM
Published: September 15, 2006

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/nyregion/15mbrfs-007.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

To All,
            I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the Tribute Center today at Ground Zero. It was great to see this dream finally realized. Kudos to Lee Ielpi and Jen Adams and all involved for seeing this through.

 
            Through this center people will be able to see and hear what happened on 9/11 and the tours that have been ongoing with the help of volunteers will enable the story be told for years to come.

 
            While I sat in the audience I listened as elected official after elected official kept referring to this opening as a bittersweet event. All I could think of looking at the Deutche Bank in the background and the pit to the right was all of the things that still have not been done.

 
            If it weren’t for Lee and Jen this would not have been completed either. Once again family members were responsible for something that the LMDC should have thought of years ago.

 
            We still do not have a memorial that the families have agreed on. The listing of the names as well as security and safety issues have still not been resolved and all we hear from our elected officials is how grateful they were that family members got this done. All while we still have not been told where the debris from the Deutche Bank building has been sent. All while we still can’t get them to build the memorial according to NYC Building and Fire codes. All while the issue of the remains at Fresh Kills continues to be ignored.

 
            There was nothing bittersweet about today’s event. There was just a bitter feeling seeing representatives of the LMDC and the Port Authority standing for their photo op and smiling for the cameras on almost the same spot that Rosaleen slept to get them to move the names above ground. 

          

Thank you, Lee, Jen and all of the other volunteers for your vision and commitment. This is something that all of  the 9/11 families can be proud. It also goes to show that family members, who are often portrayed as the bad guys or crybabies are the only ones that seem to get things done.

 
Dennis

 
P.S Thank you for getting it built on NYC property.

HOW TO PAY FOR 9/11 HEALTH ISSUES

 

The following was sent to our local papers 

Dear Editor, 

            There are two ways to respond to yesterdays 9/11 Health Findings 

One: The government most definitely has a responsibility to aid those who have been taken ill by the after effects of 9/11. 

As to how to pay for these claims, the answer is simple. The government need only go after the money that was paid out through improper 9/11 loans. This money should be repaid by the borrowers if they fraudulently filed or by the banks if they made improper loans. 

The balance of the bill could be paid by making companies that were paid millions but delivered little or no services after 9/11 pay back what they were paid. These companies were identified by an audit last August but no action has yet been taken. 

Or 

Two: Since the WTC is not NYC property (as they continue to build outside the legal jurisdiction of the NYC Fire and Building Departments) the Port Authority should be held liable for all claims resulting from the aftermath of 9/11. 

Either way those who have taken ill should not be ignored. 

Dennis McKeon