Put It Above Ground

As you can see from the article below we now have Senators trying to put a stop to federal funding that was promised to New York after 9/11.

Senator Gregg from New Hampshire claimed that the $2 Billion that has been allocated to connect JFK to Lower Manhattan was just a way that New Yorkers were trying to fleece the taxpayers. He likened this to Alaska’s train to nowhere.

Obviously Senator Gregg is entitled to his opinion but Ground Zero is not exactly nowhere.

Once again this money was allocated specifically to New York to help in the rebuilding process after 9/11.

It is amazing how none of these Senators ever complained about the millions of dollars that their states received in additional Homeland Security funding after 9/11.

Maybe someone should ask Senator Gregg for a detailed accountability of how New Hampshire spent its 9/11 funds that I am sure they gladly accepted and spent.

Every state in America received funds after 9/11 and it is always New York one of the few states that was actually attacked that is constantly questioned.

I ask that you call Senator Gregg (202) 224- 3324 and Senator DeMint (202) 224-6121 who supported him and let them know that it is important for the government to keep its commitments and they should worry about the economic condition of the country and let New York manage what was promised to them.

Although this may not be the best way to spend the money it is a viable way to continue to help the city recover. A plan that will have a positive impact with quantifiable results from money that has already been committed.

Something that I am sure these Senators would not be able to provide for the funds they received.

We will continue to push for additional funding for the victims as well as those buried in Fresh Kills and I am sure we will continue to have to fight the likes of Senator Gregg and Demint just like we had to fight Congressman Issa.

Dennis McKeon

GOPer: WTC train will go ‘nowhere’

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/04/30/2008-04-30_goper_wtc_train_will_go_nowhere.html

Court Rules Port Authority Is Liable For 1993 WTC Bombing

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=42775

Taking a page out of McDonald’s book we now have over 100,000 visitors served through this site.

We will continue to post relevant 9/11 information and continue to provide a voice for the 9/11 families.

Looking forward to working with the next 100,000 visitors.

Dennis

Dear families,

This message regards what we have been calling the “lower” family room. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PA) has made a commitment to keep a small private area for the families of the September 11, 2001 victims. Many families wanted a space within the World Trade Center site. Originally that space was located on Liberty Street. Once construction began there, we were given another space at gate 10 behind the temporary PATH station entrance. Of late, we have still had that space but needed to gain access from Gate 4. Now construction is about to begin near that space, so the following accommodations have been made.

-The space now available from Gate 4 will be closed at 5:00 p.m. on Friday,

May 2, 2008.

-This trailer (family room) will be moved in its entirety back to a Liberty Street

area, with access through Gate 7. The “lower” family room will reopen on

Monday, May 12, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.

-The PA has arranged to have photographs taken of the current space, so that we

can relocate anything that may get dislodged during the move.

-Before the move, a few family members will wrap and pack anything that

might break during the move. Once the new location is established, we will put

those articles back in their former location.

- If any family member wants to remove something before the May 2nd closing,

please feel free to come in and do so.

This new location is only available for about two months. During that time, a few family members and the PA will explore a new location. Again, the PA is very committed to supplying this on-site space as long as possible. I’ll keep you posted on any new developments.

Questions? Write to: WTCFamiliesforProperBurial@comcast.net

Wishing you some peace,

Diane Horning,

Matthew’s mom

To All,

Below please find a letter that was sent on August 16, 2006 to all of our major NY newspapers (and of course never published).

The reason we are bringing this up is that the Post is reporting today (see link below) that the PA staff “is contemplating a further alignment of the construction deadline for the Memorial. Although PA Chairman Anthony Cosica states “the last few months, the rebuilding effort has encountered significant technical and financial challenges” In a letter sent to PA Board members he ruled out any extensions of the current (now 2010) for completing the Memorial Plaza.

This is very interesting that he is only committing to having the plaza complete by 2010 and although he mentioned technical and “FINANCIAL” challenges he makes no mention of what the current costs overruns will be.

Once again following in the footsteps of Robert Moses we will most likely be told shortly that in order to meet the 2010 deadline the costs will skyrocket well past the current limits that have been set.

Easy to do when you are not accountable to anyone.

So while Yankee fans, and Met fans for that matter, will have new stadiums on opening day 2009, family members will still be looking at another unfulfilled promise.

Business As Usual at Ground Zero

Dennis

PA BOSS RIPS SHRINE DELAY

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=42503

The letter below was sent to our local papers 8/16/06

Dear Editor,

With much fanfare two projects were begun today. In Lower Manhattan the LMDC sent out a press release to announce the footings being set for the WTC Memorial and Museum. At the same time in the Bronx the groundbreaking for the new Yankee Stadium was attended by almost every NYC elected official.

Makes you wonder about priorities. I guess even the politicians, even in an election year, are growing weary of yet another start at Ground Zero. I myself have lost count of the number of groundbreakings we have had at Ground Zero.

If you took a poll of New Yorkers as to which project they think will be completed first, you would be probably find it very difficult to find even one that would put their money on the Memorial.

Just yesterday the papers were filled with articles about how money that was dedicated to the Memorial might have found its way into other projects. That along with the fact that the city has turned over complete control to the Port Authority does not instill any confidence that this project will ever get completed on budget or on time. One only has to look at past Authority projects if they want a little glimpse into the future of Ground Zero.

On the other hand you will see Yankee Stadium completed on time and probably cost the city what the current estimates state. At this point you can actually see a blueprint for what the stadium will look like when completed. Does anyone even have a clue as to what has been decided for the Memorial or the Museum?

The bottom line is we will most definitely see the new Yankee Stadium along with the new Shea Stadium and maybe even the new Net’s complex in Brooklyn before we see a memorial or museum at Ground Zero.

Sad but true.

At least I will not be afraid to bring my kids to any of these other venues as they will be constructed under the legal jurisdiction of the NYC Building and Fire Departments. The same cannot be said of the memorial and the museum.

To paraphrase Dickens “It was the best of times, in the Bronx it was the worst of times at Ground Zero”.

Dennis McKeon

As most of you know the law suit against Christie Whitman was thrown out of court as It appears that a judge did not want to set a dangerous precedent that would make public officials fear making public statements in the future.

Last year the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found that former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman’s falsely reassuring and misleading statements of safety after the September 11, 2001 attacks were “without question conscience-shocking.” The court also found the facts “support an allegation of a violation of the substantive due process right to be free from official government policies that increase the risk of bodily harm” by Whitman’s misstatements regarding the air quality of the affected area.

So now the courts are basically stating that government officials can lie and put us at risk and we have no recourse.

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency can not be held responsible for lying to the people she was being paid to protect.

I would be more worried about that dangerous precedent being set.

So what do you think any elected official will do when they have has to decide between the truth (no matter how damaging) or a lie (to cover up mistakes and deficient government performance).

Now that the courts have made it easier to lie.

But I guess it doesn’t really matter as even when people in these positions are convicted they wind up getting a presidential pardon any way.

The only losers in this game are people like you and me.

Would have been nice if the courts had determined that elected officials and their agents should be held accountable for their actions.

“Truth, Justice and the American Way”

Unfortunately that seems only to be true in comic books.

Dennis

Court rules ex-EPA chief not liable for reassuring residents on 9/11 air

by Associated Press Tuesday April 22, 2008, 11:05 AM

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=42474

Nadler: Decision in 9/11 Lawsuit Highlights Need for Action

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=42476

Court rules ex-EPA chief not liable for reassuring residents on 9/11 air

by Associated Press Tuesday April 22, 2008, 11:05 AM

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=42653

Pope asked to press for relocating 9/11 remains…

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=42423

For Related Articles

Go To

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

The Skyscraper Safety Campaign:
A project of Parents & Families of Firefighters & WTC Victims: www.skyscrapersafety.org

For immediate release: 4/19/08
contact: Sally Regenhard: 646-266-1987
Prof Glenn Corbett: 201-993-2814

“Above the Law” - Port Authority immunities at GZ must end now
The Port Authority Continues to Show Why it Should Not be In Charge
of Safety and Security at Ground Zero
SSC & Safety Experts call for immediate meeting with Gov. David Paterson re WTC

Press Conference:

WHEN: Monday, April 21, 2008

TIME: 12:00 Noon

WHERE: In front of new PATH station entrance at Vesey Street and West Broadway, one block
west of Church Street

WHY: Non-existent safety & security protocols at the WTC site

The Skyscraper Safety Campaign (SSC) is appalled and outraged, but not surprised, at the revelations of critically lax security and total disdain for public safety at the World Trade Center by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).

The shocking disposal of Freedom Tower plans in a street corner trash can provides yet another example of why the non-accountable PANYNJ should not remain in charge of safety and security in the reconstruction of the WTC at Ground Zero. They should instead be replaced by NYPD security details who could remain in charge of this site once the complex opens. In addition, the safety shortfalls of 9/11- a missing stairwell in each of the Twin Towers and non-tested fireproofing for the towers’ steel - exposed the PANYNJ’s blatant lack of concern for public safety. The PANYNJ must not remain above the law - it must be stripped of its exemptions and immunities and be placed under the legal jurisdiction of New York City’s Building and Fire Codes at the WTC site.

The SSC calls for the following requirements :
• That the City of New York assume responsibility for safety at Ground Zero. Specifically, the Governors of New York and New Jersey direct their PANYNJ appointees to require that all plans and specifications for buildings and structures at the World Trade Center be reviewed and approved by the New York City Building and Fire Departments. Further, the PANYNJ must be obligated to have all required inspections performed and certificates of occupancy issued from the City of New York. Finally, routine inspections must be performed and documented by the Fire Department of New York for the life of the buildings and structures.
• That Congressional representatives from New York and New Jersey immediately initiate changes to the PANYNJ’s charter to revoke the code compliance immunities the PANYNJ currently enjoys. In addition, the SSC asks that appropriate Congressional committees hold hearings into the code exemption issues and the numerous security/safety deficiencies of the World Trade Center complex, including the WTC Memorial and Museum as well as the underground parking/delivery tunnels.
• That the City of New York assume all security responsibilities at Ground Zero, including providing all security details at the complex after it opens. The PANYNJ has consistently shown that it is incapable of handling security as well as other critically important matters of public safety at the World Trade Center site.

The Skyscraper Safety Campaign

Sally Regenhard, Chairperson
Monica Gabrielle, Co Chairperson
Prof. Glenn Corbett, Chief Technical Advisor
Norman Siegel, Esq., Counsel