Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 16:10:03 -0400 (EDT) From: Louis Epstein Subject: WTC Rebuilding #449:Weld Knocks Hole,New 7 WTC Opens Among recently printed news items,the Port Authority sent the Post a letter from saying they keep deadlines,and that the eastern site will be ready in 2008.I thought Silverstein said last week it would be ready in 2007? The Daily News printed a letter from Tal Barzilai saying another FT delay would not surprise though if he said anything about what ought to be built instead they edited it out. The Fulton Street transit hub project is in more cost trouble according to the NY Times,redesign and downsizing will apparently hit a second round.(And they insisted on condemning what could have been the site of a 90-story skyscraper that would overshadow parts of their precious Libescheme). Yesterday (Tuesday) former Massachusetts and would-be New York Governor William Weld made some interesting comments,covered for instance in this article Joy Goldberg forwarded me from Newsday: =============== Weld criticizes WTC memorial as `hole in ground' May 23, 2006, 5:40 PM EDT ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ Republican candidate for governor Bill Weld on Tuesday disagreed with his friend and courted ally, Gov. George Pataki, when he said the proposed World Trade Center memorial is "a hole in the ground" and too costly at nearly $1 billion. "I don't happen to get the idea of a hole in the ground as a memorial" to Sept. 11 victims, Weld said Tuesday in New York City at a candidates forum. He also called for a "Kissinger-esque approach, if you will _ shuttle diplomacy" to come up with a new plan that will bring together all groups involved in the process, from government leaders to victims' relatives. Pataki apparently didn't take offense at the comments by Weld, the former Massachusetts governor, who has sought Pataki's endorsement. Pataki spokesman David Catalfamo joked, "I guess we can take that as Bill Weld's 'non-endorsement' of the memorial design." "I think it's an appropriate memorial," Pataki said. "I think it's the centerpiece of what we have to do in Lower Manhattan. There are always differences of opinions ... people are entitled to their opinions." The memorial, called "Reflecting Absence," would have two pools shaped like the fallen twin towers and surrounded by oak trees. The pools would extend 30 feet underground, where visitors could read names of the nearly 3,000 people killed, pay respects to unidentified victims' remains and see the remnants of the towers' foundations. The memorial could open by 2009. Opponents have said the memorial would be difficult to safely evacuate and said it is disrespectful to send family members underground to mourn their dead. The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation soon will present suggestions to change the design and cut costs. Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc. =============== This was also remarked on in the Post: http://nypost.com/news/regionalnews/69065.htm as well as other media reports. While Weld days,in longer versions,that if he became Governor in January he wouldn't just call for a memorial redesign,his lack of enthusiasm for the basic design principles dictated by Pataki is encouraging. I hope other candidates don't play for fans of "Reflecting Absence". The new 7 WTC had its formal opening: http://nypost.com/news/regionalnews/69048.htm http://nypost.com/postopinion/editorial/69018.htm http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/420567p-354979c.html The Memorial foundation has sent Gretchen Dykstra on a junket: http://nypost.com/news/regionalnews/69053.htm CAN CONNECTICUT READERS PLEASE CONTACT THE LABOR UNIONS QUOTED AND TELL THEM HOW MUCH THEIR *NOT* DONATING TO THIS MORBID WOUND BEING INFLICTED ON MANHATTAN WOULD BE APPRECIATED? My apologies for not including the latest Twin Towers Alliance press release this time...it will be in #450. Last night I was at a county political meeting and passed out Twin Towers Alliance cards to candidates,campaign workers,and committee people.(One of the candidates is on this email list; I voted for him on the first ballot in his race,but he was eliminated...on the second ballot a candidate who had a campaign worker who wanted a whole bunch of cards defeated the only one who didn't take a card). If you want to pass out cards and get more signatures, please go to http://www.twintowersalliance.com/ now! -=-=- The World Trade Center towers MUST rise again, at least as tall as before...or terror has triumphed.