†Archived News -- February 2004

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February 27, 2004

On February 27 at 11:30 AM EST, TTT Celebrity Spokesperson, Chuck Booms had an interview with Phil Duncan, Host, "The Crux of the Matter" on 1320 AM WARL, Providence, RI. WARL reaches over 800,000 listeners in the Southern New England Area.


Click to Listen to Live Streamed Broadcast

On February 25, 1010 WINS reported that an agreement has been reached in which the Deutsche Bank building damaged during the 9/11 attacks will be demolished. Insurers would pay the bank $140 million for the building, which the LMDC would buy for 90 million. The LMDC would take over a $45 million contract to demolish the building, while the insurers agreed to pay demolition costs above that amount. The Port Authority would acquire the land on which the building sits to accomodate the Libeskind site plan's appetite for land.

1010 WINS: "Deutsche Bank Reaches Deal on WTC Building"



February 26, 2004

On February 26, an article promoting "The Plan of the People" by Scripps Howard Columnist, Deroy Murdock, was published throughout the 400-newspaper wire service. "Herbert Belton's and Ken Gardner's "The Plan of the People" transforms Ground Zero into a thriving commercial and transportation center. Also, their tasteful and compelling memorial recalls the 2,749 people killed there on Sept. 11. It celebrates their lives and work without becoming an urban cemetery," he said.

"Legal, insurance and financial questions cloud the Freedom Tower's future. Americans should urge public officials to substitute the majestic Belton-Gardner proposal for the lackluster scheme now selected for construction....Hollywood entertainment executive Chuck Booms displays a small copper model of the Twin Towers that he acquired during a childhood trip to the WTC. Stifling tears, he recalls saying back then, 'Dad, this is the greatest thing I've ever seen. How could man build such a thing?' He hopes to visit the new Towers' souvenir shop and purchase a new model to accompany the memento he bought at age 10.

TTT spokesman Jonathan Hakala says the Twin Towers were among Earth's few 'instantly recognizable' landmarks. He compares missing the chance to restore them with 'allowing the Pyramids to crumble or the Great Wall of China to come tumbling down.'...'It was a magnificent structure to see going up, recalls Artie Vignapiano, a Port Authority landscape planner when the WTC was built. Although he fled his 74th floor office on Sept. 11, he still wants to see the Twin Towers anew. All of the people who worked on the buildings -10 out of 10 - want them back.'"

Sacramento Bee: "Will the Twin Towers Rise Again?," by Deroy Murdock, Scripps Howard Columnist



February 25, 2004

On February 25, WNBC News reported that "Freedom Tower" would contain an observation deck at 1,500 feet either at the base of its spire or within the cable and windmill trusswork. A nine-foot model of the structure will be on display at the Center for Architecture until May.

WNBC News (AP Report): "Freedom Tower Deck to Rise 1,500 Feet Above Ground Zero"

On February 25, New York Newsday reported that Twin Towers leasehold owner, Silverstein Properties, Inc. has already spent $1.3 billion of insurance money received to cover the destruction of the buildings. The firm's main partner, Larry Silverstein is in court seeking a double insurance settlement.

New York Newsday (AP Report): "Part of WTC Insurance Money Spent"



February 18, 2004

On February 18, Team Twin Towers, Inc. released 5-foot and 9-foot models of "The Plan of the People," designed and rendered by Ken Gardner and Herbert Belton. Gardner has made acrylic and foam core models of many of the most prominent buildings in Manhattan, while Belton was one of the architects at Emery Roth and Sons, which worked on the original WTC site. The model was first promoted on Fox & Friends, the top-rated cable morning news show, by Talk show host and Comedian, Chuck Booms at 6:20 AM EST. The press conference was also announced on the Fox News Ticker and O'Reilly.

It was then transported to the NY Marriott Financial Center where it was unveiled during a press conference that began at 10:00 AM EST. Chuck Booms explained the importance of rebuilding the Twin Towers and the kind of message sent if we fail to do so. He had lost a friend, Barbara Olson when the Pentagon was struck on 9/11, and no one he spoke to considers it disrespectful that desks now occupy the space where she passed on. "She would not have wanted it any other way," Booms said.

Jon Hakala, TTT Spokesperson addressed the question of "why are you doing this, when the WTC site is already decided." He spoke at great length about Silverstein's legal battles and how there is not even enough money to build Freedom Tower, let alone the rest of the site.

"It would appear, then, that the uninspired design of the Freedom Tower has been unable to capture the public imagination or to attract the kind of quality tenants required to support private financing or the governmental commitments needed to subsidize any shortfall. We need something much, much better than the Freedom Tower to give the private sector and the American tax-paying public the motivation to help finance the rebuilding of our World Trade Center," Hakala said.

This story is still developing. The Reuters dispatch below has appeared on CNN, in Reuters UK, and in Switzerland. Look on the TTT News page for any updates regarding "The Plan of the People."

Reuters: "Group Proposes Rebuilding the Twin Towers," by Pedro Nicolaci da Costa

2/18 TTT Press Conference Was Sponsored by...

2/18 TTT Press Conference Photos



February 9, 2004

On February 9, the NY Times reported that opening statements will begin today for the Silverstein insurance settlement trial. Silverstein contends that the 9/11 attacks constituted two incidents entitling Silverstein Properties, Inc. to a double insurance settlement.

NY Times: "In Dispute on Trade Center Insurance, Billions at Stake," by Charles V. Bagli










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