Archived News -- July 2002

Note: New York Times articles require free registration and login prior to access



July 27,† 2002

On July 27, the NY Post dedicated its Saturday "Letters to the Editor" to the subject of what should be built at the WTC site. Out of today's run of 10 letters nine supported rebuilding.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Letters: "You Make the Call: What Should Rise at Ground Zero?"



July 26,† 2002

On July 26, the NY Post ran this editorial, "Bothing the Rebuild", which emphasized the importance of looking into the future from a long-term perspective and revitalizing Lower Manhatttan's commerce.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion: "Botching the Rebuild"

The NY Post also reported that two of the six LMDC plans were released despite being dis-approved by senior LMDC officials. Two of the LMDC-approved designs, one by Larry Silverstein and the other by Brookfield Properties (owners of the World Financial Center) were scuttled in favor of Memorial Garden and Memorial Plaza.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Low marks," by Maggie Haberman and William Neuman



July 25, 2002

On July 25, the NY Post ran "Bring Back Our Towers" by Nicole Gelinas who works half a block away from the WTC site. Her article confronted many "conventional widsoms" and emotional arguments against rebuilding.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion: "Bring Back Our Towers", by Nicole Gelinas

In other news, the NY Post reported that the LMDC's proposals are on display at Federal Hall and are receiving the same reviews as at the Listening to the City Events.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Visitors Look Down on 3-D Models of Initial Six Designs", by Maggie Haberman

Meanwhile, the NY Daily News reported that re-construction of the 1/9 subway tunnel that runs through the WTC site will be complete by mid-September ahead of schedule. This will permit the 1, 2, 3, and 9 lines to resume normal service, except that the Cortlandt St. stop will be bypassed. The N/R Cortlandt St. stop is expected to re-open however.

ARCHIVED: NY Daily News: "Subway Fix-Up Makes Tracks", by Elizabeth O'Brien and Pete Donohue



July 23, 2002

On July 23, the NY Post ran a column by Andrea Peyser and a half-page editorial supporting rebuilding and the need for restoring commercial space.

ARCHIVED: NY Post News Columnists: "Downtown's Demand: Rebuild Our Businesses", by Andrea Peyser

ARCHIVED: NY Post Editorial: "The Hole-in-the-Ground Gang"

On July 23, the NY Post also ran an article detailing the possibilities of either re-negotiating or cancelling Silverstein's leasehold on the WTC site. The deal brings in $124 million per year for the Port Authority. Cancelling the lease would open further issues with Silverstein's insurance settlements.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Builder Could Get Boot," by William Neuman and Maggie Haberman



July 22, 2002

On July 22, the New York Post ran nine letters to the editor advocating the rebuilding of the Twin Towers.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Letters: "New Yorkers Not Happy With Rebuilding Proposals"



July 20 - 21, 2002

Team Twin Towers' pro-rebuilding message was widely and well received at Listening to the City II, held today at New York City's Javits Convention Center.

Photos of Team Twin Towers members at the event are online.

The No. 1 Complaint: "Schemes are not ambitious enough -- buildings are too short. Nothing here is truly monumental. Looks like Albany."

Press mentions of Team Twin Towers appear below. Check back frequently as updates come in.

The principal press mention is this Associated Press story which first appeared in the NY Post. It was later picked up by the Chicago Tribune, Yahoo! and sfgate.com. This article will likely appear in newspapers all over the world.

NY Post: "New Yorkers Mull WTC Development" by Katherine Roth, Associated Press Writer has been archived.

Other articles supporting rebuilding were published and are listed below:

ARCHIVED: Newark Star Ledger: "WTC Plans Don't Stack Up Many Say" by Jeff Diamant

ARCHIVED: Boston Globe: "WTC Meeting Draws Many Faces, Ideas" by Fred Kaplan

ARCHIVED: NY Daily News: "Plans for WTC Ripped, So Back to the Drawing Board" by Greg Gittrich

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "Forum on WTC Designs: Try Again" by Bobby Cuza

ARCHIVED: Reuters: "New Yorkers Oppose New Trade Center Plans" by Bernie Woodall



July 19, 2002

On July 19, the NY Post ran this guest editorial supporting the rebuilding of the Twin Towers by Sherri R. Tracinski, who writes for the Ayn Rand Foundation. She gives several historical examples of rebuilding, noting that we should follow these examples -- not adopt an attitude of resignation and passivity.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "To Greater Heights" by Sherri R. Tracinski

On July 19, the NY Daily News ran two letters to the editor which support rebuilding the Twin Towers. One was titled "Rebuild Twins," the other "No More Towers".

ARCHIVED: NY Daily News: "Voice of the People"



July 18, 2002

On July 18, the NY Post reported that LMDC's Memorial Promenade which closely resembles the Twin Towers outpaced its nearest competitor in an online poll the paper conducted. However, "if folks who wrote into a forum on The Post's Web site had their way, the Twin Towers would be rebuilt exactly as they were before 9/11- or even larger."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Promenade is People's Choice" by William J. Gorta

On July 18, the NY Post also reported that New Yorkers are split evenly over whether to build on the Twin Towers' footprints, which many consider to be sacred ground.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "City Split on Redeveloping Sacred Ground" by William J. Gorta

On July 18, the Amsterdam News ran "The World Trade Center: Brick-by-Brick is OK too -- Just Do It," in which they advocated for rebuilding the Twin Towers.

ARCHIVED: NY Amsterdam News: "The World Trade Center: Brick-by-Brick is OK too -- Just Do It" by Wilbert A. Tatum, Publisher Emeritus, Chairman of the Board

Finally, on July 18, the NY Post also ran this editorial, "Reach for the Sky" in which they openly support rebuilding the Twin Towers, and the Port Authority's right to earn income from them.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Editorial: "Reach for the Sky"



July 16, 2002

On July 16, the NY Post reported that the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has released its six plans for rebuilding on the WTC site. Almost all of them feature Larry Silverstein's proposed memorial tower of 110 stories, of which 70 would be occupied. Memorial space ranges from four to roughly 10 acres, depending on the plan. Three plans call for building on part of the South Tower's footprint. Almost all of the plans call for restoring Greenwich St.; and a transit hub between Greenwich and Church Streets, near Fulton Street.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "WTC Skyscraper Plan" by Maggie Haberman

Lower Manhattan Development Corporation -- Plans Posted Here



July 14, 2002

On July 14, the desire to rebuild made the front page of the NY Post, as shown in the photo above. Several stories appeared on pages four and five. Team Twin Towers was featured in "2 Thoughts on Twin Towers". Yankee Manager, Joe Torre ("Torre" in Spanish translates to: "Tower"), said, "I'd like to see the buildings go back up, but have them incorporate a memorial park in and around it," he said. "To me, you put them back up in the same spot to show the world that we're fighting back and won't have others change what we do." Independence Day Star Bill Pullman, meanwhile said, the new buildings should have an even "bigger presence."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "2 Thoughts on Twin Towers" by ANDY GELLER, GEORGE KING, KIRAN RANDHAWA and STEFAN C. FRIEDMAN

On July 14, NY Post Columnist, Steve Cuozzo, wrote, "Onward & Upward! Let's Reach for the Stars" in which he made a sound endorsement for rebuilding the Twin Towers. "BRING back the Twin Towers, all 110 stories of them! And throw in an extra foot or two for good measure," he said. "The idea of a building as tall as the WTC, much less two of them, is summarily rejected as impractical, too expensive, and - dumbest and most defeatist of all - an invitation to terrorists to strike again. The malarkey machine would have us believe that after Sept. 11, no one will want to work or live at the top of a 110-story skyscraper," Cuozzo added. "Pity the downtown planners. For all its faults, the World Trade Center is one tough act to follow. But nobody said it would be easy. Heal the aching wound in our sky!"

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Onward & Upward! Let's Reach for the Stars," by Steven Cuozzo, NY Post Columnist



July 10, 2002

On July 10, the NY Post reported that the LMDC revised blueprint is being heavily criticized, for while it calls for restoration of all office space lost on September 11, doing so with shorter buildings would "create a cramped trade center with little open space."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Critics say 'Different' WTC Plans are all Alike," by William Neuman



July 9, 2002

On July 9, the NY Post reported that the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has released its long-awaited blueprint for rebuilding. In response to calls for rebuilding, the blueprint addresses repairing the skyline lost on September 11. The LMDC blueprint is in .pdf format. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, click the Adobe Acrobat graphic to obtain it.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Reach for the Sky: WTC Planners," by William Neuman

ARCHIVED: LMDC Revised Blueprint



July 8, 2002

On July 8, the NY Post ran five Letters to the Editor harshly criticizing both demands by some survivor groups not to rebuild and NYS Governor Patkaki's promise to acede to those demands.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion: "Where's the 'Vision' in Ground Zero Planning?"



July 7, 2002

On July 7, the NY Times reported that preliminary land use plans will be shown at the Federal Hall National Memorial at Wall and Nassau Streets from July 22, through the first week of September. Plan renderings will be left in the Rotunda, and visitors will be able leave written comments. George Washington was inaugurated at Federal Hall; Congress adopted the Bill of Rights there when New York City was the nation's capital; and the building was the US Customs House, prior to Customs relocating to 6 WTC, which was destroyed in the September 11 attack.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Some Visions of Recovery in a Bastion of History," by David Dunlap



July 3, 2002

On July 3, NY Newsday ran this column, titled "Promise Pataki Can't Keep," by Dennis Duggan, in which he detailed how the Governor is backing away from his original statements. "It was dangerous for him to say that to the families," said Douglas Muzzio, a political analyst and political science professor at Baruch. "They will never let him forget that promise."

Pataki's communications director, Michael McKeown, tried to orchestrate Pataki's retreat yesterday, saying his boss "wants to be respectful of the process and he wants to have an open and inclusive discussion."

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday; "Promise Pataki Can't Keep," by Dennis Duggan



July 2, 2002

Over the June 28 - 30 weekend, NY State Governor George Pataki vowed to victims families that no commercial space would be built on the Twin Towers' footprints. NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, responded that no decision should be made about a suitable Ground Zero memorial without "a good deal of public consideration." On July 2, the NY Post ran this editorial supporting Speaker Sheldon Silver's views. The editorial added, "Suggesting to the families that they, and they alone, will decide what is built on Ground Zero may be good politics, but it's bad government....The events of 9/11 were an attack on the entire city, not just on those who died in the World Trade Center."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Silver's Sterling Stance"
Also, on July 2, the NY Post reported that the City of New York formally returned control of the WTC site to its owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This move means the land has officially transitioned from crime/disaster scene to construction site.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Ground Zero Formally Returned to PA", by William Neuman

Archived News -- July 2002

Note: New York Times articles require free registration and login prior to access



July 27, 2002

On July 27, the NY Post dedicated its Saturday "Letters to the Editor" to the subject of what should be built at the WTC site. Out of today's run of 10 letters nine supported rebuilding.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Letters: "You Make the Call: What Should Rise at Ground Zero?"



July 26, 2002

On July 26, the NY Post ran this editorial, "Bothing the Rebuild", which emphasized the importance of looking into the future from a long-term perspective and revitalizing Lower Manhatttan's commerce.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion: "Botching the Rebuild"

The NY Post also reported that two of the six LMDC plans were released despite being dis-approved by senior LMDC officials. Two of the LMDC-approved designs, one by Larry Silverstein and the other by Brookfield Properties (owners of the World Financial Center) were scuttled in favor of Memorial Garden and Memorial Plaza.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Low marks," by Maggie Haberman and William Neuman



July 25, 2002

On July 25, the NY Post ran "Bring Back Our Towers" by Nicole Gelinas who works half a block away from the WTC site. Her article confronted many "conventional widsoms" and emotional arguments against rebuilding.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion: "Bring Back Our Towers", by Nicole Gelinas

In other news, the NY Post reported that the LMDC's proposals are on display at Federal Hall and are receiving the same reviews as at the Listening to the City Events.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Visitors Look Down on 3-D Models of Initial Six Designs", by Maggie Haberman

Meanwhile, the NY Daily News reported that re-construction of the 1/9 subway tunnel that runs through the WTC site will be complete by mid-September ahead of schedule. This will permit the 1, 2, 3, and 9 lines to resume normal service, except that the Cortlandt St. stop will be bypassed. The N/R Cortlandt St. stop is expected to re-open however.

ARCHIVED: NY Daily News: "Subway Fix-Up Makes Tracks", by Elizabeth O'Brien and Pete Donohue



July 23, 2002

On July 23, the NY Post ran a column by Andrea Peyser and a half-page editorial supporting rebuilding and the need for restoring commercial space.

ARCHIVED: NY Post News Columnists: "Downtown's Demand: Rebuild Our Businesses", by Andrea Peyser

ARCHIVED: NY Post Editorial: "The Hole-in-the-Ground Gang"

On July 23, the NY Post also ran an article detailing the possibilities of either re-negotiating or cancelling Silverstein's leasehold on the WTC site. The deal brings in $124 million per year for the Port Authority. Cancelling the lease would open further issues with Silverstein's insurance settlements.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Builder Could Get Boot," by William Neuman and Maggie Haberman



July 22, 2002

On July 22, the New York Post ran nine letters to the editor advocating the rebuilding of the Twin Towers.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Letters: "New Yorkers Not Happy With Rebuilding Proposals"



July 20 - 21, 2002

Team Twin Towers' pro-rebuilding message was widely and well received at Listening to the City II, held today at New York City's Javits Convention Center.

Photos of Team Twin Towers members at the event are online.

The No. 1 Complaint: "Schemes are not ambitious enough -- buildings are too short. Nothing here is truly monumental. Looks like Albany."

Press mentions of Team Twin Towers appear below. Check back frequently as updates come in.

The principal press mention is this Associated Press story which first appeared in the NY Post. It was later picked up by the Chicago Tribune, Yahoo! and sfgate.com. This article will likely appear in newspapers all over the world.

NY Post: "New Yorkers Mull WTC Development" by Katherine Roth, Associated Press Writer has been archived.

Other articles supporting rebuilding were published and are listed below:

ARCHIVED: Newark Star Ledger: "WTC Plans Don't Stack Up Many Say" by Jeff Diamant

ARCHIVED: Boston Globe: "WTC Meeting Draws Many Faces, Ideas" by Fred Kaplan

ARCHIVED: NY Daily News: "Plans for WTC Ripped, So Back to the Drawing Board" by Greg Gittrich

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "Forum on WTC Designs: Try Again" by Bobby Cuza

ARCHIVED: Reuters: "New Yorkers Oppose New Trade Center Plans" by Bernie Woodall



July 19, 2002

On July 19, the NY Post ran this guest editorial supporting the rebuilding of the Twin Towers by Sherri R. Tracinski, who writes for the Ayn Rand Foundation. She gives several historical examples of rebuilding, noting that we should follow these examples -- not adopt an attitude of resignation and passivity.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "To Greater Heights" by Sherri R. Tracinski

On July 19, the NY Daily News ran two letters to the editor which support rebuilding the Twin Towers. One was titled "Rebuild Twins," the other "No More Towers".

ARCHIVED: NY Daily News: "Voice of the People"



July 18, 2002

On July 18, the NY Post reported that LMDC's Memorial Promenade which closely resembles the Twin Towers outpaced its nearest competitor in an online poll the paper conducted. However, "if folks who wrote into a forum on The Post's Web site had their way, the Twin Towers would be rebuilt exactly as they were before 9/11- or even larger."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Promenade is People's Choice" by William J. Gorta

On July 18, the NY Post also reported that New Yorkers are split evenly over whether to build on the Twin Towers' footprints, which many consider to be sacred ground.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "City Split on Redeveloping Sacred Ground" by William J. Gorta

On July 18, the Amsterdam News ran "The World Trade Center: Brick-by-Brick is OK too -- Just Do It," in which they advocated for rebuilding the Twin Towers.

ARCHIVED: NY Amsterdam News: "The World Trade Center: Brick-by-Brick is OK too -- Just Do It" by Wilbert A. Tatum, Publisher Emeritus, Chairman of the Board

Finally, on July 18, the NY Post also ran this editorial, "Reach for the Sky" in which they openly support rebuilding the Twin Towers, and the Port Authority's right to earn income from them.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Editorial: "Reach for the Sky"



July 16, 2002

On July 16, the NY Post reported that the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has released its six plans for rebuilding on the WTC site. Almost all of them feature Larry Silverstein's proposed memorial tower of 110 stories, of which 70 would be occupied. Memorial space ranges from four to roughly 10 acres, depending on the plan. Three plans call for building on part of the South Tower's footprint. Almost all of the plans call for restoring Greenwich St.; and a transit hub between Greenwich and Church Streets, near Fulton Street.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "WTC Skyscraper Plan" by Maggie Haberman

Lower Manhattan Development Corporation -- Plans Posted Here



July 14, 2002

On July 14, the desire to rebuild made the front page of the NY Post, as shown in the photo above. Several stories appeared on pages four and five. Team Twin Towers was featured in "2 Thoughts on Twin Towers". Yankee Manager, Joe Torre ("Torre" in Spanish translates to: "Tower"), said, "I'd like to see the buildings go back up, but have them incorporate a memorial park in and around it," he said. "To me, you put them back up in the same spot to show the world that we're fighting back and won't have others change what we do." Independence Day Star Bill Pullman, meanwhile said, the new buildings should have an even "bigger presence."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "2 Thoughts on Twin Towers" by ANDY GELLER, GEORGE KING, KIRAN RANDHAWA and STEFAN C. FRIEDMAN

On July 14, NY Post Columnist, Steve Cuozzo, wrote, "Onward & Upward! Let's Reach for the Stars" in which he made a sound endorsement for rebuilding the Twin Towers. "BRING back the Twin Towers, all 110 stories of them! And throw in an extra foot or two for good measure," he said. "The idea of a building as tall as the WTC, much less two of them, is summarily rejected as impractical, too expensive, and - dumbest and most defeatist of all - an invitation to terrorists to strike again. The malarkey machine would have us believe that after Sept. 11, no one will want to work or live at the top of a 110-story skyscraper," Cuozzo added. "Pity the downtown planners. For all its faults, the World Trade Center is one tough act to follow. But nobody said it would be easy. Heal the aching wound in our sky!"

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Onward & Upward! Let's Reach for the Stars," by Steven Cuozzo, NY Post Columnist



July 10, 2002

On July 10, the NY Post reported that the LMDC revised blueprint is being heavily criticized, for while it calls for restoration of all office space lost on September 11, doing so with shorter buildings would "create a cramped trade center with little open space."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Critics say 'Different' WTC Plans are all Alike," by William Neuman



July 9, 2002

On July 9, the NY Post reported that the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has released its long-awaited blueprint for rebuilding. In response to calls for rebuilding, the blueprint addresses repairing the skyline lost on September 11. The LMDC blueprint is in .pdf format. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, click the Adobe Acrobat graphic to obtain it.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Reach for the Sky: WTC Planners," by William Neuman

ARCHIVED: LMDC Revised Blueprint



July 8, 2002

On July 8, the NY Post ran five Letters to the Editor harshly criticizing both demands by some survivor groups not to rebuild and NYS Governor Patkaki's promise to acede to those demands.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion: "Where's the 'Vision' in Ground Zero Planning?"



July 7, 2002

On July 7, the NY Times reported that preliminary land use plans will be shown at the Federal Hall National Memorial at Wall and Nassau Streets from July 22, through the first week of September. Plan renderings will be left in the Rotunda, and visitors will be able leave written comments. George Washington was inaugurated at Federal Hall; Congress adopted the Bill of Rights there when New York City was the nation's capital; and the building was the US Customs House, prior to Customs relocating to 6 WTC, which was destroyed in the September 11 attack.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Some Visions of Recovery in a Bastion of History," by David Dunlap



July 3, 2002

On July 3, NY Newsday ran this column, titled "Promise Pataki Can't Keep," by Dennis Duggan, in which he detailed how the Governor is backing away from his original statements. "It was dangerous for him to say that to the families," said Douglas Muzzio, a political analyst and political science professor at Baruch. "They will never let him forget that promise."

Pataki's communications director, Michael McKeown, tried to orchestrate Pataki's retreat yesterday, saying his boss "wants to be respectful of the process and he wants to have an open and inclusive discussion."

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday; "Promise Pataki Can't Keep," by Dennis Duggan



July 2, 2002

Over the June 28 - 30 weekend, NY State Governor George Pataki vowed to victims families that no commercial space would be built on the Twin Towers' footprints. NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, responded that no decision should be made about a suitable Ground Zero memorial without "a good deal of public consideration." On July 2, the NY Post ran this editorial supporting Speaker Sheldon Silver's views. The editorial added, "Suggesting to the families that they, and they alone, will decide what is built on Ground Zero may be good politics, but it's bad government....The events of 9/11 were an attack on the entire city, not just on those who died in the World Trade Center."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Silver's Sterling Stance"
Also, on July 2, the NY Post reported that the City of New York formally returned control of the WTC site to its owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This move means the land has officially transitioned from crime/disaster scene to construction site.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Ground Zero Formally Returned to PA", by William Neuman