Archived News -- March 2003

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March 31, 2003

On March 31, the NY Post reported that continuing delays in rebuilding the WTC are threatening imminent financial catastrophe. CEOs of American Express, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of NY complained about the war zone-like atmosphere surrounding the NY Stock Exchange, constant excavations, un-restored street grids, walkways and bridges, and the damaged, shrouded buildings about the WTC site's periphery that seem to be in limbo.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Columnists: "Damage and Delay," by Steve Cuozzo



March 21, 2003

On March 21, NY Newsday, the NY Daily News, and the NY Post reported that the Libeskind plan is going to contract with both the Port Authority and the LMDC. The contract is set to be signed within 30 days. "With respect to the memorial, the cultural district and the public outreach process, the LMDC will take the lead," he said. "With respect to on-site transportation facilities and infrastructure planning the Port Authority will take the lead."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "WTC Bigs Agree on a Hire Power," by William Neuman

NY Daily News: "WTC Design Winner Set to Seal the Deal," by Maggie Haberman

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "Port Authority, LMDC To Retain Libeskind: Groups will jointly sign contract with WTC designer," by Associated Press

On March 21, Reuters reported that Twin Towers leasehold owner Larry Silverstein must submit his insurance claims to process that would result in review by an independent appraiser. This will futher delay resolution of the issue and could result in him receiving $3.5 BN for one event. There is no link to this story.



March 20, 2003

On March 20, the NY Post reported that the mold has been removed out of the Deutsche Bank building damaged during the 9/11 attacks. The building may be repaired, sold as is, or torn down.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "9/11 Bank Breaks Mold," by William Neuman



March 18, 2003

On March 18, NY Newsday reported that FEMA will provide the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey with $92.4 million to help construct the temporary PATH station at the WTC site.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "Feds Give $92M for PATH Station," by Katia Hetter

On March 18, Downtown Express reported that the LMDC is looking to consider planning for downtown areas outside the WTC site and is also still considering who will pay Libeskind, and who will make future decisions about the WTC site.

Downtown Express: "LMDC Looks to Plan the Rest of Downtown," by Josh Rogers



March 14, 2003

On March 14, the NY Times reported that 9/11 cost New York City many more jobs than the 100,000 previously estimated. Over the 18 months that have elapsed since the attack, job losses have reached about 223,000.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Job Losses Since 9/11 Continue to Grow," by Leslie Eaton



March 13, 2003

On March 13, the NY Observer reported that the Bloomberg Administration is still very much intent on taking over the WTC site and removing Larry Silverstein from the process by either buying out his lease or condemning it.

ARCHIVED: NY Observer: "Mike Sees City Taking Control At Ground Zero," by Tom McGeveran

On March 13, the NY Times ran a feature article on the number of memorials already present downtown and the negative effects excessive memorialization of 9/11 could have on Lower Manhattan.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Memorials Proliferate in Crowded Downtown," by Julie Iovine

On March 13, Downtown Express ran an article on 15-year-old Saruh Lacoff, who was present at the CB1 meeting during which the bus garage was hotly debated. Present alone at the hearing, she was intimidated by radical victims' family members who accused Battery Park City residents of wanting to clear the Twin Tower footprints for restaurants. She keeps the shade down on her bedroom window which faces the WTC site. "I usually don't look out my window...I still wake up sometimes and think I'm going to see the South Tower, but it's not there." Regarding the Twin Towers, "I want them back as they originally looked....I want to see the old ones again, but I know that's not possible." Team Twin Towers is working to make that impossible wish possible.

Downtown Express: "One Teen's View of the Bus Debate," by Josh Rogers



March 12, 2003

On March 12, the NY Sun reported that Windows on the World is eager to return to the new WTC. "I'd definitely be interested in creating something like Windows on the World in that space," said owner, David Emil. Twin Towers leasehold owner Larry Silverstein and Emil have discussed the possibility of the restaurant. "Tim Zagat, who publishes the popular "Zagat Survey11 restaurant guide,† told the Sun that opening up a new Windows on the World would be a 'completely natural thing to do,' and he said, 'David Emil would be the appropriate person to rebuild it.'† Mr. Zagat said if New York City really wants to defy the terrorists, it makes sense to create a new restaurant at the rebuilt site. 'The attack that occurred on 9/11 should not be allowed to daunt us in terms of the way we live our lives,' he said. 'If something was worth doing† on 9/10 it's worth doing on 9/12.'"

The NY Sun does not post links to many of its news stories, this being one of them.

On March 12, the NY Times reported that the LMDC is considering entering into a contract with Libeskind as a consultant for the memorial.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Ground Zero Agency Plans to Weigh Libeskind Contract," by Edward Wyatt



March 11, 2003

On March 11, the NY Daily News reported that LMDC Board Member Roland Betts would turn down a leadership position if the agency were stripped of its powers. NY City and State officials are discussing plans for the LMDC's future and the rebuilding process.

NY Daily News: "Bush Pal: I Won't Lead a Weak LMDC," by Maggie Haberman and Greg Gittrich

On March 11, NY Newsday reported that the Port Authority committed to continue working with the LMDC and denied reports that the City wants to usurp the agency's role.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "LMDC's Role Reaffirmed," by Katia Hetter



March 8, 2003

On March 8, the NY Post ran several letters to the editor calling for the Twin Towers to be rebuilt and the Libeskind plan to be discarded. Said one writer, "The only way I would be for having that giant glass needle sticking out of lower Manhattan would be if Osama bin Laden's head were stuck on top of it."

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Letters: "Libeskind's Lack of Vision Must Give Osama bin Laden a Laugh"

On March 8, the NY Times reported that three out of eight mayoral appointees have been consistently absent from LMDC meetings about the WTC site.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Mayoral Appointees Miss Meetings on Ground Zero," by Edward Wyatt



March 7, 2003

On March 7, the NY Post ran a column comparing the Pentagon's memorial selection process to New York City's. "First off, the design wasn't selected until seven full months after the destroyed section of the Pentagon was rebuilt, almost exactly as it was before (a chapel was built at the actual point of impact), and employees returned to work. In other words, in Washington the emphasis was on rebuilding. In New York, the future of Lower Manhattan is driven entirely by the nature of the memorial - a memorial that still threatens to remain an eternal testament to grief and victimization....

...It's a memorial - but not exclusively so. It's dignified and tasteful - without being overbearing. And it reflects both the extent of the tragedy as well as its uniqueness. Certainly not like the permanent pit in the World Trade Center footprints envisioned by the Daniel Libeskind plan that's been chosen for Ground Zero."

Regarding Pentagon families, the columnist wrote, "As in New York, family members of those who died were involved in the selection process. But these families didn't first undertake a cross-country "fact-finding tour" of American memorials. Nor did they demand that their "hallowed ground" remain vacant for generations to come, or insist on a virtual veto power over any final decision."

ARCHIVED: NY Post Op Ed Columnists: "Memorial Lessons," by Eric Fettmann

On March 7, the NY Times reported that the Bloomberg administration continues to seek greater control over the WTC site. This would be done by re-structuring the LMDC to form an advisory committee, which would be exempt from the City's complex public review process.

NY Times: "City is Seeking Bigger Role in Rebuilding," by Edward Wyatt



March 6, 2003

On March 6, the NY Daily News reported that Diane Horning, a victims' family spokesperson and Madelyn Wils, Community Board Chairwoman got into a heated exchange over the proposed bus garage at the WTC site. "said support for the idea was 'callous,' saying the remains of thousands of victims were found below ground." "Wils, who sits on the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. board, shot back that people who live downtown suffered through the attack and its aftermath and that human remains were found in people's homes. 'Would you suggest that we mow down their apartments?' she asked."

NY Daily News: "WTC Kin Look to Ax Bus Garage," by Greg Gittrich and Maggie Haberman



March 5, 2003

On March 5, the NY Daily News reported that even though Kevin Rampe is now the President of the LMDC, the City of New York, has not signed off on his presidency and is still seeking a candidate to lead the LMDC.

NY Daily News: "WTC Rebuild Panel Names a New Prez," by Maggie Haberman

On March 5, the the Washington Post reported that a memorial design has been selected for the Pentagon, which had been rebuilt immediately following the 9/11 attacks. Pentagon officials expect the memorial to be ready by September 11, 2004.

ARCHIVED: Washington Post: "The Pentagon's Path of Memory: 'Light Benches,' Sylvan Setting Honor Those Who Died on 9/11," by Benjamin Forgey



March 4 2003

On March 4, the NY Post ran several Letters to the Editor lambasting the Libeskind plan and calling for the Twin Towers to be rebuilt -- some of which were rather humorous.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Letters: "'PIT'iful: LMDC's Final Choice will Leave Legacy of Despair"



March 3 2003

On March 3, the NY Post ran a column once again lambasting Libeskind's plan and process that brought it about. He regarded the plan as "Beyer Blinder Belle recycled, only with color." The plan is still poor, even though it had been modified somewhat: the spire now has a "110th Fl." restaurant, and the gardens are gone; the exposed bedrock pit has a lawn; the edges of the buildings are smoother; and most importantly, the plan fails to repair our skyline. Regarding memorials, "The proposal calls for a memorial at the southwest corner of the park to come first. (You wonder: If a largely ornamental shaft that would be the world's tallest structure is not itself the memorial, what else would be? How many memorials does Ground Zero need?)"

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Columnists: "The 'Final' WTC Plan: Grade it Zero," by Steve Cuozzo

On March 3, the NY Times ran an article giving a brief history of the political processes surrounding the LMDC. Though TTT was never mentioned, the article recognized that the overwhelming public opinion expressed at LMDC hearings was to rebuild the Twin Towers.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "From Political Calculation, a Sweeping Vision of Ground Zero," by Edward Wyatt