 |
||
|
|
||
 |
||
 | | | |
|
DESIGN COMPETITION |
|
|
| | | |
|
DONATIONS |
|
|
| | | |
|
QUOTES |
|
|
| | | |
|
ABOUT THE TEAM |
|
|
| | | |
|
HOW TO HELP |
|
|
| | | |
|
F.A.Q. |
|
|
| | | |
|
NEWS |
|
|
| | | |
|
TELL THE WORLD |
|
|
| | | |
|
REBUILD |
|
|
| | | |
|
TWIN TOWERS TALK |
|
|
| | | |
|
PETITION |
|
|
| | | |
|
LINKS |
|
|
| | | |
|
GALLERY |
|
|
| | | |
|
STORE |
|
|
| | | |
|
HALL OF FAME |
|
|
| | | |
|
News and Current Events Note: New York Times and Washington Post articles require free registration and login prior to access
TTT revised its format for news updates. Items that TTT deems to illustrate political blundering, defiance of logic, malfeasance, or non-feasance are flagged "Your Tax Dollars at Work." in the dateline. LIVE -- Millenium Hilton WTC Site Web-Cam This web-cam located atop the Millenium Hilton provides live video of the construction and other goings on inside the WTC site. The camera can be zoomed, panned and tilted online. EarthCam Located atop Millenium Hilton Updated Monthly in Mid-Month The Port Authority posts pictures each month highlighting construction progress at the WTC site. Though TTT obviously does not support the official site plan, these photos are a matter of public record and TTT members should be aware of construction progress the site. PATH Restoration WTC Site Construction Progress Photos September 10, 2007 On September 10, 2007, Downtown Express reported that work on the WTC site will likely proceed round the clock to meet a January 1, 2008 deadline to complete a slurry wall that will be used for Towers Two through Four. The Port Authority will have to pay Silverstein Properties, Inc. a $300,000 penalty for each day the slurry wall is delayed beyond that date. Downtown Express: "WTC Work May Go Round the Clock" by Josh Rogers On September 10, 2007, the NY Times reported that NYC fire chiefs admitted to inconsistently inspecting buildings undergoing demolition -- such as Deutsche Bank. NY Times: "Fire Chiefs Say Inspection Rules Defy Reality" by Al Baker September 9, 2007 On September 10, 2007, the NY Times reported that Lower Manhattan is enjoying a revival as a mixed use area -- and office space -- once regarded as being a "glut" "now in short supply, is renting for more than it did pre-9/11." NY Times: "Near Ground Zero, a Mixed Use Revival" by Patrick McGeehan September 5, 2007 On September 5, 2007, Tom Topousis of the NY Post reported on the accelerated construction progress at the WTC site. Freedom Towers' steel base has reached street level. Most of the concrete footings are in place for the memorial and museum and the transit hub is under way. NY Post: "Ground 'Zero to 60'" by Tom Topousis August 30, 2007 -- Your Tax Dollars at Work On August 30, 2007, Steve Cuozzo of the NY Post wrote a column questioning the whereabouts of Charles Maikish, the normally media-loving project manager for the Deutsche Bank demolition. "Maikish, former executive director of the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center, has gone underground. There's no record of him having spoken to the press since the fire, despite innumerable attempts by The Post and other media organizations to interview him." Yet, "[F]or two years, Maikish was the chattiest of Ground Zero redevelopment officials, bulldozing his way into every media organ that would listen, churning up a parade of puff pieces a Hollywood starlet would envy." On August 30, 2007, Steve Dunleavy of the NY Post reported that firefighters were directed to not inspect the Deutsche Bank building -- in violation of the 2005 memo -- because the building was a dangerous "moldy hell." NY Post Columnists: "'We were told: Don't go in' that moldy hell" by Steve Dunleavy On August 30, 2007, the NY Times reported that a contractor -- Chris Bernardi, "president of North American Site Developers Inc." (NASDI) -- who would have been demolishing the Deutsche Bank building had received a threat to stay out of NYC. The FBI investigated the threat, NASDI withdrew, and the John Galt Corporation ultimately got the job. NY Times: "Threat Seen in History of Demolition" by William K. Rashbaum and Charles V. Bagli August 29, 2007 -- Your Tax Dollars at Work On August 29, 2007, The NY Times wrote an article detailing the poor performance of NYC and NYS officials in handling the Deutsche bank site. The LMDC had owned the building for over three years. "But for at least 30 months, New York City officials have themselves played a role alongside first the Pataki and now the Spitzer administration in helping to determine how the contaminated 41-story building at 130 Liberty St. was to be demolished, who was to do the work, how much they would be paid and, ultimately, whether the companies hired for the job were reputable firms." August 28, 2007 -- Your Tax Dollars at Work On August 28, 2007, The NY Post reported that three senior fire command officers were re-assigned to desk jobs due to FDNY failures to inspect the building every two weeks. August 27, 2007 -- Your Tax Dollars at Work On August 27, 2007, 1010 WINS reported that cigarette smoking on the job site was the ruled proximate cause of the Deutsche Bank fire that broke out on August 18, 2007, killing two firefighters. 1010 WINS: "Mayor: Workers' Careless Smoking Caused WTC Tower Blaze" by Associated Press On August 27, 2007, the NY Post reported that the NY Fire Department had a memorandum that served as a plan to fight fires in the Deutsche Bank building, but that memo was ignored. August 23, 2007 -- Your Tax Dollars at Work On August 23, 2007, 1010 WINS reported that a pallet jack fell from the 23rd floor of the Deutsche Bank building onto a construction shed, injuring two firefighters "just before 2 PM." 1010 WINS: "Equipment Falls off WTC Building; 2 Firefighters Injured" On August 23, 2007, the NY Daily News reported that a former supervisor at the Deutsche Bank demolition site informed his superiors of rampant on-the-job drinking and smoking, including a location where liquor was stored referred to as "Teddy's Tavern." Contractor John Galt Corporation, had done nothing about these safety violations according to the former employee. NY Daily News: "Ex-Demolition Boss: 'I Warned of Safety Lapses'" by Alison Gendar On August 23, 2007, the NY Post reported that the NYC Fire Department never had a plan for fighting the Deutsche Bank fire that broke out on August 18th, killing two firefighters. On August 23, 2007, the NY Times did an expose on the John Galt Corporation and the shadowy dealings pertaining to the demolition of the Deutsche Bank Building. August 21, 2007 On August 21, 2007, the NY Post reported that the contractors who are dismantling the Deutesche Bank building may face negligent homicide charges stemming out of a seven-alarm fire in the building on August 18 that killed two firefighters by smoke inhalation. A section of standpipe lied uselessly on the floor. The fire broke out on the 17th floor and firefighters learned they were without water 14 floors up as their breathable air began to run out and their radios proved ineffective. The fire originated on the 17th floor Albany Street side where workers often gathered to smoke -- against work rules. June 22, 2007 On June 22, 2007, Steve Cuozzo of the NY Post reported that JP Morgan Chase's new headquarters is to be a 42-story building with floors 12 to 19 protruding like a "beer belly" over the rebuilt St. Nicholas church below. While most of the building would have 32,000-square foot floors, the cantilevered floors would be 50,800 and 55,900 square feet. A park is to go where the church originally was. The story was also reported by Matthew Scheurman of the NY Observer. The JP Morgan Chase building is to replace the Deutsche Bank building currently being de-constructed. NY Post: "What a ZERO! JP Morgan plans hideous 'beer belly' tower at WTC," by Steve Cuozzo NY Observer: "Chase tower to shadow church" by Matthew Scheurman June 15, 2007 On June 15, 2007, the NY Sun ran a column by Alicia Colon in which she compared the rebuilding of the Pentagon to the goings on at the WTC site and indicated that we should have the resolve to follow in the footsteps of the Pentagon's Phoenix Project that was led by Lee Evey. As is well-known, the Pentagon was rebuilt along with a memorial nearly four years ago. The article interviewed the principals of Twin Towers Alliance. Please go to Digg.com do a search on "alicia colon" and digg this article. Note that Digg.com requires free registration. NY Sun: "A Bigger, Better Ground Zero," by Alicia Colon On June 15, 2007, the NY Daily News reported that JP Morgan Chase has received a 25-year $235 million "tax incentive and subsidy package" to build a skyscraper at the WTC site. June 1, 2007 On June 1, 2007, AM New York reported that de-construction of the Deutsche Bank Building has resumed. Demolition was temporarily halted when a pipe fell from the building through the roof of an adjacent firehouse. The 40-story Deutsche Bank has been de-constructed to 36 floors. AM New York: WTC skyscraper work resumes 2 weeks after pipe fell on firehouse May 24, 2007 On May 24, 2007, Scott Raab of Esquire Magazine reported that the Port Authority "quietly renamed" Freedom Tower "One World Trade Center." A visit to building architect Skidmore, Owings and Merrill's website confirms the name change; however, as of June 1, 2007, Silverstein Properties, Inc. is still referring to the building as "Freedom Tower" on its main and WTC-specific websites. The Port Authority is also still referring to the building as "Freedom Tower" on its websites, as are New York State and New York City websites such as Lower Manhattan.info. Esquire: The Steel, by Scott Raab Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP: World Trade Center Tower One On May 24, 2007, Charles V. Bagli of the NY Times reported that Silverstein Properties, Inc. settled with all its remaining insurers regarding coverage of the damage done on 9/11. Silverstein had been asserting that the attacks were two occurrences, not one. The final settlement gives Silverstein Properties, Inc. $4.55 billion in coverage -- more than the $3 billion the developer would have gotten for a single occurance, but less than the $7 billion being sought. NY Times: Insurers Agree to Pay Billions at Ground Zero, by Charles V. Bagli May 21, 2007 -- Your Tax Dollars At Work On May 21, AM New York reported that the LMDC is back in business to focus on "making sure the hundreds of millions of dollars it has pledged to the site are well spent, its new leaders say." The LMDC's new president is David Emil, the former owner of Windows on the World. Among the items on the LMDC's agenda is considering one of 10 sites in which to move and store the "survivor's staircase." TTT Opinion: Our tax dollars would be best spent demolishing this worthless hunk of a staircase and dumping it in the ocean to build an artificial reef. The staircase has absolutely no value as a 9/11 artifact; it will only delay and increase the cost of rebuilding the site. Though TTT does not support the project currently being built at the WTC site, we find the staircase non-issue all the more ridiculous. It survived 9/11 and was damaged during clean-up. Another suggestion: those who value the staircase so much are free to buy a plot of land pay the millions of dollars it would cost to store it there. AM New York: WTC Rebuilding Agency Back in Business, Monitors Ground Zero Cash, by Amy Westfeldt May 17, 2007 On May 17, 2007 Lower Manhattan.info reported that de-construction of the Deutsche Bank building is on hold, pending a New York City Department of Buildings investigation into why a steel pipe fell through the roof of the firehouse next door during demolition. The building at 130 Liberty Street had been de-constructed to the 36th floor. Lower Manhattan.info: Project Updates -- 130 Liberty St. (Former Deutsche Bank Building) May 1, 2007 On May 1, 2007, Etta Sanders reported on a progress meeting Larry Silverstein held with Foster, Maki, and Rogers, the architects of three builings under construction on the eastern side of the WTC site. Tribeca Tribune: Silverstein Eyes Progress on His Towers, by Etta Sanders April 27, 2007 On April 27, 2007, Tom Knapp profiled Greiner Industries, which is manufacturing the beams and columns to be used in the below-grade structure of Freedom Tower. Greiner is a sub-contractor to Tishman Construction Corporation, the general contractor on the Freedom Tower. Lancaster Intelligencer Journal: Firm Supports Freedom in N.Y., by Tom Knapp On April 27, 2007, Amy Westfeldt summarized events at the WTC site a year since "an agreement was hammered out that ended a months-long stalemate about how to divide power and money to rebuild." AMNY: A Year after Ground Zero Stalemate, Steel Rising at WTC Site, by Amy Westfeldt April 17, 2007 On April 17, 2007, Tom Topousis of the NY Post reported that the temporary PATH train entrance on Church St. will be replaced by another temporary entrance on Vesey Street. The Church St. entrance is being dismantled, so that the Foster, Rogers, and Maki buildings can be constructed. NY Post: Pathway to WTC Unveiled, by Tom Topousis April 10, 2007 -- Your Tax Dollars At Work On April 10, 2007, Steve Cuozzo of the NY Post reported that news of Governor Spitzer approving Freedom Tower was leaked to Chinese real estate developer Vantone, prior to this information becoming public knowledge. NY Post Opinion Columnists: A Leak to China, by Steve Cuozzo On April 10, 2007, the NY Post Editorial Board questioned Governor Spitzer's sincerity that he was going to reform Albany's ways in the wake of the Pataki administration. Though not directly related to the WTC site, the editorial board is concerned that Spitzer is simply carrying on Pataki's prior practices rather than changing them as he promised in his campaign April 3, 2007 -- Your Tax Dollars At Work On April 3, 2007, NY Metro reported that NY State plans to spend between $1 and $2.5 million to move a 175-ton staircase remnant known as "Survivor's Staircase" to a portion of southern Battery Park City where a public school is to be built. NY Metro: Flap over "Survivor's Staircase" March 23, 2007 On March 23, 2007, the NY Sun reported that real estate developer Vornado met with Silverstein Properties during 2006 to discuss the possibility of Vornado buying Silverstein's leasehold. The discussions were very preliminary in nature and were held because real estate values are rising in lower Manhattan. NY Sun: Big Developers Covet a Piece of Ground Zero, by David Lombino March 15, 2007 On March 15, 2007, the Lower Manhattan Command Center reported that de-construction of the Deutsche Bank building (130 Liberty St) began. (As of early April most of the building's roof is gone). The building was damaged during the 9/11 attacks when pieces of the falling Tower 2 (South Tower) tore a gash in the building's front permitting the growth of toxic mold. Following 9/11 two insurers agreed to demolition, two insisted on repair, the matter was litigated and the LMDC bought the building. After a series of fits and starts, de-construction is finally in progress. Lower Manhattan: 130 Liberty Street December 19, 2006 On December 19, 2006, the first steel column for Freedom Tower was erected; six more were erected by December 31, 2006. Port Authority of NY and NJ: First Steel Columns for the Freedom Tower Raised Go to News Archives |