I want to thank each of you who submitted comments to the LMDC. We had a great response. A special thanks to Monica, Anthony, Patricia and Edie Lutnick for their contributions. Last week concerns about the safety and security of the Freedom Tower came to light along with the resignation of Kevin Rampe, President of the LMDC. As a result, several articles and editorials were published that discussed broader concerns related to the Memorial.
Yesterday Governor Pataki announced John Cahill will oversee the rebuilding of Ground Zero. We are hopeful that Mr. Cahill will provide the necessary oversight and be available to meet with the families to discuss the numerous issues that the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has neglected to address.
Unresolved issues include:
- preservation and direct access to the bedrock footprints of both buildings. The footprints of both buildings should be a place to reflect within the memorial, not a museum display. The footprints should be readily accessible to the families without traveling through the museum.
- alphabetical listing of victims' names
- individual markers for each victim
- incorporation of pictures of the all the victims in the memorial
- return of our loved ones remains from Freshkills to the WTC site for an appropriate burial
- proposed decrease of entrance and exit ramps from 4 to 2
I was disheartened yesterday to hear the Governor speak about his top 4 priorities as rebuilding and transportation projects, the fifth and last the Memorial. We urge Governor Pataki to remember his promise to make the Memorial a priority, which requires getting the design right, not rushing to break ground for political expediency purposes. His leadership is critical to provide the necessary oversight required to maintain the historical integrity of the site where our loved ones perished. Modifications to the original plan and infringements on the space set aside for the memorial must be carefully scrutinized and transparent. The inclusion of additional streets, a bus depot, additional commercial space and infrastructure in the area set aside for the Memorial is unacceptable. Security of the site must be a priority. I encourage each of you to continue to voice your concerns to ensure that the World Trade Center Memorial meets the needs of our families. The site where our loved ones died must be historically protected and treated with respect and dignity. If the Memorial fails, the Governor fails. You may contact the Governor's office by visiting his website.
Warm Regards,
Mary Fetchet
The House of Representatives passed the “Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2005”, and it has now moved to the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs and Homeland Security. This bill (H.R. 1544) seeks to amend the allocation of first responder federal grant funds outlined in the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to allow award grants to be “based on a quantitative assessment of risk for three categories: threat, vulnerability, and consequences”. VOICES is a strong supporter of this bill, which recognizes that funds related to prevention, preparedness and response are a top priority, and must rise above pork-barrel politics. The passage of this bill is critical to the security of high-risk areas, particularly New York. We must ensure that the areas dealing with the highest risk of terrorism be given the appropriate funding needed, and in the unthinkable case of another attack, these areas be sufficiently prepared to respond. As it stands now, the current system of grant distribution does not take these factors into account. Click here to contact your Senator and encourage him/her to ensure this bill is passed... More
We would like to express our sincerest thanks to Dr. Charles Hirsch, CME, and Katie Sullivan, of the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for their tireless work in identifying the remains of our loved ones. We were honored to have Dr. Hirsch and Katie at our Spring Forum to answer questions about the end of the notification process. On behalf of all the 9/11 families, we presented them with a gift to recognize their dedication and high level of respect and empathy in dealing with our families.
We are sad to say that Katie has recently left the Medical Examiner's office to relocate to Virginia. Many of you came to know Katie well in her constant effort to keep family members informed of any updates or identifications. While we will miss her, we wish Katie the best of luck in all her future endeavors, and thank her again for all she has done on behalf of our families.
May 11, 2005
The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, helped redraw the political landscape in America, giving President Bush and the Republicans an advantage over the Democrats... More |
May 9, 2005
It is the deadliest target in a swath of industrial northern New Jersey that terrorism experts call the most dangerous two miles in America... More |
May 6, 2005
As the focus at ground zero has suddenly veered to the Freedom Tower and the rough-and-tumble blame game involving its security redesign, the most vocal members of a powerful constituency... More
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The John “Pepe” Salerno Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring together the 105 children that lost a father on September 11, 2001. For questions regarding sponsorships or donations, call Dina Connelly at (203) 972-8955 or email at JPSFoundation@optonline.net .
May 19, 2005
Type of Event: Golf Outing
Location: The North Hempstead Country Club, Manhasset, NY
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