Rebuilding Roundup for Friday, May 7
Governor George Pataki threw his support behind a rail link between lower Manhattan, the Long Island Rail Road, and JFK international airport in a speech on the progress of the rebuilding process this week. Pataki said that he and Mayor Michael Bloomberg want to build a new tunnel under the East River for the rail line, avoiding any interruption of existing service, and possibly providing access for a future 2nd Avenue subway. The Governor mentioned using remaining federal funds to
pay for this tunnel -- which would cost $6 billion -- a plan many remain opposed to.
Pataki also said that that construction on the memorial at Ground Zero will start in 2006, and that a groundbreaking ceremony for the Freedom Tower will take place on July 4 -- ending any remaining speculation about this event taking place during the Republican National Convention.
A midtown public relations firm also said it would became the first private sector tenant for the Freedom Tower this week. But while plans for the Freedom Tower are firming up, the vision for the rest of Ground Zero seems endangered. A court decided that Larry Silverstein, the developer with rights to build at the site, is entitled to billions of dollars less in insurance money than he had hoped for. Several city newspapers speculated on how much this would limit development at Ground Zero; some questioned whether it was an appropriate chance to reassess a flawed plan for the site.
Also this week, a new report said that 9/11 was "the largest acute environmental disaster that ever has befallen New York City," and warned of serious long-term health effects for New Yorkers. The dust from the World Trade Center has lead to mesothelioma, a type of cancer, as well as increased asthma rates, the report said. Ground Zero cleanup workers were most affected, though office workers and residents in lower Manhattan may also be at risk for illness.
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