Mr. Ward "Tear Down that Wall"

Under the category of it can’t get any worse the Port Authority and Larry Silverstein are arguing over whether the land at Ground Zero has actually been turned over to Silverstein.

The argument is over a steel and wooden retaining wall on the property.

Knowing Mr. Silverstein’s track record along with the PA’s dreadful history it appears that he will win this battle as well.

When all is said in done he will wind up not having to pay almost any rent on the property this year.

The rent for the year is $78 million and as of Monday the PA had already paid $44 million in late penalties ($300,000 a day)

If the PA keeps giving him non compliance excuses not to accept the property and he can hold out till the end of the year he would save himself another $26 million.

So he will wind up only having to pay $8 million of the original $78 million rent.

Not a bad deal but typical of the Port Authority.

Don’t you think that with something of this magnitude there should have been clearly defined parameters as to what was needed to complete the PA’s responsibility?

“BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”

As with almost everything else at Ground Zero schedules and responsibilities and agreements are always moving targets.

Whether it was with the recovery effort, the identification of remains or the memorial everything was done behind closed doors with timelines and definitions of responsibility changed when it suited those in charge.

Never a comprehensive plan while all the while claiming an open and transparent process.

Isn’t it ironic that after the Port Authority and the LMDC has thrown up walls to block all of our concerns over the past 7 years that a wall is coming back to bite them in the rear.

So instead of just taking down the wall they would rather argue and pay $300,000 a day.

To this we would like to paraphrase Ronald Reagan and say “Mr. Ward, Tear Down That Wall”

So we can get to the next delay……….