It was announced this week that the families will be allowed once again to descend the ramp into the pit at ground Zero probably for the last time on 9/11.
Compared to what we had to go through last year this came as very good news and I was tempted to think “maybe things are finally changing”.
But then the cynical side of me thinks no they are just throwing us a bone to make up for the delays and overspending made public over the last month.
No matter how hard I try to believe the sour taste of all the paste lies still remains and I just can’t.
Just today a reminder that the mismanagement at Ground Zero continues despite what the Mayor, Governor or Port Authority say appeared in a barely covered story in our local papers.
If you didn’t look you probably didn’t notice but the “Survivor’s Staircase” was moved yet again.
Now those in charge would say it had to be moved because of ongoing construction.
But common sense would ask why it was originally moved to a location where they knew construction was going to take place.
The current move at considerable expense just goes to show that there is no real plan for if there was the staircase would not have been moved until its final resting place was ready.
The cynical albeit logical side of me sees that waste and showmanship continue to be the order of business at Ground Zero.
As much as I like Billy Crystal wouldn’t it have made sense to put additional family members, particularly those who have shown continued concern for the goings on at Ground Zero, on the Board?
But it will always be about raising money rather than improving content.
Hey we are going to need it when we have to move the staircase again.
But the memorial will be ready for the 10th Anniversary.
Every time I look at the site and see the Deutsche Bank Building still standing I think how can I believe that the memorial will be complete if they cannot even dismantle a building.
But maybe that’s just me.
Dennis
P.S. Still no response from anyone regarding the Hearts and Hands Memorial.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
POLITENGLISH AT GROUND ZERO
Just last week the Executive Director of the Port Authority and Governor Paterson stated that things are going to change at Ground Zero.
They were going to re-evaluate and keep a close eye on everything that is going on.
Fast forward to today's New York Post where they are reporting that a former MTA executive who was fined for taking $10,000 in gifts from a contractor and forced to resign is now being hired by the Port Authority as a $115 consultant to work at Ground Zero. ($239,200 a year)
He will be consulting on the WTC transit hub.
But it gets better.
The same company that gave these gifts to him while he was at the MTA is currently under contract to work on the same project.
what does the Port Authority have to say about this?
The PA insists that "the highest safety, integrity and ethical standards are in place at the WTC site"
With the economy in the state that it is in does anyone believe that there was not anyone else available for this position?
Does the Port Authority even know the definition of of integrity and ethical?
We already know that they have a problem with the word safety.
But that is a whole other story (NYC Building and Fire Codes non existent at WTC)
So we once again have to deal with the "politenglish"
For those not familiar with the term "politenglish" is the language that politicians use.
Perfected by their spin doctors it manages to hold them blameless when things go wrong and only accountable on the rare occasion when something goes right.
But as Charles De Gaulle said "Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word"
It will be interesting to see just how they will spin this.
And you wonder why we need a political pre-nup.
They were going to re-evaluate and keep a close eye on everything that is going on.
Fast forward to today's New York Post where they are reporting that a former MTA executive who was fined for taking $10,000 in gifts from a contractor and forced to resign is now being hired by the Port Authority as a $115 consultant to work at Ground Zero. ($239,200 a year)
He will be consulting on the WTC transit hub.
But it gets better.
The same company that gave these gifts to him while he was at the MTA is currently under contract to work on the same project.
what does the Port Authority have to say about this?
The PA insists that "the highest safety, integrity and ethical standards are in place at the WTC site"
With the economy in the state that it is in does anyone believe that there was not anyone else available for this position?
Does the Port Authority even know the definition of of integrity and ethical?
We already know that they have a problem with the word safety.
But that is a whole other story (NYC Building and Fire Codes non existent at WTC)
So we once again have to deal with the "politenglish"
For those not familiar with the term "politenglish" is the language that politicians use.
Perfected by their spin doctors it manages to hold them blameless when things go wrong and only accountable on the rare occasion when something goes right.
But as Charles De Gaulle said "Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word"
It will be interesting to see just how they will spin this.
And you wonder why we need a political pre-nup.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
It's Time For A Political Pre-Nup
If the events of the past few years have proven anything it is that we have once again allowed the political machine to get completely out of control.
Politicians and their staffs and appointees are held completely blameless for their indiscretions and even their crimes.
The courts have continued to show little backbone and have protected their political allies with decisions that have basically allowed elected officials and their representatives to walk away from situations that would have placed the common person behind bars.
Now let me say that I am not talking about every politician, but there are enough of them out there to give them all a bad name.
Something needs to be done because even when they are caught they are allowed to walk away with there pensions and there ill gotten gains and wind up as lobbyists or the like and are allowed to profit even more.
If you took a poll of whom people distrust the most it would probably be a toss up between politicians and lawyers.
Even Ronald Regan said “Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first”.
Here is our solution.
We would like to require every elected official and government employee to sign a political pre-nuptial agreement.
Consider it an insurance policy protecting us from what they might do to us in the position of power in which we are placing them.
Based on past performance there is a very good chance that some of them will do things that will negatively impact us and our families.
It’s very simple.
They sign this pre-nup which states that if they are forced from their positions due to illegal or improper behavior they will give up any claim to any pensions or benefits that they may be entitled to.
And they agree to pay back any monies that may have been illegally gained without dispute.
Now any honest politician should have no problem signing this agreement.
It would be interesting to see if any actually would.
Maybe it should at least be a question during the campaign but it should be a requirement of any government employee especially in a system where even office workers are capable of stealing millions.
Just a thought.
Politicians and their staffs and appointees are held completely blameless for their indiscretions and even their crimes.
The courts have continued to show little backbone and have protected their political allies with decisions that have basically allowed elected officials and their representatives to walk away from situations that would have placed the common person behind bars.
Now let me say that I am not talking about every politician, but there are enough of them out there to give them all a bad name.
Something needs to be done because even when they are caught they are allowed to walk away with there pensions and there ill gotten gains and wind up as lobbyists or the like and are allowed to profit even more.
If you took a poll of whom people distrust the most it would probably be a toss up between politicians and lawyers.
Even Ronald Regan said “Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first”.
Here is our solution.
We would like to require every elected official and government employee to sign a political pre-nuptial agreement.
Consider it an insurance policy protecting us from what they might do to us in the position of power in which we are placing them.
Based on past performance there is a very good chance that some of them will do things that will negatively impact us and our families.
It’s very simple.
They sign this pre-nup which states that if they are forced from their positions due to illegal or improper behavior they will give up any claim to any pensions or benefits that they may be entitled to.
And they agree to pay back any monies that may have been illegally gained without dispute.
Now any honest politician should have no problem signing this agreement.
It would be interesting to see if any actually would.
Maybe it should at least be a question during the campaign but it should be a requirement of any government employee especially in a system where even office workers are capable of stealing millions.
Just a thought.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE
Another day and another glaring example of how the recovery effort at Ground Zero has failed us.
The Associated Press reported that a former medical examiner’s office worker was sentenced to 15 years in prison for stealing “at least” $9 million much of which was intended to identify the victims of the 9/11 attacks. The report goes on to say the total was closer to $13 million and that $6 million or less than half has been recovered.
Here are a few questions.
How and why was an office worker authorized to handle such amounts?
How many others (supervisors etc) were involved?
Why are we only hearing about this now as he was arrested in 2005?
Why was this conveniently swept under the carpet when we asked questions about the ME’s Office when the new remains were found?
Does the missing laptop, about which we can get no answers, have any information on it relating to this case?
While we are at it here is something else that people should be looking into.
This money was supposed to be used to buy computer systems to track and identify DNA and other forensic evidence from Ground Zero.
Do you know that there was a computer system designed to link personal items with remains uncovered at Ground Zero?
Do you also know that it is alleged that this system (that would potentially identify additional remains) is not being used because it would show a discrepancy in what has been reported by the NYPD Property Department and what was actually inventoried. (A discrepancy of nearly a million in cash and thousands of personal items).
If there is even the possibility that this is correct shouldn’t there be an outside investigation?
Well we have been asking for an investigation for over two years and have been stonewalled at every turn.
It was also reported that the company hired to do DNA identifications had a spotty history yet their contract was renewed without even a competitive bidding process.
Well we have all seen how well the DNA identifications have been going. (About one every 5 months if we’re lucky)
Again where are the checks and balances?
The same things happened with billions in inappropriate grants and questionable contracts granted after 9/11.
This is just one example. How come they are not investigating the Dunkin Donuts that opened in Phoenix with a 9/11 grant or the TSA contract that was paid to a company that wasn’t even incorporated when it applied and filed for bankruptcy shortly after they received hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Audit reports have documented all of these yet nothing was ever done to recoup the money.
Money that could be used to help the 9/11 sick or to rebury the remains from Fresh Kills.
But they do have the time and staff to fight every 9/11 claim for medical assistance that comes in.
Are we the only ones who see something wrong with this picture?
The Associated Press reported that a former medical examiner’s office worker was sentenced to 15 years in prison for stealing “at least” $9 million much of which was intended to identify the victims of the 9/11 attacks. The report goes on to say the total was closer to $13 million and that $6 million or less than half has been recovered.
Here are a few questions.
How and why was an office worker authorized to handle such amounts?
How many others (supervisors etc) were involved?
Why are we only hearing about this now as he was arrested in 2005?
Why was this conveniently swept under the carpet when we asked questions about the ME’s Office when the new remains were found?
Does the missing laptop, about which we can get no answers, have any information on it relating to this case?
While we are at it here is something else that people should be looking into.
This money was supposed to be used to buy computer systems to track and identify DNA and other forensic evidence from Ground Zero.
Do you know that there was a computer system designed to link personal items with remains uncovered at Ground Zero?
Do you also know that it is alleged that this system (that would potentially identify additional remains) is not being used because it would show a discrepancy in what has been reported by the NYPD Property Department and what was actually inventoried. (A discrepancy of nearly a million in cash and thousands of personal items).
If there is even the possibility that this is correct shouldn’t there be an outside investigation?
Well we have been asking for an investigation for over two years and have been stonewalled at every turn.
It was also reported that the company hired to do DNA identifications had a spotty history yet their contract was renewed without even a competitive bidding process.
Well we have all seen how well the DNA identifications have been going. (About one every 5 months if we’re lucky)
Again where are the checks and balances?
The same things happened with billions in inappropriate grants and questionable contracts granted after 9/11.
This is just one example. How come they are not investigating the Dunkin Donuts that opened in Phoenix with a 9/11 grant or the TSA contract that was paid to a company that wasn’t even incorporated when it applied and filed for bankruptcy shortly after they received hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Audit reports have documented all of these yet nothing was ever done to recoup the money.
Money that could be used to help the 9/11 sick or to rebury the remains from Fresh Kills.
But they do have the time and staff to fight every 9/11 claim for medical assistance that comes in.
Are we the only ones who see something wrong with this picture?
Friday, July 11, 2008
Fool Me Once......
Fool me once……..
Everyone involved with Ground Zero knows how to complete that phrase.
Yesterday was just another example of revisionist history.
At a special meeting of Community Board 1 the Port Authority now stated that they will have the WTC Memorial (or some portion of it) completed by the 10th Anniversary.
We have been in too many of these special meetings since 2001 to lend any credence to what is said.
Our question is what happened between last week when the PA did not have enough to report to Governor Paterson and yesterday.
Was there an epiphany that we missed?
More likely it was just another example of give them something so they stop bothering us and by the time we come out with the real facts we will have a story in place indicating that they misinterpreted what we said.
I have personally sat at these meetings where members of the mayor’s office, the Port Authority and the LMDC have flat out lied about what was done, what was being done and what was going to be done.
Not once were any of them held responsible for these lies.
And they won’t be now.
That is why Ground Zero is in the condition it is.
A perfect example is that two years ago when they first realized that costs were spiraling out of control they had very similar meetings.
They actually brought in an outside consultant and the mayor put a firm ceiling of $500 Million on the Memorial.
He stated that costs and timelines were going to be closely watched to assure the project stayed on target and under budget.
Without batting an eye they are now tossing around a figure of $630 million at a minimum.
No mention of that at all at last night’s meeting.
Instead of coming in and saying we screwed up and we are reevaluating the entire design to create a more modest family friendly memorial.
They throw out new dates to appease the crowds.
Now their spin doctors will be hard at work on the script to explain when the new dates are missed.
And the families will have to settle because if they try to fight, judges who are part of this club will just toss the cases out.
Just ask Diane.
At least if we were dealing with elected officials we could vote them out of office.
Put we are dealing with Authorities and agencies that are above the law.
And people continue to die from 9/11 related diseases, and our dead are left for eternity in a land fill.
As we are fed one lie after another.
Fool me twice…. I don’t think so.
Everyone involved with Ground Zero knows how to complete that phrase.
Yesterday was just another example of revisionist history.
At a special meeting of Community Board 1 the Port Authority now stated that they will have the WTC Memorial (or some portion of it) completed by the 10th Anniversary.
We have been in too many of these special meetings since 2001 to lend any credence to what is said.
Our question is what happened between last week when the PA did not have enough to report to Governor Paterson and yesterday.
Was there an epiphany that we missed?
More likely it was just another example of give them something so they stop bothering us and by the time we come out with the real facts we will have a story in place indicating that they misinterpreted what we said.
I have personally sat at these meetings where members of the mayor’s office, the Port Authority and the LMDC have flat out lied about what was done, what was being done and what was going to be done.
Not once were any of them held responsible for these lies.
And they won’t be now.
That is why Ground Zero is in the condition it is.
A perfect example is that two years ago when they first realized that costs were spiraling out of control they had very similar meetings.
They actually brought in an outside consultant and the mayor put a firm ceiling of $500 Million on the Memorial.
He stated that costs and timelines were going to be closely watched to assure the project stayed on target and under budget.
Without batting an eye they are now tossing around a figure of $630 million at a minimum.
No mention of that at all at last night’s meeting.
Instead of coming in and saying we screwed up and we are reevaluating the entire design to create a more modest family friendly memorial.
They throw out new dates to appease the crowds.
Now their spin doctors will be hard at work on the script to explain when the new dates are missed.
And the families will have to settle because if they try to fight, judges who are part of this club will just toss the cases out.
Just ask Diane.
At least if we were dealing with elected officials we could vote them out of office.
Put we are dealing with Authorities and agencies that are above the law.
And people continue to die from 9/11 related diseases, and our dead are left for eternity in a land fill.
As we are fed one lie after another.
Fool me twice…. I don’t think so.
“Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth”.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Monday, July 7, 2008
A VERY BAD TREND IS DEVELOPING
Last year the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found that former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman’s falsely reassuring and misleading statements of safety after the September 11, 2001 attacks were “without question conscience-shocking.” The court also found the facts “support an allegation of a violation of the substantive due process right to be free from official government policies that increase the risk of bodily harm” by Whitman’s misstatements regarding the air quality of the affected area.
But this past April the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stated that she could not be held liable for her actions.
The appeals court went on to say legal remedies are not always available for every instance of arguably deficient governmental performance.
Today District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein dismissed the case brought by 9/11 family members seeking to have remains relocated from the Fresh Kills Landfill.
Even though evidence was presented that showed that the Department of Sanitation acted improperly the judge stated that there were no city laws that require the burying of debris in another location because THE CITY “ACTED RESPONSIBLY” IN BRINGING ABOUT A “SWIFT AND EFFICIENT RECOVERY FROM THE TERRORISTS’ ATTACK”
The judge said not every wrong can be addressed through the judicial process, but that he's open for discussion if both sides want to hash out a settlement.
So let’s see how this works.
According to our current Judicial System an agent of the government can publically lie and risk causing bodily harm to the general population but cannot be held responsible.
Also human remains that were removed from a crime scene can be allowed to remain forever in a landfill because not every wrong can be addressed through the Judicial System.
To both these judges I leave the words of Lois McMaster Bujold
“The dead cannot cry out for justice; it is a duty of the living to do so for them.”
And we ask Judge Hellerstein in particular how he explains the fact that we are still finding remains if the city “acted responsibly” in bringing about a “swift and efficient recovery”
But what could we expect from a judge who describes potential remains as debris?
All that we know for sure is that in regards to 9/11 a very bad trend is developing.
Dennis
“Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong”.
Teddy Roosevelt
But this past April the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stated that she could not be held liable for her actions.
The appeals court went on to say legal remedies are not always available for every instance of arguably deficient governmental performance.
Today District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein dismissed the case brought by 9/11 family members seeking to have remains relocated from the Fresh Kills Landfill.
Even though evidence was presented that showed that the Department of Sanitation acted improperly the judge stated that there were no city laws that require the burying of debris in another location because THE CITY “ACTED RESPONSIBLY” IN BRINGING ABOUT A “SWIFT AND EFFICIENT RECOVERY FROM THE TERRORISTS’ ATTACK”
The judge said not every wrong can be addressed through the judicial process, but that he's open for discussion if both sides want to hash out a settlement.
So let’s see how this works.
According to our current Judicial System an agent of the government can publically lie and risk causing bodily harm to the general population but cannot be held responsible.
Also human remains that were removed from a crime scene can be allowed to remain forever in a landfill because not every wrong can be addressed through the Judicial System.
To both these judges I leave the words of Lois McMaster Bujold
“The dead cannot cry out for justice; it is a duty of the living to do so for them.”
And we ask Judge Hellerstein in particular how he explains the fact that we are still finding remains if the city “acted responsibly” in bringing about a “swift and efficient recovery”
But what could we expect from a judge who describes potential remains as debris?
All that we know for sure is that in regards to 9/11 a very bad trend is developing.
Dennis
“Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong”.
Teddy Roosevelt
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