Just last week it was announced that a scaled down version of the 9/11 Memorial would be available for the 10th Anniversary on 9/11/11.
In a perfect example of not releasing all the facts it is now being reported that this scaled down version if available will only be open for about a week and then will be shut down for at least another year. (see articles below)
Just once it would be nice to get an honest and complete update from the Port Authority or the LMDC.
We went through the same thing with the building and fire codes as well as the reporting on the identification of remains.
For years we had to deal will partial releases and at times outright lies from both agencies.
And it appears that it is not going to stop any time soon.
Joe Daniels the President of the of the National September 11th Memorial & Museum is insisting that "it is possible to have the entire Memorial finished by the 10th anniversary, but if we can't get 100%, we'll get as much we possibly can"
This on the same day that Port Authority Executive Director stated that whatever is available on the 10th anniversary would be mostly be shut down for construction for about a year.
It would be nice if they could get on the same page.
The fact of the matter is that there will not be a permanent memorial for the 10th anniversary at least not at Ground Zero.
On July 2, 2008 we sent a letter to Mr. Daniels as well as Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson detailing our plans to build a memorial that would honor all those who died on 9/11 as well as those who responded and those who have died since. (for complete text of the letter click the link below)
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43636
We asked for their assistance with this effort $6.5 million facility on Staten Island which will include all of the aspects that 9/11 families had originally asked for at Ground Zero.
It is now 3 months later and we still have not even gotten a response from any of them.
We are moving forward with this effort and plan to raise the remaining $5.5 million from corporate sponsorship and individual donations. We already have commitments of $459,000 from Senators Clinton and Schumer and another $500,000 from State Senator Lanza.
If we break ground early next year we will have the facility complete for the the 10th Anniversary.
Please take a moment to view complete details of the Hearts and Hands 9/11 Memorial.
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=38365
We are hoping that you will join us to support this effort.
And we promise to keep you updated on our progress on a regular basis.
We also hope that Mr. Davis, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson will reconsider and work with us to complete this facility which will give family members a place to go not only on September 11, 2011 but every day after to quietly pay their respects to those who died as a result of the attacks on 9/11.
Lest We Forget
Dennis McKeon
FURTHER DELAY ON WTC SHRINE
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45409
Port Authority says 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero will open in 2012
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45410
9/11 Memorial To Close For 1 Year After Brief Open
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45411
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
It's Not Too Early to Be a Re-Gifter
Throughout the year we will all be receiving that certain gift that we either will never use or already have.
If we don't spend hours on that return line this gift will sit in a closet or a drawer until it is finally thrown out when we do our Spring cleaning.
Where to Turn would like to give you another option.
Donate your unwanted gift and we will make sure it gets to someone who could use it.
Toys will be given to local hospitals or shipped to needy children in disaster areas as part of our adopt a school program.
Clothes will also be sent where needed.
CD's and DVD's will be sent to soldiers in military hospitals
Last year we distributed nearly 2,500 items
For things that fall into that "other" category we will store them for a major flea market.
All proceeds from the flea market will go to cover shipping costs for our various relief programs.
If you would like to participate all you need to do is ship the gift or drop it off at
Where to Turn
150-L Greaves Lane # 312
Staten Island, NY 10308
Or Click Link Below For Complete List of Drop Off Points that already includes the offices of Senator Lanza, Assembly Members Hyer Spencer, Cusick, and Tobacco
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=40731
We are also looking for additional drop off points.
We are going to approach the Jets, Giants, Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Knicks and Nets to see if they will ask their fans to bring gifts to their home games after the holidays.
We are hoping local high schools and colleges will do the same at one of their games during the year.
If you would like to be an official drop off point please contact us at
info@where-to-turn.org
We will work with any school, business or community/civic group
We will arrange to pick up donated gifts at your convenience.
We think that this will be a great way to help out the less fortunate
and would like to get as many schools and organizations involved as possible.
Hope you will join us as a re-gifter.
Dennis
If we don't spend hours on that return line this gift will sit in a closet or a drawer until it is finally thrown out when we do our Spring cleaning.
Where to Turn would like to give you another option.
Donate your unwanted gift and we will make sure it gets to someone who could use it.
Toys will be given to local hospitals or shipped to needy children in disaster areas as part of our adopt a school program.
Clothes will also be sent where needed.
CD's and DVD's will be sent to soldiers in military hospitals
Last year we distributed nearly 2,500 items
For things that fall into that "other" category we will store them for a major flea market.
All proceeds from the flea market will go to cover shipping costs for our various relief programs.
If you would like to participate all you need to do is ship the gift or drop it off at
Where to Turn
150-L Greaves Lane # 312
Staten Island, NY 10308
Or Click Link Below For Complete List of Drop Off Points that already includes the offices of Senator Lanza, Assembly Members Hyer Spencer, Cusick, and Tobacco
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=40731
We are also looking for additional drop off points.
We are going to approach the Jets, Giants, Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Knicks and Nets to see if they will ask their fans to bring gifts to their home games after the holidays.
We are hoping local high schools and colleges will do the same at one of their games during the year.
If you would like to be an official drop off point please contact us at
info@where-to-turn.org
We will work with any school, business or community/civic group
We will arrange to pick up donated gifts at your convenience.
We think that this will be a great way to help out the less fortunate
and would like to get as many schools and organizations involved as possible.
Hope you will join us as a re-gifter.
Dennis
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Nice Start to a "A Realistic and Rational Schedule" at WTC
SHRINK RAP: PA HIRES FRAUDS FOR WTC SITE
NY Post
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45388
Saturday, October 4, 2008
When Did We Lose Control?
The House passed the new bail out bill on Friday that was not very different from the one rejected earlier in the week except this one included many more pork barrel add ons which were needed to basically bribe Representatives to change their votes.
Millions to make wooden arrows
Hundreds of millions to corporations in America Samoa
Even huge tax breaks for the American film industry.
To name a few
So our trusted Representatives allowed the stock market to fall almost 1,000 points this week because they would not vote on a package unless it included add ons of personal interest to them.
Someone should check how many of these Representatives have financial interests in America Samoa or the film industry or in all of the other add ons that are going to cost tax payers nearly half a billion dollars over the next 10 years.
Not since the days of Tammany Hall have so few taken from so many for personal gain.
And it doesn’t stop with the bail out.
Let’s take wind power for example.
All of us have seen the advertisements by T Boone Pickens for alternative energy sources such as wind power.
We were happy to see that many in Congress agree with this plan but again when you begin to peal away the onion you see why.
Take for example the House Speaker who supports this plan.
She might have let us know that one reason for her support might be that she bought nearly $100,000 worth of CLNE Corp stock on the day of the initial offering.
CLNE just so happens to be Picken’s company.
It also happens to be the sponsor of Proposition 10 a ballot initiative in California that would give nearly $10 billion to renewable energy incentives which would include wind.
Unfortunately this is just one example.
I am sure further examination would find many such connections with the billions of pork that was added on to the bail out bill.
The problem is here will never be any investigation of this money or the lobbyists or corporations attached.
So even in a bill that should have no add ons wound up with too many to count.
Pork associated with personal interests of our Representatives not the well being of our economy.
Again when did we lose control?
And this is not only at the federal level.
Mayor Bloomberg has decided he does not want to give up his job as mayor of New York City when his is term limited out.
So now he is going to have the City Council pass a bill to extend term limits for him and the City Council members.
So even though the citizens of New York City have voted twice to keep term limits they are going to be ignored or at least not given a chance to vote on them again because the mayor doesn’t want to give up his job.
Not really the way government is meant to work.
It’s like changing the rules after the last strike is called or the last minute runs off the clock.
What ever happened to Government of the people, by the people, for the people?
I guess it only refers to the people in government.
Over 150 years ago Henry David Thoreau stated
The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way.
Today they have not only gotten in the way but have basically locked the rest of us out
When we first began to allow this to happen is when we lost control.
And the last couple of weeks are just an example of the consequences that we the people will continue to pay.
Millions to make wooden arrows
Hundreds of millions to corporations in America Samoa
Even huge tax breaks for the American film industry.
To name a few
So our trusted Representatives allowed the stock market to fall almost 1,000 points this week because they would not vote on a package unless it included add ons of personal interest to them.
Someone should check how many of these Representatives have financial interests in America Samoa or the film industry or in all of the other add ons that are going to cost tax payers nearly half a billion dollars over the next 10 years.
Not since the days of Tammany Hall have so few taken from so many for personal gain.
And it doesn’t stop with the bail out.
Let’s take wind power for example.
All of us have seen the advertisements by T Boone Pickens for alternative energy sources such as wind power.
We were happy to see that many in Congress agree with this plan but again when you begin to peal away the onion you see why.
Take for example the House Speaker who supports this plan.
She might have let us know that one reason for her support might be that she bought nearly $100,000 worth of CLNE Corp stock on the day of the initial offering.
CLNE just so happens to be Picken’s company.
It also happens to be the sponsor of Proposition 10 a ballot initiative in California that would give nearly $10 billion to renewable energy incentives which would include wind.
Unfortunately this is just one example.
I am sure further examination would find many such connections with the billions of pork that was added on to the bail out bill.
The problem is here will never be any investigation of this money or the lobbyists or corporations attached.
So even in a bill that should have no add ons wound up with too many to count.
Pork associated with personal interests of our Representatives not the well being of our economy.
Again when did we lose control?
And this is not only at the federal level.
Mayor Bloomberg has decided he does not want to give up his job as mayor of New York City when his is term limited out.
So now he is going to have the City Council pass a bill to extend term limits for him and the City Council members.
So even though the citizens of New York City have voted twice to keep term limits they are going to be ignored or at least not given a chance to vote on them again because the mayor doesn’t want to give up his job.
Not really the way government is meant to work.
It’s like changing the rules after the last strike is called or the last minute runs off the clock.
What ever happened to Government of the people, by the people, for the people?
I guess it only refers to the people in government.
Over 150 years ago Henry David Thoreau stated
The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way.
Today they have not only gotten in the way but have basically locked the rest of us out
When we first began to allow this to happen is when we lost control.
And the last couple of weeks are just an example of the consequences that we the people will continue to pay.
Friday, October 3, 2008
A Realistic and Rational Schedule...Don't Count on It
Yesterday the Port Authority put out their newest plan for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center.
A few days late but when have schedules ever meant anything with the PA or the LMDC.
To no one’s surprise they have added at least two years to the last plan and it will cost an additional $1.5 billion.
Immediately following this release the LMDC chairman came out with the following statement
“I am gratified that working closely together, we have been able to synthesize the analysis and work of numerous agencies and stakeholders to come up with a realistic and rational schedule plan for the rebuilding of this extremely complex site. Under the leadership of the Governor, we have all taken significant steps to coordinate and bring clarity to the rebuilding process so that the public gets the progress it deserves accompanied by dates and a schedule that are accurate and achievable.”
We are sure glad that he is satisfied because we are not.
Anyone who has been associated with this project can tell you that any plan Realistic, Rational or Probabilistic (there word not ours) is not worth the paper that it is written on.
We are now on our third Governor overseeing this project and have had promises and “realistic” schedules from all three.
The problem is that there is no single entity governing this project.
The Port Authority doesn’t answer to the Governor for that matter they don’t answer to anyone
As for the LMDC I am not even going to go there because if anyone thinks that they have ever had a realistic or rational schedule they need only look at the Deutsche Bank Building
On top of that what are the odds that Mr. Schick will still be around when the next newest roadmap for rebuilding comes out.
So here we are seven years in with our newest plan.
And costs will continue to soar and schedules will continue to be missed.
But the saddest part is that they will throw something together for 9/11/11 and call it a memorial.
Because on the pecking order of what has priority the record shows that the families were never near the top.
For if they were this replan would have included building by NYC Building and Fire codes to assure the safety of future tenants and responders.
But that was never even considered.
So excuse me if I sound a little skeptical and don’t share the enthusiasm of Governor Paterson, Chris Ward and Avi Schick
As it appears I am the only realist among them.
A few days late but when have schedules ever meant anything with the PA or the LMDC.
To no one’s surprise they have added at least two years to the last plan and it will cost an additional $1.5 billion.
Immediately following this release the LMDC chairman came out with the following statement
“I am gratified that working closely together, we have been able to synthesize the analysis and work of numerous agencies and stakeholders to come up with a realistic and rational schedule plan for the rebuilding of this extremely complex site. Under the leadership of the Governor, we have all taken significant steps to coordinate and bring clarity to the rebuilding process so that the public gets the progress it deserves accompanied by dates and a schedule that are accurate and achievable.”
We are sure glad that he is satisfied because we are not.
Anyone who has been associated with this project can tell you that any plan Realistic, Rational or Probabilistic (there word not ours) is not worth the paper that it is written on.
We are now on our third Governor overseeing this project and have had promises and “realistic” schedules from all three.
The problem is that there is no single entity governing this project.
The Port Authority doesn’t answer to the Governor for that matter they don’t answer to anyone
As for the LMDC I am not even going to go there because if anyone thinks that they have ever had a realistic or rational schedule they need only look at the Deutsche Bank Building
On top of that what are the odds that Mr. Schick will still be around when the next newest roadmap for rebuilding comes out.
So here we are seven years in with our newest plan.
And costs will continue to soar and schedules will continue to be missed.
But the saddest part is that they will throw something together for 9/11/11 and call it a memorial.
Because on the pecking order of what has priority the record shows that the families were never near the top.
For if they were this replan would have included building by NYC Building and Fire codes to assure the safety of future tenants and responders.
But that was never even considered.
So excuse me if I sound a little skeptical and don’t share the enthusiasm of Governor Paterson, Chris Ward and Avi Schick
As it appears I am the only realist among them.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
RESCUE 5.....ELEVEN IN HEAVEN
Scott transformed the doors of Rescue 5 into a magnificent tribute to those who died on 9/11.
With the American Flag with eleven stars as a backdrop along with the silhouettes of the towers and 11 pairs of boots forever reminding us of the 11 brave firefighters from this house who died on 9/11.
Those who don’t believe that those who died are not watching over us should have been there today when eleven pigeons sat on the ledge overlooking the doors and watched Scott paint.
Thank you Scott
Thank you the current members of Rescue 5 for permitting us to do this
Thank you to our anonymous donor for sponsoring the mural
And thank you to all of you who support all of our efforts
We will never forget
Dennis
To see additional pictures click link below
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=45503
To view photos of all completed murals click link below
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=44762
To learn more about this program click link below
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43808
With the American Flag with eleven stars as a backdrop along with the silhouettes of the towers and 11 pairs of boots forever reminding us of the 11 brave firefighters from this house who died on 9/11.
Those who don’t believe that those who died are not watching over us should have been there today when eleven pigeons sat on the ledge overlooking the doors and watched Scott paint.
Thank you Scott
Thank you the current members of Rescue 5 for permitting us to do this
Thank you to our anonymous donor for sponsoring the mural
And thank you to all of you who support all of our efforts
We will never forget
Dennis
To see additional pictures click link below
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=45503
To view photos of all completed murals click link below
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=44762
To learn more about this program click link below
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43808
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Bail Bail The Gangs All Here
While most of the country lives in fear for the welfare of their families and even their lives our esteemed representatives continue to do what they do best.....
NOTHING
While banks continue to fail and financial institutions shut down those who are in charge of running our country do not appear to have any sense of urgency when it comes to our current economic situation.
There latest excuse is that the current plan is not good for the country.
When is the last time that any of them asked any of us what we needed or wanted?
These Representatives, and I use that term very loosely, are the same people who are so fiscally prudent that our country's current deficit is $9.7 trillion.
And they are going to decide what is best for us.
Do you realize that if Congress was a bank or a financial institution that they would be in need of a bailout.
But even though they have shown repeatedly that they think they have an open check book they will not move on the current plan unless their individual agendas are met.
Damn the people, damn the country this is all about them.
The same people who do not have to worry about their jobs as their is always a lobbyist position waiting when their constituents get fed up.
The same people who do not have worry as their pensions are guaranteed and they will never need Social Security.
Are the people who say they feel our pain.
And our two illustrious candidates, who keep talking about change, are no better.
And the only change we are going to wind up with is the change in our pockets after our last dollar is spent.
Do you realize that over a billion dollars will be spent on the upcoming elections.
A billion dollars that could have been to much better use for education, veteran benefits and a slew of other things.
But Congress will continue to grandstand and showboat while not taking any responsibility for the situation we are in.
And more banks will fail and more people will lose their life's savings as Congress will continue to do what they do best
NOTHING
For it seems that in Congress for every action there is equal and opposite inaction.
And so even though they haven't asked for it I am going to give them a piece of advice from John F. Kennedy
"There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction"
Hopefully some of them will heed his advice and "CHANGE" their minds.
We can only hope.
NOTHING
While banks continue to fail and financial institutions shut down those who are in charge of running our country do not appear to have any sense of urgency when it comes to our current economic situation.
There latest excuse is that the current plan is not good for the country.
When is the last time that any of them asked any of us what we needed or wanted?
These Representatives, and I use that term very loosely, are the same people who are so fiscally prudent that our country's current deficit is $9.7 trillion.
And they are going to decide what is best for us.
Do you realize that if Congress was a bank or a financial institution that they would be in need of a bailout.
But even though they have shown repeatedly that they think they have an open check book they will not move on the current plan unless their individual agendas are met.
Damn the people, damn the country this is all about them.
The same people who do not have to worry about their jobs as their is always a lobbyist position waiting when their constituents get fed up.
The same people who do not have worry as their pensions are guaranteed and they will never need Social Security.
Are the people who say they feel our pain.
And our two illustrious candidates, who keep talking about change, are no better.
And the only change we are going to wind up with is the change in our pockets after our last dollar is spent.
Do you realize that over a billion dollars will be spent on the upcoming elections.
A billion dollars that could have been to much better use for education, veteran benefits and a slew of other things.
But Congress will continue to grandstand and showboat while not taking any responsibility for the situation we are in.
And more banks will fail and more people will lose their life's savings as Congress will continue to do what they do best
NOTHING
For it seems that in Congress for every action there is equal and opposite inaction.
And so even though they haven't asked for it I am going to give them a piece of advice from John F. Kennedy
"There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction"
Hopefully some of them will heed his advice and "CHANGE" their minds.
We can only hope.
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