Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 13:12:39 -0400 (EDT) From: Louis Epstein Subject: WTC Plans... Unless you're a recent addition to this email list, you'll recall that I reported that the Port Authority/Whitehead clique timeline said that a revision of the Draft Principles and Preliminary Blueprint For the Future of Lower Manhattan would be released June 5, taking the public comments into account...and that this date was quietly changed to June 14 without the revision being released...well,according to a New York Post article online at http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/52079.htm the revision of the Preliminary Blueprint,the Principles remaining untouched,was finally released July 8th,yesterday. (It has not reached the http://www.renewnyc.com/index.html website as of this morning). A quick extract from the Post story shows the extent to which they listened to our public comments: ==-=-== "Create a new skyline for lower Manhattan that serves as a powerful symbol of our nation's strength and determination," the new blueprint says in a list of proposals under review. The changes come in response to public comments, which included calls for a restored skyline and even for the Twin Towers to be rebuilt as they once were, 110 stories high. Planners have said it's not likely that any new buildings at Ground Zero will rise over 60 stories, but several other ideas have surfaced for a tall structure at Ground Zero. ==-=-== Fox News appears to have picked up on that last statement and treated there being nothing over 60 stories as a done deal,David Peterson has urged on the NYCS board that we email friends@foxnews.com to tell them this is not a decision that has been made,but a prediction that many are determined to see does not come to pass. Slippage in the schedule as evidenced above may color other stages of the process as well.One thing it can't do is change the date of the Listening to the City II event at the Javits Center July 20th, so plans will be at an earlier stage than intended when we comment on them. Signatures on Eli Attia's petition have now grown past the 2400 mark,though some signers have posted explicitly anti-rebuilding comments rather than advocating the tall towers he and we seek. The six design options of "Phase I" (once scheduled for July 1st) are now to be unveiled at a news conference within a week or so. Models of the proposals are to be exhibited at Federal Hall Memorial downtown (on the site of George Washington's inauguration and the colonial city hall) from July 22nd into September.Comment books will be available for those viewing the exhibit,another opportunity to be heard. Under the previously released timeline the six development options would be winnowed to three for Phase II by September 1st,after a public hearing in early August similar to the one May 23rd,and a mail/email comment period ending August 19th.We'll see if these dates slip. If the WPIX "scoop" news story is correct,there are two tall-building options we may support,we have to look at what gets released at the news conference.On July 20th,at the August hearing,in the written comments we have to push them to think of just *how many* 1368+ foot buildings to construct,and where within the superblock to site them, NOT to regard it as a matter of if.The September cut may be the time the anti's think they'll see the end of us after showing off "inclusiveness" in the early stages...it has to be the short-building options that lose then,and in the selection of the final Phase III proposal. I've had a few more say they'll be at the networking dinner, and comments on the restaurant choices.Joe Wright says that Houlihan's and TGI Friday's are better choices than the "diner" style places for holding a group meeting,with Charlie O's offering better food for a higher price.Lauren Chase recommends O'Farrell's at 10th Avenue and 33rd Street,it has a website that gives no idea of prices. I think we should try to reserve for 5:30 PM,since the LTTC II program is scheduled to end at 4 PM and we want a chance to talk to those among us who will be at the forum but not the dinner before those of us who are going to the dinner proceed to the dinner.(Who knows,we may be giving press interviews too,or other such things). I'll be walking back to Grand Central Terminal,and won't leave that until too late. Two people have dropped off the mailing list in the last few days saying that though they want the Towers back,the battle is lost. As FDR said,"we have nothing to fear but fear itself"...only our buying into the short-buildings-are-a-done-deal myth the anti-rebuilders are trying to sell us can possibly let them have their way.As long as we fight we can not lose. See you on the 111th floor on 9-11-11!! -=-=- The World Trade Center towers MUST rise again, at least as tall as before...or terror has triumphed.