Guest column: It's time to listen to the people and rebuild the Twin Towers
This column was submitted by Margaret Donovan of the Twin Towers Alliance
A remark that Gov. Paterson recently made to the editorial board of the New York Times holds the key to rescuing the World Trade Center from the world-class embarrassment it has become. “When asked what had particularly surprised him in his six months since becoming governor, he said bluntly, ‘What surprised me the most was how little people who have authority want to exercise it.’”
The shambles at the World Trade Center is crying out for someone to exercise authority, but the right kind. That is, authority derived from the public will. The shocking mess at Ground Zero was caused by the arrogance of George Pataki, who felt free to exercise his vanity instead of obeying his oath of office. Why are we still tangled up in his web?
The banana republic-style selection process that Pataki used to undermine the will of the people has been exposed by respected observers across the political spectrum. As a New York Press review of Philip Nobel’s book Sixteen Acres explained in 2005: “Though for many the Ground Zero rebuilding effort exuded the quaint impression of a grassroots, democratic process in the heart of a grief-stricken Big Apple, Nobel’s book, together with other recent examinations, reveals the degree to which the process was manipulated by big money interests and a powerful governor on an election-year time table who dealt from a stacked deck.”
Now Gov. Paterson has the opportunity to show that he understands his obligation to the people. If we can build spectacular new Twin Towers and a fitting memorial for far less than the projected costs of the current plan and far sooner than expected, what grounds would there be for preventing what most people have always wanted and expected?
The Twin Towers II Redevelopment Plan for the World Trade Center, which first came to the public’s attention when it was endorsed by Donald Trump in 2005, has been in constant development for more than five years. Unfortunately, the grassroots nature of the project was lost on the press as they mugged Mr. Trump for his “hubris,” while missing or ignoring the fact that he was simply advocating what most of us believe.
But we can still convert the current fiasco into something that is a credit to our national character. The only obstacles are political. An impartial evaluation could be finished in a matter of days. We are confident it would show that the Twin Towers II alternative is demonstrably superior by every measure. Furthermore, the transition could be easily achieved.
It’s time for the politicians to respect the people’s proper role in deciding our country’s
destiny. It’s time for officials to stop subordinating the rebirth of our World Trade Center
to the dictates of New York’s real estate lobby, which has opposed rebuilding the Twin
Towers for selfish reasons from the start. And it’s time for people to stop rolling over instead of standing up for what they know is right.
Those who run our government owe the people of this city and the world something at least as noble as what was destroyed on September 11th. That is what we want, that is what we need, and that is what we deserve. As Nicole Gelinas wrote in the NY Post in 2004:
“To watch the steel structures of new Twin Towers pierce New York's skyline floor-by-floor – after all New York has been through – would be to experience one of the greatest moments in modern history.”
What could legitimately short-circuit such an awe-inspiring prospect? Nothing. The Twin Towers were destroyed by a virulent strain of hatred for the democratic process. But there is a low-grade strain in our politics that will prove just as deadly in the long run unless we put those who “know better” in their place – not above us, but beside us.
Rebuilding the World Trade Center was the last place on earth where back-room elites should have been allowed to frustrate the people’s hopes with their condescending disdain for our good sense. That is why dedicated citizens have spent years trying to get official attention where it belongs – not just for the sake of two beloved towers, but out of love and respect for our beloved country.
At the end of Saving Private Ryan, Captain Miller, with his dying breath, urges Ryan to “…earn this. Earn it!” Like Private Ryan, we are called upon, after great tragedy, to justify the choices we make about our future. The current mediocre plan will never earn the respect of history. Only rebuilding better, safer, more majestic Twin Towers will.
We believe that when Gov. Paterson, Port Authority Director Chris Ward, and Larry Silverstein see the challenge in this light, they will discover that it is still not too late to do the right thing. Fortunately, The Twin Towers II Plan is ready to deliver a World Trade Center worthy of our dreams.
MORE: amNY's World Trade Center archives. Urbanite's WTC coverage.
Comments (5)
Amen Mrs. Donovan The Twins must rise again. After reading a book on the 93 bombings the idea to rebuild comes to me stronger and stronger. We cannot let pure hatred destroy what is ours. The evil these attacks was for 1 reason to kill as many people as possible and topple the Twin Towers. If we dont rebuild they win. One Tower will NEVER justify two. What message do we want to send to the world?
And to all those who want to pull out of Iraq why would we stop fighting the forces that are working day and night to kill people like you? Should we send our proud forces to protect you or pull out let the terrorists regroup and kill more innocent? and to all you conspiritors you have no life period. It is an outrage that you'd turn your nose to our American principles and target Bush and the Govt. when they had no part in this. All of you should be ashamed. Rebuild Now!!!!
Dear Travis,
The effort to raise new Twin Towers resonates with Americans from the far right to the far left and everywhere in between. This is not a question of political preferences. It is not about us-against-them. Millions of different people have millions of different viewpoints. But when our officials act like royalty and pretend that what we think doesn't matter, WE ALL HAVE A PROBLEM, and it is bipartisan. So, when we roll over because it takes too much effort to challenge the authority of those who refuse to recognize our own authority, then we are really finished as a people. If firefighters can rush into burning buildings to save others, can't the rest of us have enough of a sense of duty to stand on principle and speak out, even to save ourselves?
I do understand. Your 100% right. I as many of others im sure would like everyone in the country and world to work as one to accomplish this dream. I just get upset with conspiritors and am worried about the future security of the Trade Center, NYC, and the rest of America. Im sorry if I made it sound like a political preferance statement I should reserve it for more suiting topics.
God Bless.
This column speaks the truth and nothing but it. As a person who has been to just about every hearing on the WTC site, I can tell that the people really do want the Twin Towers rebuilt rather than being replaced with a memorial or something of a smaller scale. If Daivd Patterson really is claiming that he is doing this for the people, then he should do what's right and get rid of the so-called official plan, which is already over budget, and have the Twin Towers rebuilt instead. Doing this will make him a hero. Everytime I look at the Freedom Tower, I ask myself on what type of 'freedom' does it really represent? My guess is that former George Pataki had the 'freedom' to override and sidestep the public when he made sure it would be picked, because it was clearly hated also on Imagine New York, where it ranked all the way at the bottom. I wonder if people would be fighting tooth and nail if the terrorists destroyed the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty instead, and the politicians said that rebuilding a replica would be insulting in that only something else should go there such as what is going on here at the WTC site? Keep in mind that this doesn't mean that I am wishing that those got attacked instead by saying that.
Please convince the leaders of the great state of New York and New York City to rebuild the Twin Towers. It is the right thing to do and will allow New York City and the rest of our nation to heal.