The Battle For Ground Zero, Part 42

A lot of people covering this story are getting depressed by the way that things are progressing. They shouldn't be getting depressed, but angry at the way that Governor Pataki and the LMDC have conducted the rebuilding. Governor Pataki has nothing left to lose as Governor except his legacy, and what happens at the WTC will be the lasting testament to his final years as Governor. No one will remember the missed budget deadlines, or the whopping tales of fraud and waste in the Medicaid system.

They will, however, remember what was built at Ground Zero. And right now, there's a whole lot of nothing.

Today was D-Day for the IFC to come up with a gameplan that would be acceptable to the Governor and 9/11 families. They failed. The leaked 47-page plan contains nothing that would indicate that the IFC has changed its tune one iota. They may have glossed up their presentation and added a few high profile names, but the underlying theme is going to be the same, and their interest in attracting anti-American viewpoints to be featured in exhibitions is worrisome to families.

Wednesday, the center made one last-ditch pitch — leaking a 47-page statement of its plans to the sympathetic New York Times. Nice try, guys.

Alas, there isn't a word in that report to assure anyone that the IFC won't "denigrate America," as Pataki demanded.

Just the opposite: It reaffirms fears that its facilities would please America-haters. Setting the stage for fiery political theater. And assertions that America got what it deserved on 9/11.

All fair enough — anywhere but at Ground Zero, where nearly 3,000 people died for the crime of going to work.

Alternatively, Pataki and Bloomberg can give the facility their blessing — and kick into motion events of potentially far-reaching consequence.

People weigh in with their own thoughts about the IFC.

A more upbeat story comes from the UK, where a sculptor is looking to have a piece of art commemorating the heroism of firefighters and emergency workers installed at the 9/11 museum/memorial.

Meanwhile, trial began in a lawsuit stemming from the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

The suits charge the New York and New Jersey agency`s negligence made the site an easy and likely terror target for the Feb. 26, 1993, terror attack. The Port Authority contends the attack was not 'foreseeable' because the building had never been bombed before, the New York Post reported.

Six people were killed and more than 1,000 others were injured in the attack.

Sheik Abdel Rahman was convicted of planning the attack. His group was also planning to blow up the Holland and Lincoln tunnels and other New York City landmarks.

Two of the victims didn`t live to see their day in court -- they were killed at the WTC`s twin towers` collapse in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, the Post said.

The Port Authority is likely to lose this case, because there were indications that terrorists would attack high profile targets, including Port Authority facilities like the World Trade Center.

UPDATE:
Confederate Yankee weighs in.

UPDATE:
Today's NYT begrudingly admits that there is a lot more people objecting to the IFC than their earlier pieces. The Times is still hoping that the IFC gets to stick around at Ground Zero. They want the site to be a premier cultural destination. Why? Because someone thought that they could remake the WTC site as they saw fit and thought a cultural center that includes anti-American diatribes and groups that spew anti-American pablum would be a good idea, that's why.

The Freedom Center, as portrayed in this new report, is not perfect. Its programming sounds hopeful but vague - a list of intentions rather than well-defined exhibits. Its list of advisers and directors is broad and politically diverse. But there is nothing in these plans to frighten anyone.

Protesters worry about what the Freedom Center may become in 25 years. But we worry about what ground zero will be like in 25 years without it. If the corporation banishes the Freedom Center, it will be rejecting its own best intentions and any hope for a meaningful cultural presence at the site. Given the political cowardice we've seen so far, ground zero may become nothing but a graveyard, instead of a place where visitors are invited to both remember the victims of mass murder and celebrate the possibilities of life.

The WTC will be quite fine without the IFC in 5 years or 25 years. The site will do just fine without it. The IFC, like the Drawing Center before it can find alternative space downtown to spew their view of the world. As for the politicial cowardice, the NYT ought to look at its own coverage and see that they have played a distinct role in why the site hasn't been rebuilt quicker or with better direction.

The cowardice has come from not standing up and realizing that the inclusion of the cultural components - the IFC and Drawing Center - was a huge mistake and that the site plan should reflect what really needs to be built at the site - a memorial, museum, transit hub, retail, and office space. Anything else is extraneous and takes space away from those necessities.

Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower.