9/11 Gives Birth to a White Elephant

[SpiralHawk]

from today's NYT by Joe Nocera

9/11’s White Elephant

"...tiptoed gingerly around the outrageous costs of 1 World Trade Center.

"But despite the shroud of patriotism that its supporters have always cloaked it in, it’s really just a big, fancy office building. An office building with such poor economics that it will soak New Jersey and New York commuters for decades to come..."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/opinion/nocera-911s-white-elephant.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/New+1+World+Trade+Center+Rises+Up+Ground+Zero+2xT-88ZtqvPl.jpg

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/New+1+World+Trade+Center+Rises+Up+Ground+Zero+KXc3COXaQdql.jpg

[Bonobo]

1. When America failed to rebuild the Towers right away, they failed massively.

It was a matter of national pride to have those things rebuilt asap.

But the US didn't and that was a symbolic failure of epic proportions.

How do you think that looks to the rest of the world?

Can-do America? I don't think so...

[WinkyDink]

3. You speak as if the WTC were some public facility. The owner gained billions in their demise.

Why should "America" have re-built them for more private profit?

[no_hypocrisy]

2. WTC *will* be built on the backs of commuters of NJ and NY.

Never mind the insurance proceeds to the lessor of the building to pay for it. No money in the federal government, notwithstanding the public statements of patriotism and anti-terrorist hubris to "rebuild (the WTC) taller and better than before 9-11.

Did you "love" this part:

The Port Authority was originally going to propose two increases of $2, spaced a few years apart. But the politicos in both Cuomo’s and Christie’s offices suggested that the agency come forth with a much higher initial toll increase — thus allowing the two governors to look like heroes when they “persuaded” the Port Authority to lower the increases.

[aquart]

4. Finally an explanation for doubling the bridge and tunnel tolls.

I thought Bloomberg should have built his damn football stadium on the site, he wanted one so badly.

The original towers were a hideous eyesore, people forget that these days.

[SpiralHawk]

5. The new 1 World Trade Center