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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 4, 2009
Contact: Paul Newell, Communications Director, paul@newellnyc.org, 347-351-7285
PETE GLEASON DENOUNCES SECRECY AND FAILURE AT GROUND ZERO
Pete Gleason, former FDNY Firefighter and Civil Rights Attorney running in this year's Democratic primary for the Lower Manhattan's 1st City Council District, slammed incumbent Alan Gerson, the Port Authority, LMDC, Larry Silverstein and City Hall today in the wake of a Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center (LMCCC) secret report obtained by the Daily News.
"Lower Manhattanites, and all New Yorkers, have been lied to for eight years," said Gleason. "Today again, we learned that the lack of leadership regarding ground zero has put our neighborhood and our quality of life at risk. Again Alan Gerson has been absent on our community's needs, despite chairing the City Council's Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Committee. We deserve better. As City Councilmember from Lower Manhattan I'll hold them accountable. I will be out front every day, with every agency, making sure they are honest and forthright with our community, and that the job gets done."
Gleason, who has represented 9/11 responders denied health coverage, tied today's report into a long line of deception.
"In 2001, we were lied to about the quality of our air - leading to countless health impacts for our families.
Dishonesty and corruption in the handling and oversight of the Deutsche Bank demolition has led to the unnecessary death
of two more New York heroes in 2007. Just yesterday, we learned that the cost estimates for that project were misrepresented to the community."
The LMCCC Report outlined that the LMDC's construction schedules are incorrect. According to the report, the Freedom Tower and the Transportation Hub will likely not be completed until 2018, and that the Memorial will not open until 2013.
Gleason, a widely covered national leader on advocacy for Ground Zero health and development issues, was horrified. "The fact that it takes more than a decade build a memorial to the over 3,000 men and women killed that day is disgraceful. No one has been willing to take responsibility for the site. This pass-the-buck attitude cannot stand. We need leadership and we need it now."
Pete Gleason has been endorsed by Fernando Ferrer, the Downtown Independent Democrats and The New York Community Council is widely seen as a frontrunner in the race.
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http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local
http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/137914
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