WTC Records Folder 0124 Clippings label, Sept 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

State Seeks to41&layra Role In the Reconstruction Effort J By RICHARD PEREZPBNA roar`., To make this work, you have to-ha the federal, state and city Officials In Albany and)Weshing governments on board" ten say that the effort N rebuid after' Mr. :2 Patakl deflected questions the destrucilon'.1 the World Trade. ' .eboukwhether the state would take Center will, be controlled primarily' lead? role In reconstruction. 'by the state and jfederal - govern- one. tremendous relation. ments, not the city, although. they "We've had a concede thee as yet, they have little shlp;st all.three levels; federal, state as we go 'Idea what that effort would took like -and,city;' he said. "And or how it would be managed. : forvferd;: ,with reconstruction, we In the two weeks since the attack, should have all three elements, led- much attention haelbeen focused on . oral, stata`and city, pulling together, the city's recovery efforts'The only .working together. in. a cooperative Specific Step toward rebuilding came teamwork; end I'm confident that'll from Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and happen ;,+ City 'Council Speaker Peter F. Val- - ', Ther'govemor's. top aides were lone, who have said they will creates more dlrect"Look, others are going reconstructmncommisslon;and Mr. to beInvolved,`one said. "It's going Giuliani's name has often been men- to take Washington and IPa'going to tinned to head that:panel. But state take Clty Hall. But this is going to be and federal officials say there Is little mostly our job." New Jersey, on a that a- city-only effort can scram- - partner in the Port Authority, Is like- plish. i ly to have'a'role as well, he said. "It is not realistic, said, Senator. . Mr.'.Bruno and some advisers to Joseph L. Brune, s' Republican. and the governor predicted that Mr. Pa- the Senate majority leader. "The' told bbti'In his official role and as city will do whatever, they,feel, Is . 'New"York's main liaison to the Bush appropriate, but they're going' to': administration, will Inevitably play have to deal with the state. The state the central role. is going to have to have prime re-' Several members of Congress and sponsthlllfy." . "' .. the state Legislature said that a pea- "The city can't do what's needed sllble mechanism for rebuilding is a on Its own," said Assembly Speaker " Sheldon Sliver, a Democrat "I think there has to be a global redevelop meet authority thatgoes well beyond ' Tlge'trade center loaf the Jurisdiction of the city."' . n " ,,,, Slate officials In'particular are de could d that hey will lead what disaster may be too could became 'the largest .public works project of its'time, and they ' 6 for the city t0 Lick-off a long list 'of reasons. The center site Is owned by the Port tradecenler bundle. Authority of New York and New Jet... - sey, which Is controlee ay me gaver- . nora of the two states; much of the city,state and federal commission nearby damaged property belongs l' .that' would decide how to dole out two state arenas, the Battery Park;,. and perhaps even what W City Authority and the Metropolitan. money, Mr. Transportation Authority, and much";build Some said they expected to of the promised federal'ald is likely': Patakl to Push the Port Authority to be funneled through Albany.yt„ 5[' take thelead role in reconstruction, They also note mat the gity needs ,~whlch would bypass the Legislature permissionfrom the Legislature and`a,?_s convention the governor's aides Gov. George E. Pataki to take'major"" would net confirm or deny. financial steps like selling billions of "..' State officials have been full of dollars In bonds or Imposing or cut praise for Mr. Glullanl's handling of ling tames.'dn the first days after the the rescue and cleanup efforts, and k.Mr. V xone andMr. Giuliani Mr. Schumer lauded both the mayor turned to, Albany'for a $2.5 governor. All sides are loathe increase in'thegl to e r borro wing au-; - end the anted' to be seen as turning a tragedy Into a stately, which;the state werted~Thr power struggle,but a8 appear, to one statel also h city ob jed:l o s I to City de cues obJemlons from Clry degree or another, be a expect one. Hal laws, over xa1L.' .' "This is going to be a light," sold a +V But the federal government Is Ilke- member of Congress from New York ly to provide most.of the money to City. "If we're lucky, It'll be a quiet \ help businesses and individuals re- one and a quick one." cover economically.- It has commit- On Monday, Mr. Silver took 70 Ned $200 billion, compared to $500 mil- Assembly members on a tour of the lion from the state —'anq it might site, which Iles In his district and Mr.. become a major contrlbbtttr to the Baum has since taken 20 senators - - reconstruction of the trade' center there. Both said they wanted to pre- . site Itself. 'Under or cream. . pare their colleagues for the enorml- stances, members of congress U, of the task to which they will be weme4' It Is hard to Imagine that dollars. theydecidiln ow so mo haves direct nt. asked to devote billions of television picture. in deciding how the money'S seem. '"No picture, no extent at o It and '"Obviously,, ar iny 1f; there are fhaveal can ass them the dollars Involved, than we will Sch a 'Impress upon them what it is they're voice," said Senator Chhrles E. H. Schu- a part of," Mr. Silver said.

NYC-WTC 000137227