NYC-WTC_000152373

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Bear reader, Eow vulnerable are we? It’s a quesUoD on the minds of many Americans. After watching the attack and collapse of the Twin Tow­ ers, landmaria of the economic might of this country; the blow suffered at The Pentagon, the symbol of our mlUtaiy strength; and the ^tential target of either the White House or the Capitol, foundations of our democracy, we are left to wonder. Whatnestt? And where? Last week, Record reporter Beth Quinn reported that the Ashokan Reservoir in northern Ulster County was No. 2 - after the World Trade Cen­ ter - on a short list of terrorist targets obtained by the FBI This was not breaking news. That information had been revealed after an arrest was made in the 1S83 bombing of the Twin Towers. What is news la that nearly a decade has gone by, and not much has changed in protecting the Ashokan and five oth­ er reservoirs in Sullivan, Ulster and Delaware counties that supply New York City with nearly 90 percent of its water. The warnings have been ignored. That troubles Robert E Kennedy Jr., ieadattomey for the environmental group Riverkeepez; which blasted reservoir security In a 1999 report It troubles Rep. Maurice Hinchey. D-Saugerties, a longtime critic of reservoir security, and it troubles Jan GiCam, a Grahamsville resident who lives between the Neversink and Rondout reservoirs. It also troubles many of us that, a few days ago. Record reporter Steve Israel was able to park his car along the Rondout Reservior and spend 15 minutes tossing stones into the water. The effects of those ripples remained in our minds long after the reservoir turned calm and the stones fell to its bottom. Many readers contacted the newsroom after last week's story, saying we were aiding the enemy by printing E map of the reservoirs. Others said we’re just feeding the fear of people still shaken from September 11, We appreciate the comments and.understand the uneasy feelings of our neighbors. But It would be wrong for us to bury our beads in the sand and not question the safety measures being taken to protect what Steve Israel so aptly describes as “the lifeblood of millions." In the coming weeks. The Times Herald-Record hopes to bring federal, state and local officials together with area residents in a town hall meeting to discuss what is being done and what needs to be done to protect the reservoirs, and the thousands of people who live around them. We cannot afford to be so vulnerable. Barry l*wl» Airing Sunday editor

NYC-WTC_000152376