Draft MOU between DBS and DEP for WTC economic development,

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

World Trade Center (“WTC”) on September 11, 2001, have had a profound impact on the City generally, and on the business and residential communities of lower Manhattan in particular; and

WHEREAS, lower Manhattan is the financial center of the nation, and the events of September 11, 2001 have impacted many of the major financial, investment and banking institutions located in the area, including loss of life, loss of workplace, and displacement of employees and operations; and

WHEREAS, such impacts have adversely affected the City’s economy including reductions in tax revenue, loss of economic output, and loss of jobs either temporarily or permanently to other jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, lower Manhattan is also home to a developing 24-hour residential community, and the events of September 11, 2001 have impacted area residents, including damage to and displacement from apartments and homes, closure of area schools, and restrictions on vehicular and pedestrian traffic; and

WHEREAS, such impacts have adversely affected the City’s economy including a nearly 40% decline in residential occupancy rates in lower Manhattan, with resulting loss of revenue to building owners, area stores, and cultural institutions; and

WHEREAS, an area of concern to both the business and residential communities in lower Manhattan is the quality of the environment, including air quality, in the aftermath of September 11; and

WHEREAS, the City is addressing these concerns by, among other things, cooperating with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (“FEMA”) on programs to clean building exteriors and interiors of residential apartments of WTC-related dust and debris; and

WHEREAS, communicating the progress of these efforts, and of other governmental efforts to protect and preserve the quality of the environment in lower Manhattan is critical to maintain public confidence in the recovery and revitalization of the area; and

WHEREAS, in turn, the recovery and revitalization of lower Manhattan is critical to the long-term economic health and well-being of the City; and

WHEREAS, DBS and DEP have agreed to cooperate on procuring, managing and paying for the services of a public relations consulting firm to gather and disseminate information, respond to public inquiries, and otherwise foster communication between government and the public on progress in the recovery and revitalization of lower Manhattan;

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

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