New York, NY – President Barack Obama will get a firsthand look at how construction is progressing at the World Trade Center site. He’s scheduled to arrive in New York City on Thursday afternoon, along with Michelle Obama.
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They are expected to head to One World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, where they will meet elected officials including Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
One World Trade Center, the monolith being built to replace the twin towers destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, is expected to be completed by early 2014. As of Wednesday, steel has been erected up to the 104th floor, and workers have begun installing marble finishing on the ground floor.
The museum that is supposed to be built at the site hasn’t seen the same progress.
It was originally scheduled to open on the 10th anniversary of the attacks, but has largely stopped over a financial dispute between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the site, and the foundation that controls the memorial and museum.
Work has been slowed since late last year, when the subcontractors at the site stopped getting paid. The Port Authority claimed the Sept. 11 memorial foundation owed it $300 million for infrastructure and revised project costs, while the foundation argued the port instead owed it money because of project delays. Three powerful political figures have been entangled in the dispute: The governors of New York and New Jersey control the port, while New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is the foundation’s chairman.
The delay has concerned family members, who are worried about whether they’ll ever have the place to mourn their loved ones that they were promised.
Earlier this month, both sides said they were close to an agreement in the dispute.
“has largely stopped over a financial dispute between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey”
which ones are the zallies and which ones are the ahronis?
Every time Obama comes to N.Y.C., he disrupts the peace and tranquility of the lives of New Yorkers, by tying up traffic, and restricting the normal flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Also, look how much money is spent on Air Force One for a one hour plane ride, as well as the cost of security, which the N.Y.C.P.D. provides. In 1973, President Nixon took a regularly scheduled commercial airliner to the West Coast, to save on the cost of fuel. Why can’t Obama do the same?
I never saw a president who came to new york as often as this one. i think he is here more than the white house. its inconsiderate already, visit some other states!!!!! 20 times since september?
The man’s no fool. I’d rather be in NY than Washington anytime.