Do we need a $973-million museum for 9/11?

[kurth]

May 9, 2006
9/11 Group Suspends Fund-Raising for Memorial
By DAVID W. DUNLAP

The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, which was set up to solicit the money to build the 9/11 memorial and museum, indefinitely suspended fund-raising yesterday.

"The decision was made to not actively pursue new fund-raising efforts until complete clarity can be achieved with respect to the design and costs of the project," said Thomas S. Johnson, chairman of the foundation's executive committee, after a board meeting by conference call.

Cost concerns emerged publicly last week with the disclosure of an estimate by the construction manager, Bovis Lend Lease, that the memorial and museum would cost $672 million and that it would take a total of at least $973 million to fully develop the memorial setting with a cooling plant, roadways, sidewalks, utilities and stabilized foundation walls. An estimate earlier this year put the cost of the memorial and memorial museum at $494 million.

The foundation is the nonprofit corporation that is to construct, own and operate the memorial. It has raised $131.4 million to date...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/09/nyregion/09memorial.html

[xultar]

1. I'm sorry but no.

[bigscott]

2. I'm not sorry

but NO we do not. And I am sure my two friends that died there that day would agree with me.

[phylny]

16. I live in New York, worked many years ago in the WTC, and I say

no as well. Sorry to say, if I or a loved one had died that day due to the attacks, I want to see $973 million given to education, libraries, parks - something for children, something for babies, something for teens, something for the homeless. Something to help someone underpriveledged.

A living memorial.

[mdmc]

3. will the museum have a mihop wing

then yes!

[katinmn]

4. We can't afford it right now. If the war profiteers want to fund it. fine.

[theboss]

5. $197 Million was raised for the WWII Memorial in DC

I'm not quite sure what the money was spent on since there should have been no cost in acquiring the land. But if that was the going rate in 2000 on public land in DC, I can't imagine what a monument on was is essentially private land in New York would cost.

[MADem]

8. And what a GERMANIC EYESORE it is, too!!!!

I HATE that thing. It looks like it was designed by Hitler on acid...and seeing as a German firm got the contract to build it, it was the ultimate cruel joke.

There's nothing glorious about war. When you are in a place like this, you can feel the folly of it all:

[MADem]

6. This is an emotional issue

But if my opinion had weight, I'd say NO too. Enough with the somber dramatic memorials. If they named a place where people could go and LIVE, CELEBRATE and ENJOY LIFE in honor of the event, I could get behind it. But who needs more artsy fartsy empty chairs, reflecting pools, stopped clocks, twisted wreckage sculptures, and other lame artistic expressions that are placed there for people to just LOOK AT, and walk away.

Whatever happened to a simple, small statue, a nice park, a plaque written in clearly understandable English, that states in simple terms what happened? In a place where kids can play, people can enjoy the sunshine, and LIVE? Life is, after all, for the living. And if you really want to honor someone, you do it with a celebration of life.

[NYCGirl]

7. I'd like to see a park built there with maybe a small memorial, but

I don't think we need a "Freedom Tower" or more office buildings.

[Missy M]

9. I think a monument or wall with the names of the victims.....

would be a proper, with a small park surrounding the memorial. What would you need a museum for, with roadways and sidewalks including a cooling plant. That is ridiculous. Sometimes less is better.

[earth mom]

10. A museum of lies about 9/11?

All so Bush Co can continue to cover up LIHOP/MIHOP?! Hell No! :grr:

I'm in favor of a park and memorial to those who died. With NO buildings for commerce on the site at all. The site should be a place to honor those who died-nothing more.

Of course that will never happen because it's ALL about money and profits doncha know?! :sarcasm:

[CJCRANE]

11. Spend the money on a proper investigation..nt

[Raster]

12. I would rather the money be spent of finding out WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

on 9/11. The best museum, the finest memorial would be THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH!

[TahitiNut]

13. Build 9,000 $108,000 homes for homeless people instead.

What an appalling, bullshit waste of resources! :grr:

[theboss]

14. Can I have one of those homes?

I mean, I own one already, but since you are giving them away....

[TahitiNut]

15. What part of "homeless" wasn't clear?

:wtf: