Hoboken 9/11 Memorial Delayed Again
The city doesn't yet have a permanent memorial to remember those lost in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Nearly 12 years after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, a memorial for the 57 Hoboken residents who died on 9/11 has been delayed once more.
Unable to come to an agreement on Wednesday night about approving a $500,000 bond for construction on the proposed memorial on Pier A Park, the measure failed.
Director of Community Development Brandy Forbes told the council the money was necessary to buy new glass panels — the ones purchased in 2006 aren’t resistant to major weather events such as hurricanes — and complete the design.
“This is an abomination to the families who lost loved ones,” said Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo, “Everyone here should be ashamed of themselves.”
Forbes explained the process of the negotiations with the 9/11 memorial committee to the city council on Wednesday night. The committee is a group assembled after the attacks in 2001, with the goal of designing and agreeing upon a permanent memorial.
“I think it’d be extremely disingenuous to not move on this tonight,” said Council President Peter Cunningham.
A stalemate ended the conversation and the vote failed after half the council — consisting of Cunningham, Jen Giattino, Ravi Bhalla and David Mello — voted “yes” to approve the bond, while the other half — consisting of Russo, Tim Occhipinti, Theresa Castellano and Beth Mason — voted “no.”
“What has happened since 2006?” Asked Mason. “We rushed to get some panels done with a design that all of a sudden then we turned around and changed it?”
Castellano said Thursday that over $500,000 had already been spent on two designs, and that the $500,000 bond was an "additional expense," she wrote in an email to Patch.
There is only one company that produces glass that’s stable enough to withstand major weather events, Forbes said on Wednesday.
It took the 9/11 memorial committee multiple years to agree on the design of the memorial, but also on its location and scope. The design was finalized in 2011.
An earlier design, introduced under a previous administration, included a special pier that extended into the Hudson. That was too expensive, Mayor Dawn Zimmer has said in previous interviews.
In September 2011, shortly before the ten-year anniversary of the attack, Zimmer said that the city was about to go out for bid to find a company to construct the memorial.
The glass panels of the design will be engraved with the names of those Hobokenites who passed away in the terrorist attacks, as well as other words such as "loved one," "mother" and "child."
“It’s unfortunate if this issue is being politicized,” said Bhalla, who approved the ordinance.
On the other side of the dais, Russo disagreed.
“I am not walking down this road,” the councilman said, “until a finalized plan is in front of me with no more hiccups.”
recallbethmason
9:28 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
I am simply amazed beth mason has the "balls" to vote this down. I know someone who lost their son in the 9-11 attack and he lived in Hoboken. His name will be on that memorial, shame on you beth mason.
Mr.budget
1:20 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Thinngs take time, its only been 12 years
fa
1:20 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
With "leaders" like these I'm always amazed to wake up and see another day has been granted to us, as a society. While I did not lose family as the person above (God bless you and his memory), I have been wondering what has happened to my donation for the memorial, given over 10 years ago, while I was unemployed. Hopefully I'll see something in the park before I die.
Bokenlvr
1:20 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Each of the 4 of them are a complete disgrace. They really call themselves public servants. Not by a long shot - they're only serving themselves
Scott M. Siegel
2:30 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
I never believed they would go this low. 9/11 and it's remembrance should be should be a nonpartisan issue. But with 4 obstructionists....
PeoplePlease
2:30 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
12 years later…we want to spend half a million +? You know what stands up to weather….steel…and stone…and it’s a lot cheaper than “special glass”. Time for plan b or c or g here folks. The days of wine and roses are over. Or if the majority is so aghast, tap into that 10MM surplus.
DaHorsey, SmartyJones of MSV
4:04 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Pushing the destruction of the surplus game/lie is just not going to work anymore post Sandy. Don't believe scrapping the plan before implementation to start from scratch is viable nor desired by most.
Story and video leading to the vote. Absolutely disgusting but this is the legacy of these Hoboken Sopranos as we live it:
http://www.hobokenhorse.com/2013/03/hoboken-sopranos-vote-down-9-11-memorial.html
Michael Lenz
1:11 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Just for the record, Hoboken no longer has a $10 million cash surplus. That ship sailed long ago -- aided on its way by an avalanche of inaccuracy and innuendo courtesy of our councilwoman from the second ward .
If memory serves the remaining cash surplus following budget adoption was $5 million two years ago, and just under $3 million last year.
This year's remaining cash surplus after budget introduction is only $2 million..
There are just no magic hidden reserves. Even if we borrow, this half million, like every other half million, must ultimately come from taxing more, spending less, or getting someone else to pay for it, and i don't see anyone offering to do that.
Michael Lenz
1:11 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
On a larger note, 9/11 was a tragedy that scarred us all, and Hoboken and its people were hit especially hard. Finding a suitable way to remember those lost and comfort those living and yet to come is hard enough without some using this as yet another political football.
This is NOT the place to score political points.
HudsonStreet
1:11 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Sad that Castelano, Mason, Russo & Occhipinti keep hurting the good people of Hoboken to continue to try to gain some small bit of political advantage to use in November.
rob j
1:11 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
I would really like to see this completed. My concerns are the cost $500k bond? How can the director say that there is only one company that creates or produces hurricane resistant glass..... There is at the very least 50 glass companies in Florida alone that create that product. It is not that expensive. Most waterfront properties in hurricane prone areas are advised by insurance and contractors to install that kind of glass for large windows, patio door,and glass wall systems . I find that extremely disturbing. Stop the politics . Lets get it done
recallbethmason
9:01 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
People please, it is disgusting that you are trying to make this sensitive issue political. Loved ones died on this day, have a little respect for those families and shut the f--- up.
cassandra
3:34 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013
The usual incompetence at play