Saturday, August 26, 2006
Letters to the Editor
The Jersey Journal
The Friends of Liberty State Park must reply to the letter by the father of a
9/11 victim, James S. Gray of Manalapan, in support of the LSP 9/11 Memorial
waterfront Terminal Plaza location. We must express again that park users who
strongly oppose this sacred view-blocking, massive Hill and Walls design in this
location feel tremendous empathy and compassion for the pain of victims'
families. Park users are good, decent people, who, like all Americans, were
deeply affected by the tragedy of 9/11.
In our hearts, we know that this memorial in this location is a monumental
mistake. That is why we are calling upon Governor Corzine to protect the sacred
views and the open public plaza for state, national, and international visitors
to one of the greatest parks in the world.
The Friends fully support a 9/11 Memorial to complement the Grove of
Remembrance, the 691 trees planted for New Jersey's victims, and its walking
path just south of the cobblestone Zapp Drive. We oppose this memorial by a New
York architect for this location as part of our 18-year mission to protect and
preserve LSP as a national treasure.
Park users see clearly that the Hill and Walls on the former Terminal Public
Plaza blocks spiritually essential NYC skyline views and therefore does a
terrible injustice to those who use LSP now and for future generations, and also
to the legacy and memory of 9/11.
Up until the Aug. 16 public meeting held by the Friends, at which approximately
250 dedicated and diverse park users respectfully opposed the Hill and Walls on
the Plaza, there had been zero public meetings. After the open design
competition orientation meetings, a jury of eight people, half of whom came from
out of state, picked six designs and then victims' family representatives chose
this design. Once the jury picked six designs out of 320 submissions, the public
was totally excluded. The American way of seeking democratic public input on
this important public project was cast aside.
The 10-foot-high by 200-foot-long hill blocks the "national shrine"
views toward Ground Zero, Lower Manhattan and the river itself, on which people
were evacuated on 9/11. Before the hill existed, people within several hundred
feet of the river were able to see the dramatic views of the entire skyline and
river. The 30-foot-high by 200-foot-long walls will block views up and down the
river and to and from the historic landmark CRRNJ Terminal. Also, the hill
covers over the Terminal Plaza, LSP's public gathering place for celebrating
life as people enjoy concerts, festivals and river activity, and for reflecting
on the panoramic views with awe, sadness and hope for the future.
The Friends thank all park advocates who have expressed themselves. We are also
very grateful to these elected officials for their strong and clear leadership
and for expressing their opposition at the public meeting: Jersey City Mayor
Jerramiah Healy, who called the governor in early July and who approved the
city's providing sound equipment and chairs for the public meeting; Assemblyman
Lou Manzo, who is sponsoring a bill to require state park public hearings;
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise (whose staffperson, former Councilwoman Lois
Shaw, represented him), Freeholder Bill O'Dea and Councilman Steve Lipski.
We ask victims' families to please be patient and listen to and respect the
views of LSP users about the negative consequences of this design in this
location. We urge Governor Corzine to listen to the voice of park users and to
facilitate a resolution.
May God bless America and Liberty State Park.
SAM PESIN PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OF LIBERTY STATE PARK JERSEY CITY
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