Delays in reopening the Statue of Liberty
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Really Old "Member"
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From: Kennesaw, Ga. USA
Delays in reopening the Statue of Liberty
There is in the current New York Times, a story about the reasons for the delay in re-opening of what for me, as the greatgrandson of immigrants, is one of the primary symbols of what this country stands for.
I don't want to editorialize, but to commercialize this symbol of our countries history really upsets me. As well, if it is true, the screwing around of the various agencies as to how to use the money not only available from the "sponsors" but also what I read as dedicated federal funds seems pretty pathetic.
I will leave it to my betters to provide a link, I am not good at that but it is interesting if somewhat sad reading.
Bill
I don't want to editorialize, but to commercialize this symbol of our countries history really upsets me. As well, if it is true, the screwing around of the various agencies as to how to use the money not only available from the "sponsors" but also what I read as dedicated federal funds seems pretty pathetic.
I will leave it to my betters to provide a link, I am not good at that but it is interesting if somewhat sad reading.
Bill
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Couldn't find the Times Article, but I found this:
http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/li...t%20040206.htm
I also belong to the Ellis Island / Statue of Liberty foundation, and I received an email from them in the last month or two soliciting money to raise the last million needed to reach the 5 Million goal. Then the last of the renovations and safety features would be in place to allow the base to be open to tourist, but not the crown.
http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/li...t%20040206.htm
I also belong to the Ellis Island / Statue of Liberty foundation, and I received an email from them in the last month or two soliciting money to raise the last million needed to reach the 5 Million goal. Then the last of the renovations and safety features would be in place to allow the base to be open to tourist, but not the crown.
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Really Old "Member"
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From: Kennesaw, Ga. USA
Morning John:
Hope all is well with you and yours.
Go to www.nytimes.com, go to search and put in statue of liberty and you will find two three stories related to this including the possibility of some sort of official investigation into what went wrong.
Don't want to misquote here, but it was stated something like the Feds weren't even sure if they wanted to reopen the Statue of Liberty to the public.
Kind of sad, that.
Bill
Hope all is well with you and yours.
Go to www.nytimes.com, go to search and put in statue of liberty and you will find two three stories related to this including the possibility of some sort of official investigation into what went wrong.
Don't want to misquote here, but it was stated something like the Feds weren't even sure if they wanted to reopen the Statue of Liberty to the public.
Kind of sad, that.
Bill
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Found this article, rather than linking, I will print it here:
Lady Liberty fund drive under investigation
Other monuments have reopened since 9-11; feds ask what's taking statue so long
MIKE MCINTIRE
New York Times
NEW YORK - Federal investigators have begun an inquiry into the National Park Service's dealings with a nonprofit foundation it relied on to handle the reopening of the Statue of Liberty, according to a government official.
The inspector general of the Interior Department, which oversees the park service, is investigating how the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation spent donations it raised for projects at the monument and whether it followed federal guidelines on competitive bidding for certain contracts, the official said.
The inquiry, which the official said had begun within the last two weeks, will also explore why the foundation did not spend more of the money it already had for the reopening, instead of mounting a separate fund-raising campaign that has collected nearly $7 million from corporations, the public and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who contributed $100,000 of his own money.
"We want to know, why do you have to solicit $100,000 from Mike Bloomberg when you're sitting on $30 million?" said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Officials at the foundation and the park service did not respond to messages seeking comment Sunday.
The New York Times reported Sunday that delays by the park service and reluctance by the foundation to spend its money have prevented the statue's reopening, 2 1/2 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack forced the closing of major American landmarks. Other sites, including the Washington Monument and the public rooms of the White House, have reopened.
Officials at the foundation and the park service defended their roles in interviews for that article. The foundation's president, Stephen Briganti, insisted that the reopening of the statue was not slowed because of money, but because plans had not been put into place. He said it was the foundation's policy not to use its endowment to pay for major projects.
The park service said that it traditionally turns to the foundation for help with projects at the monument, and it defended its pace on the reopening as prudent.
Gale Norton, secretary of the interior, announced last week that public access to the statue's base, which houses a museum, is expected to resume this summer, after safety improvements are put in place. But visitors will not be allowed to enter the statue and ascend the spiral stairs to its crown.
Lady Liberty fund drive under investigation
Other monuments have reopened since 9-11; feds ask what's taking statue so long
MIKE MCINTIRE
New York Times
NEW YORK - Federal investigators have begun an inquiry into the National Park Service's dealings with a nonprofit foundation it relied on to handle the reopening of the Statue of Liberty, according to a government official.
The inspector general of the Interior Department, which oversees the park service, is investigating how the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation spent donations it raised for projects at the monument and whether it followed federal guidelines on competitive bidding for certain contracts, the official said.
The inquiry, which the official said had begun within the last two weeks, will also explore why the foundation did not spend more of the money it already had for the reopening, instead of mounting a separate fund-raising campaign that has collected nearly $7 million from corporations, the public and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who contributed $100,000 of his own money.
"We want to know, why do you have to solicit $100,000 from Mike Bloomberg when you're sitting on $30 million?" said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Officials at the foundation and the park service did not respond to messages seeking comment Sunday.
The New York Times reported Sunday that delays by the park service and reluctance by the foundation to spend its money have prevented the statue's reopening, 2 1/2 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack forced the closing of major American landmarks. Other sites, including the Washington Monument and the public rooms of the White House, have reopened.
Officials at the foundation and the park service defended their roles in interviews for that article. The foundation's president, Stephen Briganti, insisted that the reopening of the statue was not slowed because of money, but because plans had not been put into place. He said it was the foundation's policy not to use its endowment to pay for major projects.
The park service said that it traditionally turns to the foundation for help with projects at the monument, and it defended its pace on the reopening as prudent.
Gale Norton, secretary of the interior, announced last week that public access to the statue's base, which houses a museum, is expected to resume this summer, after safety improvements are put in place. But visitors will not be allowed to enter the statue and ascend the spiral stairs to its crown.
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Originally posted by serotta
Officials at the foundation and the park service defended their roles in interviews for that article. The foundation's president, Stephen Briganti, insisted that the reopening of the statue was not slowed because of money, but because plans had not been put into place. He said it was the foundation's policy not to use its endowment to pay for major projects.
Officials at the foundation and the park service defended their roles in interviews for that article. The foundation's president, Stephen Briganti, insisted that the reopening of the statue was not slowed because of money, but because plans had not been put into place. He said it was the foundation's policy not to use its endowment to pay for major projects.
They won't be seeing anymore of my money.
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Really Old "Member"
Joined: May 1999
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From: Kennesaw, Ga. USA
John:
Now even Mayor Bloomberg is pissed, he who put $100K in the
pot.
This is turning out to be a pretty ugly story. How at least part of your government works.
Bill
Now even Mayor Bloomberg is pissed, he who put $100K in the
pot.
This is turning out to be a pretty ugly story. How at least part of your government works.
Bill
