As a resident of Battery Park City, Rachel is always keeping her ear to the street -- if its south of Chambers. The best part of living in BPC is endless and eclectic music and events in and around the area. The sunsets too aren't so shabby!
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The planned location of the Park51 Mosque a.k.a "The Ground Zero Mosque"
He was 14 at the time of the September 11th attacks, probably unaware that merely 5 years later he would be responsible for finding one of the most controversial developments in the nation.
According to reports published in the New York Daily News today, Francisco Patino was working for developer Sharif El-Gamal to help research and find an appropriate location for the Park51 development.
“I told him to go out and find available buildings for the project, and he did. He’s a phenomenal kid,” Gamal is quoted in the same article, “We were looking at buildings all over the area. I liked a lot of them but this was the one we ended up on. It was just meant to be.”
Patino, 23, currently works at Chase Manhattan Bank and has gained notoriety as a contestant on “American Inventor” a popular TV show that aired in 2006.
The article also mentions, “Patino was barely a man in 2006 and had only come to this country when he was 12. No young newcomer could be expected to understand the sensitivities beneath the contradictions.”
Map of estimated elemental carbon concentrations (Credit: NYCDOH)
There’s something in the air in Battery Park City!
A report released by the New York City Department of Health yesterday confirms that even in our quiet neighborhood, our community district reports the “highest particulate concentration” or high levels of smog in the city.
Particulate matter consists of pollen, dust and other materials in the area — mostly found in high trafficked areas, or areas flanked by major highways or thoroughfares, including in our areas, the West Side Highway and the entrance to the Holland Tunnel.
Particulate Matter in New York City (Credit: NYCDOH)
The study which was conducted during the summer months of 2009 also found that most of the major summertime pollutants are concentrated in densely populated areas, where traffic is more congested and where more fuel is used for cooking and water heating.
The particulants are small enough to “penetrate into the lungs, causing inflammation of the airways, exacerbating lung and heart disease.”
The study also stipulates that cities with high PM2.5 pollution had shorter life expectancies.
“The NYCCAS report reinforces the need to make our buildings more efficient and reduce vehicle emissions. The latest report also demonstrates that traffic congestion in the city’s central business districts has an impact on air quality throughout the city and must be viewed as a citywide issue.”
To view and access the entire report visit New York City’s Department of Health website.
Are you worried about the  air quality report in our area?
A once embattled World Trade Center developer, Larry Silverstein is praising the rate of construction at the World Trade Center.
So much so, that his optimism has predicted the World Trade Center site to be fully completed in the next five to six years, as reported by NY1.com.
“Here we are, after nine years of this, and this thing is now moving forward at a terrific pace, and we are thrilled with the acceleration and the reality of what’s transpiring before us on a daily basis,” Silverstein is quoted in the same report.
Silverstein’s relationship with the Port Authority in regards to the rebuilding of World Trade Center can be described best as contentious. Silverstein who developed the first tower to rise, 7 World Trade Center, has often complained over the speed of which it was taking the Port Authority to move ahead with the rebuilding of his other buildings, which include 2 World Trade Center, 3 World Trade Center and 4 World Trade Center.
In March, after 9 years of negotiation towards financing, Silverstein and the Port Authority finally reached a tentative agreement and commenced with construction.
According to the report. Tower 3 will get 5 stories of retail (do we smell a mall?)
Tower 2 will be built only to street level, deferring the air rights back to Silverstein if the economy should pick up.
Although Silverstein’s optimism is infectious for those long waiting for the rebuilding, Port Authority spokesman John Kelly was guarded in designating a timeline for completion,“We are continuing to work together to get the entire World Trade Center built and restored. That partnership has ensured that every project on the site is under active construction.”
What do you think about the rate of construction at the World Trade Center so far?
President Obama breaks his silence on Park51 mosque
President Obama finally broke his silence on the Park51 mosque and community center and stipulates that Muslims are within their right to build a place of worship during a State Dinner at the White House celebrating the Muslim holiday Ramadan:
“Let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country,” President Obama said in the State Dining Room. “That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable.
We must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of Lower Manhattan,” he said. “The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country. The pain and suffering experienced by those who lost loved ones is unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground.
Our enemies respect no freedom of religion. Al Qaeda’s cause is not Islam – it is a gross distortion of Islam. These are not religious leaders – these are terrorists who murder innocent men, women and children. In fact, al Qaeda has killed more Muslims than people of any other religion – and that list of victims includes innocent Muslims who were killed on 9/11.
It is a testament to the wisdom of our founders that America remains deeply religious – a nation where the ability of peoples of different faiths to coexist peacefully and with mutual respect for one another stands in contrast to the religious conflict that persists around the globe.”
Nearly 24 hours later, after GOP scrutiny attacked on his comments, President Obama made a second statement while vacationing on the Florida coast:
“I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there.”
What do you think about President Obama’s comments on Park51?
The planned location of the Park51 Mosque a.k.a "The Ground Zero Mosque"
Developers of the Park51 center have said they are open to dialogue with Governor Paterson to discuss alternate location options for the mosque.
Earlier this week, Paterson held a press conference requesting an open discussion, “I think it’s rather clear that building a center there meets all the requirements, but it does seem to ignite an immense amount of anxiety among the citizen of New York and people everywhere, and I think not without cause.â€
The effort is to ease the tension and nationwide scrutiny the Park51 development has caused. A CNN poll suggested that nearly 70% of all Americans across political and age lines were opposed to what has been dubbed the “Ground Zero Mosque.”
Although developer Shari El-Gamal is open to options, they have been focused in opening their Park51 center in Lower Manhattan, according to a report in today’s New York Daily News.
Paterson had suggested offering state-owned land for the project. Battery Park City is a state owned land in Lower Manhattan, as is Governor’s Island.
It’s one thing to come to terms with the closings of restaurants and stores, but hospital and healthcare center closings are a whole other issue.
After losing St. Vincents hospital in April and an option for urgent care — several new options have come into light to serve both emergency and non-emergency medical needs in our area.
Downtown Hospital has announced plans to open a “Wellness and Prevention Center” in the fall, which will help to provide preventative healthcare for the downtown community.
The new facility will be located at 83 Gold Street on the first floor of Downtown Hospital. Some of the services provided include echocardiography, mammography machines and 15 examination rooms. The staff of 8-10 will include hospital doctors, nurses and other medical professionals and can serve 2,500 patients a year. All insurance plans will be accepted, and for those without insurance — payment options will be offered.
The construction for this new facility is slated to be completed by the end of this month for services to commence in the fall. Funding for the wellness center was provided by the hospital, State and  Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, with total funding equalling $11.4 million dollars.
Part of the State funding has gone into the construction and expansion of labor and delivery services, including a newborns intensive care unit — a service lost to Lower Manhattan after the closing of St. Vincents hospital in April.
The LMDC has also allotted $2.5 million towards expanding M.R.I services for Lower Manhattan patients as well. The radiology center will also be located on the first floor of the hospital.
Another emergency medical services option has also popped up, albeit a private one. Pinnacle Emergency Medical on 200 Chambers Street has a 24-Hour on call ER physician services as well as walk in medical care during their open office hours. That facility will also open in the fall on September 27.
As for the former site of St. Vincents Hospital, a new medical facility was slated to move into the location — but has hit a snag in opening the facility this summer.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, ”
An urgent-care center that was anticipated to open this month at the former St. Vincent’s Hospital in Lower Manhattan has been delayed and its operators are searching for other sites because of leasing disagreements at the bankrupt medical facility.
Officials with North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and St. Vincent’s said they had expected to sign a lease by now that would have allowed North Shore to ready the hospital’s emergency room this month. But three months after St. Vincent’s closed, the sides have been unable to agree on terms. Neither would elaborate.”
All in all, good news for the health of Lower Manhattan residents and our community.
Opponents of the Park51 mosque are found nationwide.
Results from a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll today shows that opposition to the Park51 mosque is not limited to New York City voters — but nationwide.
70 percent of all Americans oppose the plan to build a mosque 600 feet from the Ground Zero / World Trade Center site. While only 29 percent were in favor of the Park51 mosque.
In terms of the breakdown of those polled, opposition crossed all political lines and age demographics.
54 percent  of Democrats polled were against the development, while 82 percent of Republicans polled were against it. 70 percent of Independents polled were also against the building of the mosque.
6 in 10 people under the age of 50 oppose the plan.
These poll results come after a recent Quinnipiac poll determined that most New York voters were against the building of a mosque at Ground Zero.
The Associated Press is reporting that the Governor has offered state help to help the developers of the Park51 mosque if they are willing to relocate the project away from the surrounding Ground Zero area.
According to the report, Governor Paterson was quoted in a press conference today saying, “I think it’s rather clear that building a center there meets all the requirements, but it does seem to ignite an immense amount of anxiety among the citizen of New York and people everywhere, and I think not without cause.”
“I am very sensitive to the desire of those who are adamant against it to see something else worked out. We are really suffering in many respects — impassioned feelings were bound to emerge from a mosque just a couple of blocks from where nearly 3,000 people died at the hands of Muslim extremists.”
There was no comment yet from the developers of the project as well as from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
According to the rest of the report, a recent Marist College poll released today found that 53 percent of New York City voters polled oppose the construction of the Ground Zero site, with only 34 percent favoring the developers plan.
American Freedom Defense Initiative Bus Ads Run in Several Cities (Credit: AFDI)
Ads decrying the Park51 mosque near Ground Zero will run on New York City buses, after gaining approval from the MTA today.
The campaign is being funded by The American Freedom Defense Initiative, a New Hampshire organization, who had sued MTA in federal court last week to accept the ads.
According to the groups spokesperson, David Yerushalmi the ads are “a victory not for free speech but against political correctness and Mayor Bloomberg’s bullying.”
The ad features an airplane headed toward the burning World Trade Center along with the message, “WTC Mega Mosque — Why There”
This is not the first time the American Freedom Defense Initiative has run controversial ads. They have also purchased transit advertising calling for the questioning of Islam in several other cities including San Francisco, Miami and Minneapolis — which have been deemed offensive by different groups in each city.
According to a statement from the MTA, “While the MTA does not endorse the views expressed in this or other ads that appear on the transit system, the advertisement … was accepted today after its review under MTA’s advertising guidelines and governing legal standards.”
