Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 01:13:11 -0400 (EDT)
From: Louis Epstein 
To: Bill Hough
Subject: Re: July Rally for Rebuilding WTC Towers


On Thu, 23 May 2002, Bill Hough wrote:

> --- Louis Epstein  wrote:
>
> > However,as it concerns planning for a rally in July,
>
> Louis:
>
> I just got back from the LMRC hearing at Pace,

So did I...

I did NOT get to speak,though I was one of the very first
on line to get in (a pregnant woman who sat in the first row,
I was in the second,was also ignored,we were two of the first
three).

I DID write down the speech I would have given on one of their
comment cards and drop it in a box...and handed my longer written
commentary (which I mailed earlier that day at the post office
which holds the ESDC P.O. Box to which it is addressed) to a few
people,including Whitehead's development vice president,who I
met at the subway station heading home.

Pro-rebuilding speeches (including Bill's) were roughly even
with anti,but the great majority took no position on the Towers,
and most of those were "I'm (from Chinatown/from the Lower East
Side/worried about pollution/really artistic) and you should
care more about me!" type specches...I note that pro-rebuilding
speeches,the first from a 77th floor survivor,were met with much
greater applause and cheers than anti.

Monica Iken's speech was surprisingly moderate...I counted her
in anti's but what she said was similar to some people I counted
as neutrals.She said she knew there would have to be rebuilding
but wanted memorials to come first and nothing to be rushed.

> and they were handing out flyers advertising the "Listening to the City 2"
> event at Javits. They've now announced the date, 7/20/2002

Registration at 8 AM,program 9 AM to 4 PM that day.

> and are telling folks who want to attend to call 800-862-3154 or e-mail
> listening@civic-alliance.org

And ONLY on the Spanish-language flyers they mentioned
a website www.listeningtothecity.org !

> Now, I don't want to rain on the rally parade, but I think people can
> be more effective on the "inside" rather out on the sidewalk. I urge
> everyone to call and try to get on the list. If it turns out that
> access is restricted and people can't get admitted, than by all means
> proceed with the rally as planned. But I'm called this evening and
> asked to be on the list. They took my name-we'll see if they actually
> invite me.

Ron DeVito and I learned from a staffer that apparently getting
the form in is supposed to be as good as a reservation.We'll see!

> I'd suggest you pass this along to your list so people can pick which
> way they wish to go.

It was my intention,once I saw the flyers,to email everyone
about this as soon as I got home...

Yes,I urge EVERYONE to try to register and get to attend the
event,if you can POSSIBLY be in Manhattan on July 20th or 22nd
(the latter date...call the phone number!...is for those who
can't make the Saturday for religious or other reasons).

Those who get excluded,should demonstrate outside,those who
get in,should do whatever we can to move things in a pro-rebuilding
direction.DO NOT,when registering,indicate your sympathies on the
issue,in case they try to filter people.

If they aggressively filter out-of-towners,that creates an
issue for the demonstration outside..."They need to listen
to more than the city!".But there WERE city and state blanks
on the flyer.

DO NOT DELAY as it appears the seats are first come first
served!!

> BH

-=-=-
The World Trade Center towers MUST rise again,
at least as tall as before...or terror has triumphed.