Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 15:19:19 -0400 (EDT)
From: Louis Epstein
Subject: WTC:Looking To July 20th


I have beem advocating the restoration of the Twin Towers to at
least their former height since the day they fell...I still have
an email I sent on the afternoon of the 11th.

September 15th saw the birth of this email list,at first maybe a
dozen addresses of people who had posted newsgroup messages insisting
on full-scale reconstruction.It has steadily grown as new pro-rebuilders
have been located,while anyone who ever asks is immediately removed.

With this mailing the number of good addresses(some bounce for unclear
reasons) is approaching 500,thanks to over a score of additional people
Erik Sieb told me about,after they posted about his design concept
with the bridged triple towers.Anyone who wants buildings at least as
tall as the old Twins,somewhere within the old superblock,is welcome.

Now comes July 20th.

Robert A. Heinlein observed in 1976 that the significance of July 20th
might be remembered after that of July 4th was forgotten...

On this day in 1969,
men from Earth first set foot on another celestial body,the Moon.
(I was eight at the time).

On this day in 1976,
a probe from Earth first made a soft landing on another planet,Mars.
(I was fifteen at the time).

In both cases the early promise of continued exploration has not
been redeemed.

Now,July 20th 2002.
THousands will come together to exchange views on what to do with
the site long home to the tallest buildings in New York,twice
(Hudson Terminal Buildings and WTC) home to twin high-rises
constructed as the largest buildings in the world.

Will the third time be the charm,
and the needed follow-through be made this time?

Abraham Lincoln said at Gettysburg,"we must nobly save or
meanly lose the last best hope on Earth"...this is little
different.The spiritual failure that would be embodied by
allowing smaller-scale construction to take the place of
the lost Towers is heart-wrenching.

Those of us who are there must answer every counterargument
with patience and fortitude.

A site from which all human remains have been removed need
not be treated as a cemetery.

Taller buildings are necessarily built stronger,and thus safer,
than short ones...the old safety features were greater than those
of shorter buildings and will only be improved upon.

Taller buildings than proposed mean more open space available
on the site,especially if the streets are not necessarily
brought back to limit where they can be placed...being farther
from streets means more safety from truck bombs etc.

If they talk symbolism,answer with symbolism,
if they claim practicality,answer with practicality.

When I first learned of the LTTC II event it appeared
that it was only for members of Civic Alliance groups,
so I came up with the idea of a rally to protest
exclusion,handing out leaflets at the doors of the Javits
Center.When I learned that open registration was indeed
possible the game plan changed to working from within the
meeting...but Joe Wright will be handing out some leaflets
largely based on past emails,assuming he's allowed to do
this.

I have made some copies of the "soft" petition I wrote
(still at http://www.put.com/wtc/petition.html on the web)
and we'll see if we're allowed to seek signatures for these.

I am about 6'2" and bearded,will be wearing a jacket,
and intend to wear my "World Trade Center Restoration
Movement" tag as well as the LTTC-issued tag,if allowed to.
As an additional recognition sign I will be bringing the
book SOMETIME LOFTY TOWERS in my giant envelope,I hope it
is not confiscated.

When we are meeting up after the LTTC II program has ended
I intend to hold the book overhead,open to a favorite shot
of the Twins lit up at night...that should make me easier
to spot.If reporters are interviewing people I will try
to be one of those interviewed.

I don't know if the meeting will be on the upper or lower level
of the Javits Center and thus whether the upper or lower lobby
would be more convenient for us to congregate in when the meeting
breaks up...hopefully we will all have found each other,and said
goodbye to those not attending the dinner,before we head over to
the diner,though those who miss the main group can still meet up
with us there.

34th Street runs by the south end of the Javits Center,the Javits
faces 11th Avenue,the diner is two blocks over on 9th Avenue.The
target time for dinner is 5:30 PM,the LTTC program is SCHEDULED
to end at 4 PM,no idea how tight that will be or what press ops
may be presented afterward but I think I'm allowing enough time.

Those of you not in attendance,and I know that is most of my readers,
can of course do your part...look at the plans,send your arguments,
seek petition signatures,communicate to the newspapers,communicate to
the approriate authorities.The voice not raised is not heard,we
have to be the ones heard.

The Phase I comment deadline is after the next hearing in Manhattan,
where possible participate in both!

I've noted before that the Taipei Financial Center now under
construction has a 1470-foot roofline and 1667-foot spire tip;
I was wrong,however,in thinking that was the tallest roof of a
building classified as under construction.Union Square in Hong
Kong,though it has no spire,is supposed to have a 1575-foot roof
when it opens in 2007...though only 102 stories and less office
space than one WTC Tower.Another reason not to think small.

The NY Post board continues to grow with more pro-rebuilding postings.
I have a new email alias wtc@put.com that can be used for new recruitment.

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