The dispute that has virtually stalled construction on the 9-11
museum was resolved this evening in time for the 11th anniversary of the
terrorist attacks.
The deal by Gov. Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will re-start the work, according to those with direct knowledge of the talks.
Under the framework being discussed, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, would agree to re-start the construction in force and can't stop until the job is done unless the foundation doesn't meet its money goals.
No completion date is included in the deal, though the work is expected to go past next year’s anniversary.
"This agreement represents a meaningful victory for the families," Bloomberg said.
Originally scheduled to open in 2009, the latest museum opening date for Tuesday’s 11th anniversary date will also blow by.
Cuomo and Christie, under the deal, will have more say in the planning of major events at the site, including the annual anniversary commemoration.
Until now, the mayor’s office controlled the event, much to the consternation of Cuomo and Christie, according to some insiders.
Under the agreement, a planning committee made up of representatives of all three power players will try and hash out details of the anniversary event starting four months before each Sept. 11.
An 8-member advisor panel consisting of two appointments each by the New York and New Jersey governors and four from the memorial foundation will settle any disputes.
Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto said the dispute was not over who controls the 9-11 anniversary event but over finances.
"This was about the financing, nothing more, nothing less," Vlasto said.
The foundation agrees to send the Port Authority, which owns the site, $17 million and find construction cost efficiencies to satisfy what had been a $157 funding dispute holding up the construction. Cuomo had said the dispute could cover as much as $300 million.
Cuomo said no additional public funds will be spent to complete the Memorial and Museum.
The Port Authority will also be granted greater access to the foundation’s financial books.
Cuomo and Port Authority officials have complained about what they say are soaring construction costs at the site.
The deal “puts in place a critical and long overdue safeguard to finally protect toll payers and taxpayers from bearing further costs, and, at the same time, put the project on a path for completion,” Cuomo said in a statement Monday evening.
The $680 million project is now scheduled to come in at $1.4 billion--a figure the mayor and foundation officials argue is grossly overstated. They say it’s closer to $710 million.
Cuomo earlier today on Albany radio said he was “cautiously optimistic” a settlement was near.
“Everyone agrees we want to build the museum,” Cuomo said. “It’s important. It will be important for generations to come. We want it done. We also have to do it in a way that is financially feasible.”
Bloomberg before the deal was announced put the blame on the delays on Cuomo’s staff. He said the foundation has given the Port Authority “every single penny that we are required to” and accused the the bi-state agency for holding the funds.
"The governor's not been well informed by his staff,” Bloomberg said. “The obligations that the port has are well documented, and the obligations that the foundation has are well documented.”
Donations have said to have slowed because of the dispute. The foundation expects to have to raise $60 million a year to run the museum once it opens.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2012/09/9-11-museum-deal-reached
The deal by Gov. Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will re-start the work, according to those with direct knowledge of the talks.
Under the framework being discussed, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, would agree to re-start the construction in force and can't stop until the job is done unless the foundation doesn't meet its money goals.
No completion date is included in the deal, though the work is expected to go past next year’s anniversary.
"This agreement represents a meaningful victory for the families," Bloomberg said.
Originally scheduled to open in 2009, the latest museum opening date for Tuesday’s 11th anniversary date will also blow by.
Cuomo and Christie, under the deal, will have more say in the planning of major events at the site, including the annual anniversary commemoration.
Until now, the mayor’s office controlled the event, much to the consternation of Cuomo and Christie, according to some insiders.
Under the agreement, a planning committee made up of representatives of all three power players will try and hash out details of the anniversary event starting four months before each Sept. 11.
An 8-member advisor panel consisting of two appointments each by the New York and New Jersey governors and four from the memorial foundation will settle any disputes.
Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto said the dispute was not over who controls the 9-11 anniversary event but over finances.
"This was about the financing, nothing more, nothing less," Vlasto said.
The foundation agrees to send the Port Authority, which owns the site, $17 million and find construction cost efficiencies to satisfy what had been a $157 funding dispute holding up the construction. Cuomo had said the dispute could cover as much as $300 million.
Cuomo said no additional public funds will be spent to complete the Memorial and Museum.
The Port Authority will also be granted greater access to the foundation’s financial books.
Cuomo and Port Authority officials have complained about what they say are soaring construction costs at the site.
The deal “puts in place a critical and long overdue safeguard to finally protect toll payers and taxpayers from bearing further costs, and, at the same time, put the project on a path for completion,” Cuomo said in a statement Monday evening.
The $680 million project is now scheduled to come in at $1.4 billion--a figure the mayor and foundation officials argue is grossly overstated. They say it’s closer to $710 million.
Cuomo earlier today on Albany radio said he was “cautiously optimistic” a settlement was near.
“Everyone agrees we want to build the museum,” Cuomo said. “It’s important. It will be important for generations to come. We want it done. We also have to do it in a way that is financially feasible.”
Bloomberg before the deal was announced put the blame on the delays on Cuomo’s staff. He said the foundation has given the Port Authority “every single penny that we are required to” and accused the the bi-state agency for holding the funds.
"The governor's not been well informed by his staff,” Bloomberg said. “The obligations that the port has are well documented, and the obligations that the foundation has are well documented.”
Donations have said to have slowed because of the dispute. The foundation expects to have to raise $60 million a year to run the museum once it opens.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2012/09/9-11-museum-deal-reached
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