By Mark Green:
Some 6,000 New Yorkers are missing or dead. The jobs of 100,000 New Yorkers
are at risk. And our City has gone from a projected budget surplus to
predictions of multi-billion dollar deficits.
In the aftermath of this human tragedy, we must protect New Yorkers against
new attacks by terrorists and confront the economic and fiscal crisis that
threatens our city. We must provide safety and security and rebuild our city
and economy. If we succeed, our City will be stronger than ever and well
prepared to take on the challenge of fixing our schools as well.
Over the last three weeks, I've outlined my plans to improve safety and
security in our city in the face of terrorist threats and rebuild our
economy. Today, I am detailing my plans for seeking the type of federal
assistance that is absolutely critical to this effort.
Taken together, this is a comprehensive plan to meet the crisis before us.
In this time of peril, we need action not studies. We need to improve
security, not just talk about it. And we need an approach to Washington that
will redeem President Bush's promise to "rebuild New York City."
And we can't afford to wait until next February to start. Not when our
safety is at stake. Not when with every day that passes more firms look to
leave our city. Not when tens of thousands of New Yorkers employed three
weeks ago face a future of uncertainty and despair.
Make no mistake. There is no precedent in the history of our city for the
complex issues that we face today. But with leadership, we can overcome
these challenges and turn this crisis into opportunity.
Here's my plan:
To Protect New Yorkers Against Terrorism
- Increase police presence and electronic and human surveillance of public
transportation. Strictly prohibit unauthorized personnel from schools.
Require checks or random searches of large bags in museums, stadiums and
theatres.
- Improve security for electric grids, bridges and tunnels, the water supply,
waterways and the harbor.
- Increase personnel assigned to counter-terrorism and designate a
coordinator of all anti-terrorism efforts in the NYPD.
- Create a regional security working group to share intelligence.
- Improve investigation and prosecution of money laundering.
- Implement restrictions on trucks and automobiles in certain areas that
could be the subject of terrorist threats.
To Rebuild Lower Manhattan
- Create a City-State, private-public, business-labor authority to develop a
comprehensive economic revitalization plan. This new super agency, the New
York City Emergency Redevelopment Authority (NYC-ERA), would be accountable
to the Mayor and Governor and empowered by the State Legislature to quickly,
efficiently move the revitalization effort forward.
- Immediately begin to provide temporary space for displaced firms and tax
incentives and low cost financing for firms willing to stay and rebuild.
- Work with Washington and Albany to designate Lower Manhattan a "new kind"
of empowerment zone, providing as-of-right benefits to firms that remain or
relocate to the area.
To Use Federal Aid to Rebuild the City Economy
- Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to fully assess not just the cost
of recovery and clean up, but assistance for businesses and workers
displaced, aid for victims and families, special assistance for firms and
workers affected by tourism and air transportation job losses, repair costs,
additional security costs and a comprehensive economic stimulus program.
- Win additional emergency funding from the federal government and make New
York's recovery a priority as federal agencies make discretionary grant
decisions including:
- Justice Department funding for crime control and Police Department
anti-terrorism initiatives
- Education Department funding for class size reduction and professional
development
- Transportation funding for economic stimulus projects like the Second
Avenue Subway and the Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel
- Targeted Economic Development Administration funding for Lower Manhattan
and other neighborhoods directly affected by the World Trade Center disaster
- HUD funding for new housing initiatives
- HHS funding create a seamless transition from federal welfare to State
safety net programs
- Labor Department funding for job training, workforce development and assistance
to unemployed and dislocated workers
I. SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK
The number one goal of any mayor has always been public safety because
without it not much else counts or works. That goal is now even more vital
as the fact and threat of terrorism rises.
It's desirable and inevitable that officials review security measures in the
aftermath of the World Trade Center attack to better protect our City in the
future. As one who both believes that safety and security must be our top
priority and who's been a life-long civil libertarian, I know that our city
can have both civil order and civil rights, that we can be more secure
without sacrificing our liberties.
Terrorism is a crime. And the NYPD has clearly and unequivocally proven that
the police can have a powerful impact on crime with the right strategies. In
the last decade of the 20th century, New York City confronted a crime crisis
that spread fear and despair throughout our neighborhoods. Many thought that
violent street crime had become a permanent part of this City. Under the
leadership of Mayor Giuliani and Commissioner Bratton, the NYPD proved those
skeptics wrong and restored a sense of safety that this City had not enjoyed
for over thirty years.
In the first decade of this century we face another crisis, a crisis that
also fosters fear and, if unchecked, despair. But if we are willing to engage
in the same bold thinking that led to the reduction of violent crime, we can
check the forces that would deprive us of our security.
Due to the innovative leadership of the Mayor and Jerry Hauer -- as the
City's first head of the Office of Emergency Management -- New York was
already better prepared than any other city to deal with the crisis that we
now confront. But we need to do more.
While no one can have definitive answers yet, it is clear that there are a
series of areas that we need to consider as we begin the task of re-orienting
our police and emergency services in light of the threat of increased
terrorism.
The singular theme that ties together all of these efforts -- "Eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty."
Increasing Public Safety
Any plan to respond to terrorism must begin with efforts to increase the
security of the public. We need to increase security at venues where the
public has traditionally enjoyed unfettered access including subways and
subway stations, railroads, major terminals, buses, stadiums, cultural
institutions, schools, libraries and hospitals.
Increased security will require increased electronic and human surveillance
of public transportation, more police presence, and the strict prohibition of
unauthorized personnel from schools. Required checks or random searches of
large bags in museums, stadiums and theatres, while inconvenient, may become
necessary.
Additional security will also be necessary for electric grids, bridges and
tunnels, the water supply, waterways and the harbor. Obviously, the FAA must
reappraise and strengthen the lax system of airport screening.
The Police Commissioner must also consider and implement restrictions on
trucks and automobiles in certain areas that could be the subject of terr
orist threats.
Police Operations
The NYPD will have to enhance its focus on counter-terrorism. Commissioner
Kerik has already announced that more resources will be devoted to this
effort. We need to build on this important and laudable first step. A new
position should be created inside the NYPD to direct and coordinate
anti-terrorism efforts. This position must have sufficient authority and
resources to maximize the intelligence gathering capacity of the NYPD and the
follow-up investigations that will be necessary. Additionally, the NYPD must
make sure that information is shared with other relevant authorities and that
all activities are conducted with a careful eye toward civil liberties.
One way to increase the amount of intelligence that we gather is to train all
police officers to be sensitive to information that may be relevant to
terrorist activity and make sure that the NYPD has a mechanism to centrally
gather and review the information.
Because of the myriad of governmental policing bodies in the tri-state
region, we should establish a regional security-working group to coordinate
and share such important information.
Moreover, we need to attack cyber-terrorism and increase funding to
investigate and prosecute money laundering. Terrorist activities require
financial support. Disrupting the flow of funding would be an important tool
in reducing the ability of terrorist to mount their operations.
Preparedness
CompStat -- with accurate and timely intelligence, rapid response, effective
tactics and relentless assessment and follow up -- has been a very successful
management tool for the NYPD's crime fighting efforts. A similar model can be
used to combat terrorism.
The scope of the attack on the World Trade Center demonstrates the need
to plan for attacks and disasters of any size. The City needs to identify
and prepare for new threats. Repeated and large scale, multi-agency drills
will have to become the norm. We can never be too prepared or over-anticipate
the scope of a disaster.
Technology
New technology will be an important tool in the fight against terrorism.
Beyond establishing secure, independent and protected telecommunication
capacity for our police and emergency services, we must also take advantage
of emerging technologies that permit equipment to "sniff" for the presence of
bomb making materials or biological elements.
Guarding Against Bias Incidents
While reducing the risk of future terrorist attacks, let's also reach out
and protect communities and individuals that might be the subject of
retaliation. It is important that all New Yorkers focus on who the real enemy
is and not subject followers of certain religions or individuals of certain
ethnicities to harassment or worse.
Conclusion
September 11 changed our lives forever and will require new
strategies and tactics in public security and policing. But we
must also hold dear the rights that we have as Americans and guard
against allowing the terrorist attack to succeed in restricting
them. In much the same way that we can have reduced crime while
respecting constitutional protections, we can take significant
steps to reduce terrorism without trampling on the Constitution.
Just as the attack on the World Trade Center compels us to rebuild
Downtown, it requires that we rethink security measures drafted in a more
tranquil time. I know that New York and New Yorkers will again rise to the
occasion and respond with the right mix of smart, innovative policies.
II. STATE CITY EMERGENCY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
State-City "Emergency Redevelopment Authority"
The criminal attack on the World Trade Center has caused both a human and
economic crisis for our city. This was an attack not just on the World Trade
Center but on world trade itself - an attack apparently waged by people who
reject the freedom and opportunities generated by the extraordinary
marketplace of human creativity, energy and ingenuity known as New York.
Terrorists attacked New York City precisely because it represents the best of
our nation and the free world. Therefore, our nation and allies must not
allow these criminals to terrorize our City's ability to compete in and lead
the global economy in the generation to come. For when New York City comes
back, it will be a victory for America and the World.
Mayor Giuliani has done an extraordinary job in leading our city in these
difficult times. He has embraced a city as it grieves and led a heroic effort
to rescue the victims, comfort their families and begin to return our city to
normalcy. He has earned the deep gratitude of every New Yorker.
Today, I want to outline my thoughts on what our city will have to do to
return to normal . . . to rebuild Lower Manhattan, our economy and our
confidence.
This unprecedented attack will require unprecedented emergency efforts to
rebuild Downtown and preserve its strength as a center of commerce as a
residential community for thousands of New Yorkers. In recent years, the
extraordinary vitality of our city and regional economy has been fueled by
the so-called FIRE sector - finance, insurance and real estate. And all three
components of the FIRE sector have been directly assaulted by the terrorist
attack. Beyond the immeasurable human suffering there is an economic crisis,
one that threatens our city with significant potential job losses, corporate
flight, and reductions in tax revenue that may jeopardize our city's fiscal
balance and our ability to make essential investments.
Surviving and surmounting this criminal attack with our economic strength
intact will be a challenge. But if the last ten days have proven anything, it
is that our City can and will respond to even the greatest challenges. Since
September 11th, I've met and spoken with leaders of business and labor and
elected officials at the local, state and federal level about the steps we
must take to reconstruct our local economy.
Step one is a comprehensive plan for economic revitalization and a
City-State, private-public, business-labor authority to execute the plan.
Serious crises require serious solutions, and the City of New York cannot
effectively address this crisis without massive federal and state aid and the
emergency redevelopment powers that only state action can provide.
That's why I am today calling for the creation of a new State/City entity
with the extraordinary powers that will be required to respond effectively to
this extraordinary crisis -- one single, superagency that can transcend turf
battles and cut red tape to get this job done quickly, efficiently and
comprehensively.
The Mayor and the Governor should create a New York City Emergency
Reconstruction Authority (NYC-ERA), empowered by the State Legislature to get
projects done on time and in budget. NYC-ERA should have the power of eminent
domain and the ability to override time-consuming land use rules. It should
be able to contract for the best quality work and negotiate with labor and
business to do so at the lowest cost. And while it should be open to the
advice and recommendations of all interested parties, it must be clearly
accountable to the Mayor and the Governor.
NYC-ERA must develop and implement a plan to retain those businesses that
have been displaced or directly affected by the World Trade Center attack. We
need to move quickly to provide interim temporary space to displaced firms,
and then the City, State and Federal governments must provide tax incentives
and low cost financing for public and private development for firms willing
to stay and rebuild. And the City should also work with Washington and Albany
to designate Lower Manhattan as a new kind of enterprise or empowerment zone,
providing as-of-right benefits to firms that remain or relocate there.
The $20 billion in federal disaster relief assistance that Washington has
already promised is only the beginning of what our City will need to recover
from what the President has correctly called an act of war. Once the recovery
and clean up is complete, we will redevelop and rebuild those blocks in and
around the World Trade Center that were destroyed. We must complete on a fast
track projects already in the pipeline that will generate growth for Lower
Manhattan as well as pursue a series of housing, transportation and education
projects that are vital to our City's economic competitiveness.
All of this will require the cooperation and assistance of many in and beyond
our City, most notably the Governor and State Legislature, Congress and the
President. We must transcend politics as usual. There is enough work for
everyone.
Our City was targeted precisely because we are a symbol of Western freedom
and prosperity, so the nation and the world look to us to rise from the ashes
and prove that terrorism will fail. A City that built an Empire State
Building in fourteen months during the Depression can and will renew and
rebuild.
III. THE FEDERAL ROLE IN NEW YORK CITY'S RECOVERY
Terrorists attacked our nation on September 11th. They struck at our
economic and cultural heart: New York City. They killed thousands of our
most productive and creative citizens, law enforcement officials and rescue
workers. They temporarily closed the City's theaters, schools, tunnels and
bridges to the outside world. Terrorists attacked New York City precisely
because we represent the best of our nation and the free world.
For our nation to heal, we must not only provide support and prayers for
victims and their families, clean up and rebuild our financial district, our
downtown neighborhoods, subway system and streets, but we also must restore
New York City to its full glory as a vital international center for business,
culture, humanities, science, medicine, and the arts.
But New York City cannot do this alone. The rescue and recovery operation at
the World Trade Center, the rebuilding of vital transportation and other
infrastructure, necessary assistance to victims and families, displaced
businesses and displaced workers will total as much as $60 billion. But real
recovery will require more. It will require unprecedented investment to
rebuild stimulate our local economy.
New York needs federal funding to pursue the most aggressive building program
since the Great Depression. Investment will create immediate jobs in
construction. And it will create long term economic competitiveness.
Just two weeks ago, President Bush told the nation and the world, that "as a
symbol of America's resolve" his Administration would "show the world that we
will rebuild New York City." That pledge offers our City and all New Yorkers
a unique opportunity for real partnership with Washington to remake our city
as the world's capitol.
To be blunt, New York's recovery will depend on sustained and massive
federal assistance.
Step 1: Conduct a Comprehensive Needs Assessment
As Mayor, I would continue the efforts of the City and State to develop a
comprehensive needs assessment to use in our effort to win federal aid. We
are beginning to understand some of the costs. Just cleaning up the
estimated 1.2 million tons of rubble left by the destruction of the World
Trade Center is expected to take up to a year and cost $7 billion.
But economic recovery will require more than just site clean up. There needs
to be a bi-partisan, State-City effort to develop a plan and assess the cost
of:
- Assistance for businesses and workers displaced by the collapse of the
World Trade Center;
- Aid for victims and families;
- Assistance for businesses and workers displaced as a result of significant
downturns in tourism and air travel;
- Infrastructure repair costs;
- Additional security and emergency response system costs;
- Counseling and other mental health related services;
- Economic stimulus initiatives to retain and create new jobs.
- Lost revenues for the City.
Step 2: Win Additional Emergency Funding from Congress
President Bush and the Congress have acted quickly to make emergency funding
available to help New York handle this disaster. Using special emergency
authority under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of
1985, Congress quickly passed a law that provides $20 billion now, and
promises $20 billion later to pay for disaster relief.
While New York City needs and will receive a sizeable share of this federal
assistance, it will have to compete with many agencies in the federal
government and many other local entities that also need emergency funds -- to
strengthen our nation's intelligence and security, investigate the terrorist
incidents, rebuild the Pentagon, and toughen the security at our nation's
airports and ports. The $40 billion emergency funding provided by Congress
is intended to support the full range of federal, state and local recovery,
security and rebuilding efforts not only in New York, but also in Virginia,
Pennsylvania and across the nation. Without a sustained effort, there is no
guarantee that funds that should go to New York, will go to New York.
The comprehensive needs assessment will bolster the City's case for federal
aid. So will a demonstration that the City and State intend to cooperate
rather than squabble over the distribution of funds and that federal funds
will be well spent. That's one reason that we need to create a City-State,
private-public, business-labor authority New York City Emergency
Redevelopment Authority (NYC-ERA), empowered by the State Legislature to get
projects done on time and on budget and clearly accountable to the Mayor and
Governor. All federal funding for economic revitalization in New York City
should be coordinated through this new authority.
Step 3: Make New York's Recovery a Priority for Every Federal Agency
Every year, federal agencies provide billions of dollars in grants to state
and local governments and to private institutions to support programs from
community policing, new highways, and welfare reform measures, to arts and
humanities, school construction and scientific research. Often, it is the
agency head or another executive branch official, who can decide how to
allocate a sizeable portion of these funds. Now more than ever, New York
City must take full advantage of this funding -- especially where the federal
agency has some discretion in setting its spending priorities.
As Mayor, I would seek a commitment from the White House that makes New York
City a priority when it comes to the distribution of funding from federal
agencies. This would not require new federal funds. It would instead
require the White House to commit its full support to the City's economic
recovery through the following existing grant programs:
Helping Victims and Keeping our Neighborhoods Safe: The Department of
Justice has over $4 billion in grant programs to support community
crime control efforts nationwide. As Mayor, I would work with
the Department's Office of Victims of Crime to ensure that it
continues to provide substantial assistance to victims of the
World Trade Center disaster. In addition, we would ask the COPS
Office to provide new levels of funding to support local anti-terrorism
plans and assist the Police Department's continuing efforts at
crime control in neighborhoods throughout the city.
Educating Kids: The US Department of Education moved quickly
to provide $4 million to New York City to support grief and trauma
counseling and other services for students and teachers in the
wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. President
Bush's proposed budget for next year includes $44.5 billion in
discretionary programs at the Department of Education. These higher
levels of federal funding for primary, secondary and higher education
and for other educational programs will be essential for our City
as New York faces its own budget shortfalls as a result of the
tragedy.
Repairing Our Streets, Subways and Transportation Systems:
The Department of Transportation Federal Highway Trust Fund provides
over $6 billion in funding to improve transit systems and an approximately
$30 billion investment in our nation's highways. Not only do we
need to rebuild transit infrastructure directly affected by the
attack, but we need new investments to improve the City's economic
competitiveness. As Mayor, I will seek additional funding for
the Second Avenue Subway and the Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel.
Redeveloping the Financial District and other Affected Areas:
The Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration
is, according to a statement by its Director, committed to supporting
New York City recovery efforts. I will ask this agency to direct
a portion of its approximately $350 million grant program toward
our efforts to plan and rebuild the financial district in New
York, and to assist us city-wide, as communities face the economic
consequences of the attack in terms of loss of business and loss
of jobs.
Keeping New York Businesses in Business in New York: One
of the first tasks for the New York City Economic Redevelopment
Authority, which I have proposed, must be to develop and implement
a plan to work with those businesses that have been displaced
or directly affected by the World Trade Center attack. We do not
want these businesses to move out of the City. But if they are
going to stay, they will need very quickly temporary space, tax
incentives, low cost financing for public and private development,
and, in the case of small businesses, truly workable loans from
the Small Business Administration. As Mayor, I would pledge to
work with Washington and Albany to designate Lower Manhattan as
a new kind of enterprise or empowerment zone, providing as-of-right
benefits to firms that remain or relocate there -- and to seek
the federal funding and incentive packages that are targeted to
these areas.
Neighborhood Rebuilding: The Department of Housing and
Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grants Program
(CDBG) provides approximately $10 billion dollars in funding on
an annual basis to support community development efforts nationwide.
I will ask that a portion of these funds -- beyond those to which
the City would ordinarily be entitled -- be directed to our neighborhood
rebuilding efforts. We will also look to HUD for financial help
as we work to incorporate affordable housing needs into our rebuilding
plans.
Aid for New York's Families: The Department of Health
and Human Services has responded quickly to the attack on our
City by providing mental health and public health assistance,
and a range of other help for the City and for our victims. As
Mayor, I would continue to work closely with the US Department
of Health and Human Services to secure all available grants for
health services and family assistance. I will work especially
hard -- together with HHS -- to ensure the smooth operation and
full funding of New York's Safety Net program, a program that
is particularly significant in light of the September 11th disaster
and the ripple effects it will have on needy families throughout
our City.
Getting New Yorkers Back to Work: I will seek funding
from the approximately $7 billion Department of Labor Employment
and Training Administration programs. These funds include a specific
allocation to assist unemployed and dislocated workers -- and
to get them retrained and re-employed as quickly as possible.
Supporting Arts, Science and Culture in the City: As Mayor.
I'll also work to secure funding from the National Endowments
of the Arts and Humanities, and the National Institutes of Health
for our City and for local artists, art organizations, musicians
and writers because these cultural institutions have an important
role to play in helping our City heal. We must also strengthen
our academic institutions so that New York City continues to be
a strong and important force for advancement in science, medicine,
academia and the humanities. In addition, President Bush has proposed
significant increases in funding for science and medical research
in his FY 2002 budget proposal. New York should continue to be
a hub for this scientific innovation.
Step 4: A Voice in Washington
This is a crucial time for our City. We are fortunate in New York to have
exceptional representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and in the
Senate. They are forceful advocates for our City.
The City needs to makes its case loud and clear. Under a Green
Administration, the Mayor will be the City's chief lobbyist in Congress.
We'll work closely with the Congressional delegation, business and labor to
mount a bipartisan and convincing campaign for federal assistance.
Conclusion
During the Great Depression, the partnership between Mayor LaGuardia and
President Roosevelt lifted our city out of an economic crisis and built so
much of the infrastructure that we see around us today.
In the 1970s, Congress's eventual willingness to provide loan guarantees
to the City ultimately helped to stave off bankruptcy.
Our City again needs to again turn to Washington for help. The act of
war against our nation was an act of war against our city. We already have
the pledge of the President to rebuild our city. Under a Green
Administration, we'll have a plan to get it done.