Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Ground Zero Rebuilds with John Cahill
Ground Zero rebuilds with John Cahill
BY PRADNYA JOSHISTAFF WRITERMay 16, 2005, 8:07 PM EDT
Gov. George Pataki signaled that he wanted to have Ground Zero rebuilding back on track when he appointed his chief of staff, John Cahill, the point man on rebuilding last week.Cahill will keep his formal title as secretary to the governor but has moved his office to downtown Manhattan and will have a staff to help him carry out his new mission. In an interview, Cahill, 46, addressed some of the key tasks of his new position:What are the first three things on your to-do list in this new role?It's going to be the same priorities as the governor has always had with respect to lower Manhattan. No. 1, to make sure that we have a fitting memorial to the heroes we lost on Sept. 11. The governor has never lost sight of that as the No. 1 priority, and I will make sure that remains the priority.No. 2 is making sure that we move forward as expeditiously as possible with the redesign of the Freedom Tower. No. 3 is the overall business and residential climate of lower Manhattan -- to make sure that the transportation infrastructure and the quality of life in lower Manhattan is the best that it can possibly be.What will it take to lure back Goldman Sachs [to build a $2-billion headquarters downtown]?I'll be working with the city as well to make sure the city can provide any answers to the questions that Goldman has. Their home has historically been lower Manhattan. We do think that the major issues that Goldman Sachs once had have been addressed. That's not to say they won't have other issues -- that's what I'm here for, to make sure they have a direct resource to the governor's office.Why has Ground Zero gotten mired in politics and fiefdoms among agencies?I kind of disagree with the premise of your question. A lot of the important components of lower Manhattan are moving forward rather expeditiously, from the memorial to the Calatrava train station. That being said, I think all of us need to remember what happened on Sept. 11. What's happening in lower Manhattan is not just a redevelopment, but it's really a statement about our country and about the city.What do you think it will take to attract businesses to 7 World Trade Center and the surrounding areas, given that many still see it as a terrorist threat?When you have a world-class building in lower Manhattan that meets the highest safety standards, the highest environmental standards, I think you're going to find a lot of attraction to that building. It's a magnificent building. I'm sure at the right time, there will be considerable interest.Beyond the 16-acre site, what are the priorities you see for lower Manhattan?Certainly, improving the quality of life here. Last week, the governor announced $70 million for Hudson River Park, enhancing the quality of life for the people who live and work here.The transportation infrastructure -- the governor announced last week another $1 billion for the rail link from Long Island to lower Manhattan; right now we're two-thirds of the way there with respect to the funding. ... It also includes ... the new PATH station, the new MTA station at Fulton Street, improvements at South Ferry.What do you see as the toughest challenge to your new job?It's making sure that we hear the concerns of the various stakeholders. Making sure we take those concerns into account.
BY PRADNYA JOSHISTAFF WRITERMay 16, 2005, 8:07 PM EDT
Gov. George Pataki signaled that he wanted to have Ground Zero rebuilding back on track when he appointed his chief of staff, John Cahill, the point man on rebuilding last week.Cahill will keep his formal title as secretary to the governor but has moved his office to downtown Manhattan and will have a staff to help him carry out his new mission. In an interview, Cahill, 46, addressed some of the key tasks of his new position:What are the first three things on your to-do list in this new role?It's going to be the same priorities as the governor has always had with respect to lower Manhattan. No. 1, to make sure that we have a fitting memorial to the heroes we lost on Sept. 11. The governor has never lost sight of that as the No. 1 priority, and I will make sure that remains the priority.No. 2 is making sure that we move forward as expeditiously as possible with the redesign of the Freedom Tower. No. 3 is the overall business and residential climate of lower Manhattan -- to make sure that the transportation infrastructure and the quality of life in lower Manhattan is the best that it can possibly be.What will it take to lure back Goldman Sachs [to build a $2-billion headquarters downtown]?I'll be working with the city as well to make sure the city can provide any answers to the questions that Goldman has. Their home has historically been lower Manhattan. We do think that the major issues that Goldman Sachs once had have been addressed. That's not to say they won't have other issues -- that's what I'm here for, to make sure they have a direct resource to the governor's office.Why has Ground Zero gotten mired in politics and fiefdoms among agencies?I kind of disagree with the premise of your question. A lot of the important components of lower Manhattan are moving forward rather expeditiously, from the memorial to the Calatrava train station. That being said, I think all of us need to remember what happened on Sept. 11. What's happening in lower Manhattan is not just a redevelopment, but it's really a statement about our country and about the city.What do you think it will take to attract businesses to 7 World Trade Center and the surrounding areas, given that many still see it as a terrorist threat?When you have a world-class building in lower Manhattan that meets the highest safety standards, the highest environmental standards, I think you're going to find a lot of attraction to that building. It's a magnificent building. I'm sure at the right time, there will be considerable interest.Beyond the 16-acre site, what are the priorities you see for lower Manhattan?Certainly, improving the quality of life here. Last week, the governor announced $70 million for Hudson River Park, enhancing the quality of life for the people who live and work here.The transportation infrastructure -- the governor announced last week another $1 billion for the rail link from Long Island to lower Manhattan; right now we're two-thirds of the way there with respect to the funding. ... It also includes ... the new PATH station, the new MTA station at Fulton Street, improvements at South Ferry.What do you see as the toughest challenge to your new job?It's making sure that we hear the concerns of the various stakeholders. Making sure we take those concerns into account.
# posted by "Faces of the Brave" @ 10:47 PM 
