Mayor Bloomberg’s strong comments about the Ground Zero plans mark one of the few times he has used the bully pulpit to drive the agenda on a major issue.
Beginning Saturday and continuing yesterday, Bloomberg has made it clear he wasn’t thrilled by any of the six designs, and that he had his own ideas.
His remarks have underscored differing statements the mayor and Gov. Pataki have made related to Ground Zero – and raised questions about whether they’re on separate paths as the intense rebuilding process begins.
“I think what we eventually will build has not been enunciated, and we certainly haven’t heard it,” Bloomberg said yesterday, a day after the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. and the Port Authority released the plans.
“We want to get lots of ideas, and we want to spend some time talking about it.”
Aides to the mayor and the governor insist they agree on the ultimate goal of rebuilding lower Manhattan – and the process is just beginning.
Still, the two have made contrasting statements:
Pataki has said he wants the Twin Towers’ footprints off-limits for building, which victims’ relatives also want. Bloomberg has said only that “less may be more” for the memorial.
Bloomberg is the only official directly involved in the process to call for slowing it down. Pataki has set the fast-track schedule calling for a final design by December.
While Bloomberg spoke directly to the plans, Pataki, who has the most to lose in an election year, has simply called them an important beginning.
Pataki spokesman Michael McKeon said the two men are “committed to doing it together.”
Bloomberg aides insist the mayor doesn’t think his input has been ignored by planners – noting Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff has been involved with Ground Zero planners.
Several sources said Bloomberg lowered expectations for the plans by critiquing them before they were released. He also managed to disconnect himself from the largely unpopular designs.
One source said Bloomberg has deliberately waited until now to play a more vocal role.
TALE OF THE TAPE
MEMORIAL
Bloomberg: “Less may be more”
Pataki: Opposes building on the Twin Towers’ footprints
OVERALL SITE PLANS
Bloomberg: The first six are just a “start,” will offer his own ideas
Pataki: It’s an “important” first step, no plans to put forward his own proposals.
TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
Bloomberg: Suggested putting housing at the site
Pataki: Unclear, but Port Authority claims they can’t build housing on site