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The Anatomy of a Swindle* *swindle: 1) to cheat (a person, business, etc.) out of money or other assets; 2) to obtain by fraud or deceit. Another definition of the word “swindle” is that of getting something inferior in exchange for something of value. Our activity in this past year has been devoted to establishing that the project at Ground Zero is indeed a massive swindle and not a mere difference of opinion or the result of legitimate executive privilege. While the matter belongs more in the domain of investigative journalism than civic action, we have followed where it has led us. We expected to publish the results of our inquiry long before now, but the situation is so dynamic that every time we came close it was clear that it would be premature to spend thousands of dollars printing a definitive report while the case is still building. Then in early August came the full-blown controversy over the massive tax hikes that resulted in a lawsuit by the AAA clubs of New York and New Jersey against the Port Authority that was filed in the Southern District of New York and where a decision by District Court Judge Richard J. Holwell on whether to rollback the hikes is now pending. At the same time, the hikes led to the stunning fall from grace of PA Executive Director Chris Ward, followed by a convulsive reorganization of the Agency that is just beginning. In October, a bulletin we entitled “Friends of the Court” got us thinking about our extensive experience with the Port Authority’s lack of transparency. Realizing that our unique perspective could offer the Court something of value, we looked into how we could go about actually contributing as friends of the Court. That led to a formal request to the judge in a letter explaining our reasons. Two weeks later we were given permission to submit an amicus curiae brief, which we did, pro se, on December 7, 2011. We understand that it is rare to get that permission at the District Court level and were honored by Judge Holwell’s willingness to consider our submission. Our Freedom of Information requests over the past two years were not limited to the Port Authority, but included the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. and the NYC Department of Investigation, among others. We are working on a summary of those and various other inquiries which will be posted below when completed. Under the line are links to our various efforts over the last two years to document the Swindle At Ground Zero. It has been a tedious job that had to be done for two reasons. First, because no matter what is built at Ground Zero, the history had to be documented so that people can make up their own minds. Mass media makes it harder for the public to get all the facts, when those with power and privilege manipulate the media to their advantage, but there is no mistaking the ring of truth. Second, because if anything ever could or ever will effectively challenge the legitimacy of the current WTC plan — and therefore the massive public expense — it is the Freedom of Information record we have built that shows how helpless officials are to defend their actions or back up their words. The record shows that swindle is much too mild a word for what has taken place on the ground that means so much to us all. We hope that 2012 will be a year of reckoning for those who have shown little regard for the public’s role in governing a great city, a great country, and a great people. Because nothing makes what ails us clearer than the mess that’s been made of Ground Zero. TTA Amicus Brief | December 7, 2011 Note: Minor corrections or clarifications have been included in brackets. Background Information:
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ANATOMY… (bulletin) WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT WHAT THE PEOPLE GET TO TELL THE TRUTH |
