Since September 11th, admirers of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani have become such hero worshippers that nothing, least of all Rudy’s record or his public pronouncements, seem to diminish their ardor.
The latest example of such nonsense appears in Friday’s New York Sun.
A previous unknown to me, believer in the cult of St. Rudy, James Coll writes of how, if only Rudy had remained Mayor, the hole that is Ground Zero would no longer be an empty pit.
Coll writes "More would have been built by now or been on its way to being built," Fred Siegel, a professor at Cooper Union and author of "The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York and the Genius of American Life," said in a recent telephone interview….Mr. Siegel argues that the city would have benefited from a participant "more focused" on the outcome of the development.
Coll and Siegel apparently do not consider minor things like Mayor, not St. Giuliani’s record on development while in office. I ask everyone to think hard about all that was built either directly by the City government or in partnership with the State, Port Authority or private developers.
Still thinking?
Well I admit some things were built.
Precisely two things.
Two minor league baseball stadiums.
One, on Staten Island is the economic development equivalent of an empty pit as the attendance at games is less than half of the minimum numbers that Rudy’s underlings guaranteed when they proposed. The other in Coney Island does actually attract paying
customers but this year attendance dropped.
Other businesses and economic development, including hotels that Rudy announced would soon emerge are nowhere near either St. George or Coney Island.
But that’s not the only reason to scoff at the crap Coll is peddling!
Shouldn’t we consider Rudy’s actual position on devlopment at Ground Zero?
He announced soon after 9/11 and continues to say that be believes the only thing that should be at Ground Zero is a memorial. Rudy is one who believes it a “sacred ground” and no office or commercial space should be built there.
Rudy wrote one year after the attacks – If it were up to me, I’d devote the entire 16 acres to the memorial. A soaring structure should dominate the site, taking its place along New York City’s wonderful skyline. It should be visible for miles to demonstrate the spirit of those who gave their lives to defend freedom.
Now that’s a valid position. I think Rudy might even be right. But if that was our goal at Ground Zero, do we really need someone St. Rudy to make sure it happens. I think that even a bumbler like Governor Pataki could have gotten his act together enough to build such a structure in 5 years if he didn’t have to deal with the complicated economics and the demands of the Port Authority, Larry Silverstein, insurance companies and the like.
And as a worshipper of St. Rudy, doesn’t Coll think Rudy would be wasting his time in New York anyway? Isn’t his time better spent doing what’s he doing now – spreading the gospel by flacking for every right-wing anti-choice, pro-gun Republican that needs his help?