[Bounce]

Mayor calls island trial move 'dumb'

By Josh Rogers

Mayor Bloomberg this morning called moving the 9/11 terror trials to Governors Island “one of the dumber ideas” he’s ever heard, but the idea picked up steam Thursday anyway.

The mayor made the explosive comment Thursday morning at a Gracie Mansion meeting with about two dozen newspaper publishers including John W. Sutter, publisher of Downtown Express and other Community Media newspapers. The mayor’s comment was not immediately reported, and Thursday’s momentum probably proceeded without knowledge of his views.

Bloomberg also said the trials in Lower Manhattan would bring more hardship to the Park Row area and that he has asked Police Commissioner Ray Kelly repeatedly about the feasibility of reopening the street. Kelly has kept the street closed to protect One Police Plaza. The federal courthouse and detention center where the 9/11 terror suspects will be held and tried are across the street from police headquarters.

There may have been a change of heart about the island later in the day. Kelly said he’s “certainly open to that suggestion” of moving the island to Governors Island, according to NY1.com. The Associated Press reported this afternoon that Kelly has ordered an assessment of the feasibility of the island to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the admitted 9/11 mastermind, and some of his accused accomplices.

Both the mayor and Kelly have emphasized the high costs of holding the trial Downtown, putting the first year security measures at $250 million.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Councilmember Margaret Chin of Lower Manhattan and Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. released a statement today saying the trials should not be held Downtown and that the island should be studied as an option.

Julie Menin, chairperson of Community Board 1 is spearheading the effort to move the trial to the island. Alan Gerson, who left his City Council seat Jan. 1, may have been the first to give public voice to the idea at community meeting in early December.

C.B. 1’s Executive Committee endorsed the move at a meeting Wednesday night and the full board will take up the issue Tuesday.

“Governors Island is a reasonable alternative solution to the federal courthouse at 500 Pearl St. which is situated in the middle of the fourth largest commercial business district in the country and a dense residential neighborhood,” Menin said Wednesday night, prior to Bloomberg’s comment.

Jan Lee, a resident of Mott St., said he supported the Governors Island move because “the different layers of security for the trial would do us in.”

http://downtownexpress.com/de_352/govisland.html