In order for the Interior Department to transfer the property to another
entity, they need to do a complete EIS study. This would include assessing
the cultural resources and mitigating the impact of the transfer to any
properties eligible to the National Register, as well as graves. In
addition, they would be responsible for locating and removing any hazardous
materials that may be on the island as a result of its military use. $1
hardly seems enough to cover the cost of the transfer of the property.
According to the New York Daily News, the intention of New York is to
develop Governors Island as a tourist attraction, and they plan on
protecting certain historic properties to that end. In my opinion, this
would be a positive use for the island.
Erica Sanborn
>>>> [log in to unmask] 05/25/2001 1:05:13 PM >>>
>Subj: Re: Governors Island
>Date: 5/24/2001
>
>
>>From the "New York Daily News"
>
>This article appeared 5/23/01 "Ideas & Opinions" page opposite the editorials
>by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney. It appears with "One of Fort Jay's cannons, shown
>in undated photo" photograph. It appears to be a "Rodman" and is pointed at
>Manhattan from what I can tell. Next to it stands a serviceman.
>
>Governors Is. is ours, Mr. Prez - don't sell it
>
>The Bush administration wants to sell Governors Island to the highest bidder.
>Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton has put an estimate of $500 million on
>the sale price.
>
>This, despite the fact that New York turned the island over to the federal
>government in 1800 for national security, so it is really ours. Despite the
>fact that then-President Bill Clinton offered, rightly, to sell it back to
>New York for $1. And despite the fact that Clinton declared that the island's
>two forts national monuments, which means that legally they cannot be sold.
>
>Since the claims of law. history and fair play don't seem to matter to the
>White House, let me put it another way. Remember the Alamo, Mr. President.
>
>We know that President Bush would never consider selling a historic treasure
>like the Alamo from his home state of Texas. He would force his father to
>dine on a lifetime of broccoli before he would agree to auction off the site
>where Davy Crockett lost his life in battle.
>
>Well, the two forts on Governors Island - Castle Williams and Fort Jay - are
>national treasures just as much as the Alamo, and their value should be
>marked in contributions to history, not in dollars.
>
>As the Daughters of the American Revolution state in their brochure on the
>Alamo, people worldwide remember it as "a place where men made the ultimate
>sacrifice for freedom."
>
>Governors Island played an important meaningful role in America's fight for
>freedom. George Washington and his troops would have been decimated by the
>British without the protection of the cannon fortifications on Governors
>Island, and the American Revolution might have failed.
>
>When the British invaded the United States during the War of 1812, they never
>attempted to attack New York, fearful of the great firepower and versatility
>of Governors Island's forts.
>
>You might say that without those forts, Tony Blair would be our prime
>minister today and, as former Sen. Patrick Moynihan used to rib, we would all
>be speaking English.
>
>Thirty-five years ago, had the Army not turned the island over to the Coast
>Guard, New York State would have gotten it for free -- and received cash for
>the island's development under the Base Realignment and Closure program.
>
>It is wrong for New York to have to pay for this former military base simply
>because Governors Island was managed by the Coast Guard rather than the Army.
>And it's wrong for the federal government to demand hundreds of millions of
>dollars for land we once gave to defend the country.
>
>Nevertheless, it was reported last week that the Bush administration is
>working on a legal strategy to thwart Clinton's designation of the Governors
>Island's forts as national monuments. According to the report, the Justice
>Department has suggested that the forts are the first national monuments in
>history that can, in fact, be sold.
>
>Bush has frequently said he intends to represent "all of the people," even
>those living in areas of the country where he did not enjoy electoral
>success. Here's a chance to prove it. He should look for ways to defend
>Governors Island as he would defend the Alamo.
>
>Maloney, a Democrat, represents the 14th Congressional District in Manhattan.
>----
>
>I posted some remarks here on this list about Governors Island in New York
>City. I was reacting to this article which I would like to share so that I
>the premise was known.
>
>George Myers
New South Associates, Inc.
1232 S. 5th St.
P.O. Box 481
Mebane, NC 27302
phone: 919-563-4708
fax: 919-563-1829
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