NYPD Opposed WTC7 as Command Bunker Site

[OldTigerCub]

An article in the New York Times published January 26, 2008 reports that a previously confidential 1998 memorandum has been released, in which objections were raised regarding the choice of WTC7 as the location for the city's public service command center:

The New York Police Department produced a detailed analysis in 1998 opposing plans by the city to locate its emergency command center at the World Trade Center, but the Giuliani administration overrode those objections. The command center later collapsed from damage in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.

A panel of experts, including NYPD personnel, assisted by the Secret Service had concerns about certain vulnerabilities of the 47 story office building located in the WTC complex:

“Seven World Trade Center is a poor choice for the site of a crucial command center for the top leadership of the City of New York,” a panel of police experts, which was aided by the Secret Service, concluded in a confidential Police Department memorandum.

The memorandum, which has not been previously disclosed, cited a number of “significant points of vulnerability.” Those included: the building’s public access, the center’s location on the 23rd floor, a 1,200-gallon diesel fuel supply for its generator, a large garage and delivery bays, the building’s history as a terrorist target, and its placement above and adjacent to a Consolidated Edison substation that provided much of the power for Lower Manhattan.

While the New York Times has not published the entire eight page document online, the article points out that it was received from a police official and not from any political rivals of Rudy Giuliani:

The memorandum was provided to The New York Times by a law enforcement official not affiliated with a rival political campaign.

Mr. Giuliani received a briefing on the Police Department’s recommendations, but it is unclear whether he received a copy of the memorandum.

Mr. Giuliani has said in the past that one of the reasons for choosing the location was that several federal agencies with which city officials needed to be in contact during emergencies, including the Secret Service, had their offices there. Other federal agencies in the building included the Defense Department and the C.I.A

While a good portion of the story goes into analyzing the relationships between the mayor and his staff, and some apparent animosity between members of the mayor's administration, it points out specific objections held by police personnel about the WTC complex as the central control point for the city in case of emergency. Particularly interesting is the portion of the memo that deals with the potential damage that could be expected if the building was bombed, however the article does not disclose if the writers of the memo took into account the possibility of an uncontrolled fire lasting several hours:

The memorandum sets out in detail the reasons why the Police Department concluded that the site was a poor choice for a command center, including its vulnerability to a biological attack and the ease with which a bomber could have damaged the building and crippled the center.

It has nine sections, the longest one headed “Explosives.” It describes a blast analysis conducted by the Police Department’s bomb squad, aided by the Secret Service, which looked at the likely impact of bombs of varying sizes, from one that could be carried in a car or a van to a large truck bomb.

The analysis, a standard practice used routinely to determine street closings when the president or another dignitary is in New York City, uses a computer system derived from the military and based on projections by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

It concluded that the largest of such bombs would have led to the collapse of the building.

Due to the 1993 terrorist bombing, it is understandable why the emphasis was placed on the possibility of a car or truck bomb being driven into the garage below the complex, and that the vulnerability of the building to collapse if seriously damaged was understood, though I would doubt that the possibility of one of the towers collapsing onto WTC7 was ever taken into consideration at the time.
No therm*te or covert CD devices needed!

 

[Alt+F4]

That memo might have been confidential but the controversary certainly wasn't. I clearly remember the NYPD's objections to the command center being placed at WTC 7 and Rudy insisting because that location had easy access to both Brooklyn and Staten Island (I guess Queens and the Bronx were on their own). I think this story is appearing now due to the former mayor's presidential bid. The New York Times has been having a Giuliani bash-fest for months now.

 

[jhunter1163]

IIRC, the actual memo is linked somewhere on this site. I remember reading the objections, which were primarily logistical and seemed quite cogent. Giuliani overruled them though, for reasons which are not clear, at least to me.

 

[DGM]

The decision to locate the bunk at WTC 7 is only coming up as a slam campaign against Giuliani. You also can be assured if WTC 7 had not collapsed Giuliani would be trumpeting his decision to his benefit. Politics as usual as far as I can see.

 

[Myriad]

Siting decisions always generate a lot of politics in cities and towns. There's almost always more than one relative or political ally with unappealing barely-suitable space to lease, so it can be hard to choose.

Respectfully,
Myriad

 

[RedIbis]

Giuliani blamed the "bad" decision on Hauer. Hauer was scathing in his attack on Giuliani's lies.

It's about time the rest of the world found out what New Yorkers knew a long time ago, the guy is nothing but a wannabe Mussolini, an incestuous, cross dressing, combover, denture wearing facist. He should really be a Mets fan.

I'm so sad he's gotten his arse kicked in this primary season.

 

[DGM]

Giuliani blamed the "bad" decision on Hauer. Hauer was scathing in his attack on Giuliani's lies.

It's about time the rest of the world found out what New Yorkers knew a long time ago, the guy is nothing but a wannabe Mussolini, an incestuous, cross dressing, combover, denture wearing facist. He should really be a Mets fan.

I'm so sad he's gotten his arse kicked in this primary season.

Should we assume that you are not endorsing him for election?

 

[RedIbis]

Should we assume that you are not endorsing him for election?

That was my endorsement.

 

[OldTigerCub]

That memo might have been confidential but the controversary certainly wasn't. I clearly remember the NYPD's objections to the command center being placed at WTC 7 and Rudy insisting because that location had easy access to both Brooklyn and Staten Island (I guess Queens and the Bronx were on their own). I think this story is appearing now due to the former mayor's presidential bid. The New York Times has been having a Giuliani bash-fest for months now.

I agree that the timing of the story seems to be convenient for anyone who doesn't support Giuliani's campaign. Even though it is stated that it was not received from any rival campaign, one can't help but think that someone with an interest in a candidate other than Giuliani had a hand in making sure the memo got into the hands of the New York Times.

IIRC, the actual memo is linked somewhere on this site. I remember reading the objections, which were primarily logistical and seemed quite cogent. Giuliani overruled them though, for reasons which are not clear, at least to me.

I haven't read it myself, but if there is a link to it here, I would certainly be interested in seeing it.

The decision to locate the bunk at WTC 7 is only coming up as a slam campaign against Giuliani. You also can be assured if WTC 7 had not collapsed Giuliani would be trumpeting his decision to his benefit. Politics as usual as far as I can see.

A good case of hindsight being 20 - 20. I'm sure that locating the center at WTC7 seemed like a good idea in 1998 to some people. It's obvious that others thought it was not the best choice. One can rest assured that anything that can be pulled out of the dirty tricks bag will be used by all of the campaigns to focus concern and doubt on their rivals. This time it was Rudy's turn to be on the receiving end.

 

[Myriad]

It's about time the rest of the world found out what New Yorkers knew a long time ago, the guy is nothing but a

Quick! We need a spin doctor in here!

wannabe Mussolini,

Wishes he were a war veteran with an honorable discharge after being wounded in action, but has to be content with having served in law enforcement as a U.S. Attorney.

incestuous,

Believes strongly in close family ties.

cross dressing

Fearless when there are tough issues to a dress.

combover

Experienced in making the best use of limited resources.

denture wearing

Sensitive to the concerns of senior citizens.

fascist

Wants to institute sweeping reforms of inefficient wasteful government.

Respectfully,
Myriad