COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE C. QUINN

“Plans to hold the 9/11 terror trials just blocks from where this terrible tragedy occurred have caused tremendous concern across our city, especially in our Lower Manhattan communities. Holding the trials in Lower Manhattan will cause significant disruption to local residents and business owners, considerable expense to New York City taxpayers, and will divert a substantial amount of our police force to the surrounding area.

“While I support proactive efforts to relocate the 9/11 terror trials outside of Lower Manhattan and New York City all together, all viable alternative options including holding the trials on Governors Island should be thoroughly explored. Not only did Lower Manhattan suffer on that tragic day but it suffered in the many weeks and months after as our city recovered. Further impacting New York City and Lower Manhattan to accommodate these trials is simply too large of a burden on New Yorkers and on our city’s resources.”

LOWER MANHATTAN REDEVELOPMENT CHAIR MARGARET CHIN

“With an estimated $200 million a year in security costs, this money would be better spent on constructing a short-term detention and trial location on Governors Island or somewhere else.

“Our district office is in the middle of the hard security zone and residents are concerned about disruption of their lives, being locked in or out of their homes, and having snipers aim at them from their rooftops. After the disruptions of the September 11th attacks, this community does not deserve further inconveniences.”

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIR PETER VALLONE JR.

“Moving the 9/11 terror trials is a step in the right direction – that direction being outside of New York City completely. Having these trials in Lower Manhattan places our residents at an additional and unnecessary risk and I support moving them outside of the city.”