NYPD Memorandum Makes Giuliani Look Bad

Just a days before the Florida primary, someone gave the New York Times a 1998 NYPD memorandum advising Mayor Giuliani that the department felt locating the city's emergency command center in 7 World Trade Center was not a very good idea. The eight page memo was written by a panel of police experts with help from the Secret Service. Its conclusions were overruled by Giuliani and the command center was destroyed on September 11 as the building where it was located burned and then collapsed.

There were numerous reasons given for why 7 World Trade was a poor choice for a command center:

The ability of the public to gain access to the building
The location of the command center on the 23rd floor
The large supply of diesel fuel stored in a sub-level of the building
The building's large garage and delivery bays
Its proximity to a previous terrorist target
Its location above and next to a ConEd substation that supplies most of the electricity to Manhattan

The commander of the NYPD's intelligence division wrote to the police commissioner to tell him, “This group’s finding is that the security of the proposed O.E.M. Command Center cannot be reasonably guaranteed." The memo's conclusions were disregarded, and Giuliani says that he wanted to go along with the recommendation of his emergency management director Jerome Hauer, portraying it as a turf battle between the NYPD and the OEM. Haueur denies this though, saying that he originally wanted the command center placed in Brooklyn and only picked the site at 7 World Trade after mayoral aides informed him that it must be located within walking distance of City Hall.

With Giuliani's Presidential aspirations pinned to the perception that he has the judgment and skill to govern in a state of crisis, the appearance of the memo continues to question his credentials. The Times specified a law enforcement official who provided the almost 10-year-old document was not affiliated with a Giuliani rival - a possible necessary note given the paper's editorial eviscerating a Giuliani presidential candidacy yesterday.

Some family members of those who died on 9/11 recently pledged to conduct a "Swift Boat"-like campaign against the former mayor, discrediting him on a perceived strength.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Dave Hogarty in News on January 26, 2008 12:40 PM

Comments [rss]

babyhitler

spiritof76 - yes Giuliani was the probably the best mayor we ever had at that time. Sure, he wasn't nice to blacks, minorities, squeegee guys and artists but if you were white and middle class and rich and big business you couldn't ask for a better mayor. He turned manhattan into disneyland. Sure Taxi Driver NY had it's charms but I'd rather live without getting shot at everyday. He wasn't everyone's mayor but if you fell into that distinct group of progressive conservatism then he was.

likesrudylikesbooty

So, if the DoD, CIA, and Secret Service jumped off a bridge, maybe it is prudent to follow. Putting all your eggs in one basket makes sense.

Sorry, Rudy supporters. It's all about RUDY. He won't let you forget it.

Dave Hogarty

That was to fuel the electric generators for the command center in case the power went out.

cucarachita

Excuse me, but what was that I read about a "large supply of diesel fuel stored in the sub-basement"???? You gotta be kidding me.

Daniel Millstone

Locating the Emergency Management Control Center at 7 World Trade was a bad move. People knew it was a bad move at the time. But the NYPD had a vested interest in opposing the 7 WTC site. Until the move, the Emergency Command center was at 1 Police Plaza. As a result, NYPD complaints were discounted as being motivated by a lust for continued control. The big money issue, from my point of view is: was there a $$$ benefit to Mr. Giuliani or his associates from the 7 WTC site? If not, it was a medium sized, foreseeable and foreseen error in judgment. If so, we need a grand jury.

S.D.

`So, OK... let's hear you say it: "But, but, but...CLINTON!!!!"`

...

I swear, I LOL'ed at that! You beat them to it!!!

maevemealone

OEM isn't in MetroTech. It's in the former Red Cross building in Cadman Plaza Park/Walt Whitman Park. I'm looking at it right now out my window. The 911 call center is in one of the MetroTech buildings.

JacqueMehoff

rolltide got Pwned.

OEM should have been in MetroTech like it is now.

That place has security, their own underground garage and now the new FDNY HQ. They probably have their own gas pumps. MetroTech is also a great place to work.

It's still within walking distance of CH.

Sommelier

Gee, Rolltide... if it really WAS binLaden, and the Presnit REALLY did want him, dead or alive, why was Brig. Gen. James N. Mattis (USMC) told to stand down when he & his Marines had binLaden surrounded at Tora Bora? You know. the same Presnit who said that binLaden was "not really a priority" four years ago?

Rudy spent OUR money to build his little loveshack within walking distance of City Hall so that he could meet Judy there for nooners.

Rudy spent OUR money:

Giving his mistress round-the-clock police protection

Giving his mistress a full-time police car and chauffeur

Giving his mistress' family a full-time police car and chauffeur when they came to NYC to visit & sightsee.

Giving his mistress' friends an on-call police car and chauffeur to take them clubbing and shopping.

So, OK... let's hear you say it: "But, but, but...CLINTON!!!!"

Spirit of 76

One of the best mayors NY ever had? Ha! Before 9/11, most of the city hated his guts. He's touting 9/11 now because that was the one thing that made people respect him again, at least for a while. The good thing is they don't have to "swift boat" him. He's going down like the Titanic all by himself already.

Rolltide, you need to look beyond your kneejerk reaction. There were five other reasons given above that had nothing to do with the twin towers. The difference between the agencies you mentioned and the emergency command center is that they were not essential in an emergency. You give names, but just what kind of responsibilities did those offices really have? They weren't central offices. You could evacuate those if there's a threat. An emergency command center isn't useful if it's evacuated. Besides, how can they have been there 30 years when 7 WTC was only there for 17?

babyhitler

If this guy had not gone after the presidency he would have been remembered for being one of the best mayors that NY ever had. Like Icarus, he flew too close to the sun and got burned. Now, everybody in NY hates him and his crows have come home to roost. What a dumbass! Now unlike Reagan (who was far more conservative and corrupt), who was remembered fondly, he'll be remembered as a 9/11 profiteer and part of the NY Gestapo. All that good will squandered.

just saying

Hmm, I guess you would be remiss if you also didn't mention the $13 million that it cost to set up this Emergency Command Center.

(But don't call me a Giuliani hater. Because of his efforts, the 4th of July is no longer a month-long celebration in Brooklyn with M80's exploding night and day. Thank you, Mr. Giuliani!)