Community Board Challenges Obama Over Terror Trials

New York City's community boards are known for being thorns in the side of city government, lobbying, often effectively, to influence the policy of councilmembers and city agencies. But it's rare to see a community board — by design the lowest wrung of municipal government — challenge the President of the United States. And it's even rarer to see them making headway.

That's the case in Lower Manhattan, where a Community Board 1 committee has taken a strong stance against President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder's plans to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other suspected 9/11 plotters in a Downtown federal courthouse. According to Fox, the group voted unanimously to request the Justice Department relocate the terror trial to Governor's Island over concerns that hosting it in Manhattan would be too dangerous, too costly, too much of a risk for local business owners, and too much of a political liability. And Police Commissioner Ray Kelly seems supportive of the idea, telling NY1: "We certainly are open to that suggestion."

Though Kelly noted that the city was "not part of the decision-making process" and that his agency is "going on with our planning as if the trial will take place in the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse," it's certainly a victory for the board. In an interview with Gothamist, CB1 chair Julie Menin — who has started the website trialongovernorsisland.org — said it makes more sense to deputize a Governor's Island building than it does to try the case in Manhattan. "The new cost estimates by the NYPD for security of over $200 million a year suggest the Lower Manhattan courthouse is inherently not safe. In this economic recession, to spend close to $1 billion on security for a multi-year trial makes no sense," she said. "Governors Island offers a political compromise between those Republicans who want a less public setting, and those Democrats who favor a federal courthouse setting."

The full board is expected to vote on the resolution — which is merely advisory — next week.

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

By Ben Muessig in News on January 21, 2010 6:01 PM

Comments [rss]

SighR

nice pic.

ProudLiberal1947

Remember Watergate how about the song Coward of the County. I really am tired of these Spineless gutless Cowards right wing Fear and Hate Mongers hiding in Fear of being exposed as the COWARDS they are.

These low life SCUM who never had a original thought other than what they were told to think was their own. Puke Garbage and Trash one in all all in one. These are NOT Americans they are Cowards afraid of their own shadow, these knee jerk trash of America cowering at the shadows they see or imagine.

Hey you Morons ever heard of ANY ONE in fact NAME ONE person that has escaped from a maximum security prison in the last ten year that's right you COWARDS, the prison system can be setup so this scum bag much like you cowards can sit in a court room environment with TVs' and NEVER ever leave the Prison DUH!

As far as anything going wrong oh yes I see that and remember I said Watergate that's right Follow the MONEY these right wing whack jobs will pay to have something happen to justify their mental illusions of persecution, and then Kenny Rodgers song Coward of the County that's right you Fear and Hate Mongering Idiots I Fear nothing except you claiming to be a American and hiding while REAL men and women do your job.

So as far as that Scum Trash and Trailer trash that calls it self a console (operating in the best financial interests of its Socialist Corporate contributors) dig a hole do what you do best HIDE and use the ENTERTAINMENT Media to put out your twisted lie Filled twisted Facts.

Politburo

The compromise appears reasonable on its face. But I do wonder what the actual costs would be, figuring in lost time and logistics as explained in gothamguy's post.

thefacts

Notice that none of the macho-men with their cavalier attitude of having this trial near people's homes and at the seat of our government/business center don't confess to living near the Federal Courthouse.

Nice going guys. Your bravery is well noted.

Now get off the computer and grow some cojones, instead of parroting the tired, unimaginative refrains of 'whiners' and 'move out'.

Mordicai

On one hand, stfu, stop being huge chickens. On the other, at least the compromise they suggest is reasonable.

NewHCE

Bunch of whiners. I lived in Manhattan during 911 and now live in DC. We are getting some trials here and I could care less.

MrManhattan

They live on Manhattan Island. If they didn't understand for the last twenty years (or at least since 9/11/01) that they were "at risk", they should move up North and be protected by Snookie, "The Princess of Poughkeepsie"

grandzu

Whose to say that having it on Gov Island won't cost that much or even more?

The majority of the cost is in personnel and to a lesser degree equipment which will be moved there.

Mookie Wilson

No.

I completely sympathize with the people from Community Board 1 who live in the immediate vicinity of the Federal Courthouse who are afraid that the trial puts their families and neighborhood at risk. It does put them at risk. Having the trial on Governors Island is more practical and much more easily secured. But there is a reason why trials in this country take place in courthouses, in the middle of cities and not on secured islands. It is to ensure that the rule of law is subject to the judgement of the people, not of a government.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is going to be put on trial for crimes perpetrated against the people of New York and the greater United States of America. And it needs to occur in our public institutions.

jlocke

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN? Seriously Gothamist?

Are we seriously afraid of prisoners? It's not freakin hannibal lecter, it's some dudes who helped other dudes to commit a terrorist act.

longacre

Enemy-identification-fail.

gothamguy

Um, while I am sure that the Community Board are experts on the matter, there is a reason trials are held in courthouses. First, the judge and their staff all have offices there, the prosecution has an office next door, and the jurors can all get there to attend.

Moving the whole thing to Governor's Island basically means the judge and his/her staff can't address any other cases on the docket (federal judges in Manhattan handle hundreds of cases at once. Just because this trial will dominate their time, it doesn't mean everything else just stops), and it would be insane to move people on and off the island. Are you going to have a special ferry for the jurors? What about the lawyers, who can't be on that ferry because they need to avoid the jury? How about all the reporters, witnesses, spectators, etc. who want to attend?

And is it really secure to move the defendants to and from the prison (which is attached to the courthouse by tunnels) every day? Or, does the Community Board propose building and staffing a supermax prison on the island too?

charshiu

Ray Kelly thought it best not to have it here...

http://gothamist.com/2010/01/29/911_terror_trial_will_likely_be_mov.php#comments

gothamguy

what are you talking about? That's a photo of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

Chuck Schumer's Fat

"WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN?"

That was lots of peoples' question for Bush.

Chuck Schumer's Fat

And while we're at it, can we revoke Speilberg's film permit and trademark high school storytelling documenting that hole near J&R Music World that made Bush, Schumer and Hillary go for political broke, bomb the wrong country and cause the death of an estimated 100,000 civilians?

As I mentioned before in a comment here, early on in the war I personally asked Schumer at an event why we were in Iraq. His pompous two word answer (to soon be forgotten when public opinion turned against the war): "fightin' terrorism." Well at least now he's got a few more concrete facts and is "fightin' terrorism" in civilians' underpants.

charshiu

It would be far more practical to have it on Governor's Island. The security costs are much higher holding the trial in Lower Manhattan, and Governor's Island is more easily secured and could stand to benefit from infrastructure upgrades that would need to be done. Lastly, the security perimeter and traffic diversions would be horrendous and be a death knell to Chinatown, a community that has already lost over 50% of its business since 9/11 (not to mention the closure of Park Row that's already killing Chinatown).

Kojak

the group voted unanimously to request the Justice Department relocate the terror trial

Justice Department : Umm.... No.

for their next trick, Community Board 1 will vote to overturn the 2nd amendment and legalize gay marriage.

Qraymond

I try not to disparage local officials, but these people are acting like cowardly idiots.

Way to show the rest of the world how frightened we are, CB1.

thefacts

How many of the tough macho men live down there? LOL!

Here is a PRESS RELEASE just out:

"Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, State Senator Daniel Squadron and City Councilmember Margaret Chin released the following joint statement:

“We were extremely disappointed by Mayor Bloomberg’s callous dismissal yesterday of a potential alternative location for the upcoming trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

"We must work with the residents and businesses of Lower Manhattan to incorporate their concerns into a plan that will not be an extreme burden on a community that is still suffering the physical, emotional and economic consequences of the September 11th attacks.

So, all the electeds - some of whom are among the most progressive in the nation - agree with the community board, while here the macho men behind the keyboards miles away agree with Bloomberg.

Case closed