9/11 Tapes Released
Firefighter Al Fuentes, left, who was trapped in the World Trade Center rubble but escaped, and Al and Sally Regenhard, parents of firefighter Christian Regenard, who was killed in the Trade attacks, join other family members of WTC victims as they listen to newly disclosed Sept. 11th tapes last week. The tapes represent 911 calls from people who were trapped in the World Trade Center towers and emergency responders. The tapes were released to the families as a result of a lawsuit brought by The New York Times and families of Sept. 11 victims.
More Than Street Smarts
New Yorkers are getting advanced degrees in record numbers. Nearly 5 million people over the age of 25 around the city had at least a college degree last year, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau. In Manhattan, nearly three out of five residents were college graduates and one out of four had advanced degrees. —Sascha Brodsky
Works Begins at Ground Zero Memorial
The Pit at Ground Zero is coming to life. Contractor E.E. Cruz & Co. is starting to build the foundation for the World Trade Center Memorial. The Port Authority and the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation are collaborating on the project. Workers began excavation last week for the footings of a memorial, museum, and visitor center. Preliminary construction began last March. The 142 footings to establish the building's foundations should be set within a year. Officials say the memorial will be finished by 2009.The digging of the foundation for the Freedom Tower, the 1,776-foot office tower planned just north of the memorial site, began in April and will include occasional rock-loosening blasts.—Sascha Brodsky
New Subway Cars Roll Down Tracks
Riders on the N line are getting some fancy new subway cars. New York City Transit last week unveiled its newest cars with a 30-day test. The cars, which cost $1.44 million each are made by Kawasaki. They are the first of a $952 million order for 660 cars that are expected to be in service by 2008. The new cars would replace equipment that has been in service for 40 years, but the MTA said it hasn’t decided to which lines the cars will be assigned.—Sascha Brodsky
Silver Questions MSG Plan
A plan to turn the Farley Post Office into a train station by relocating Madison Square Garden is facing possible opposition from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. "We have questions to which we do not yet have answers," Silver said last week. The plan for the Moynihan Train Station was approved by the Empire State Development Corp. but still needs to get the nod from a panel which includes Silver.—Sascha Brodsky
