Base10 noted a slightly interesting article in NY1 about plans to demolish the Deutsche Bank building on the edge of ground zero.   The building, now owned by the LMDC, is severely damaged and is slated for destruction.  While this itself hardly seems unusual, the plans have taken on a life of their own.  It seems that NY Congressman/Shameless Media Whore Jerold Nadler is convinced the LMDC is incompetent to demolish a building.  Spake he:

It is clear the LMDC cannot be trusted to supervise the demolition of this building and to safeguard the public's health.  [It] does not have the expertise necessary to handle the contamination or to oversee the demolition of the building, and is inappropriately managing the situation. In fact, as they have stated, the LMDC's half-baked plan to demolish the building pre-supposes that there is no contamination present in the building.

Base10 wonders if the congressman would be so concerned if he couldn't snag a TV headshot over this issue.  The LMDC did respond appropriately: 

This is nothing more than political grandstanding. It is fascinating how the Congressman can predict results of testing that has yet to be completed and plans to deconstruct that have not yet been conceived. The LMDC is committed to conducting comprehensive testing and working with our consultants and environmental regulators to ensure this building is deconstructed in an environmental sensitive manner. As with all of the LMDC efforts, the public will be consulted on the deconstruction plan.

This item would normally slip under Base10's radar but for two things:

• First, when did the demolishing of dangerous buildings become an activity that required public involvement?  What is the public to decide, whether to use TNT or C4?
• Second, notice that the LMDC uses the term deconstruction to describe the process of destroying a building.  Base10 wonders if they have hired the Derrida Demolition Company.

- posted by Base10 @ 6:55 PM