Use your voice if you have one
The residents of Lower Manhattan, especially those from Chinatown, had very compelling concerns about the 9/11 trials last night. Two that stood out the most for me were 1)why force neighborhood children (and adults) into a militarized zone with constant ID checks and big weapons on a daily basis for 3 years, and 2)within the “hard zone” some of the largest cultural institutions for the Chinese community from around the country. ID checks would keep undocumented Chinese residents (or visitors) from going near these old and important religious / cultural institutions (eg. funeral home) for fear of being discovered.
So I voted “yay” on moving 9/11 trials out of Lower Manhattan and finding a better site in the Southern District. This should certainly be a federal trial (not military) trial but let’s not step all over the everyday rights we have to live safely as civilians in a free state in order to make it happen. We are lucky to live in this free and safe environment without having to live with the daily horrors of war. We shouldn’t undermine that priviledge with pseudo-Democracy.
And if only someone under 45 would show up to Community Board meetings - the one, single venue we have to speak directly to our elected representatives in this city!!! Get off Facebook, Tumblr…or whatever else you’re using at the moment to make your statement…and really speak up.
Then maybe somebody will vote on your behalf.
