As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs I’ve launched a new on-line petition allowing New Yorkers to join my effort to get the 9/11 terror trials moved out of New York without delay.
New Yorkers can sign my petition on my government website, golden.nysenate.gov, or on the on-line petition at nysenate.gov/trials. They can also join the new “Move the Terror Trials” Facebook page that I established.
The people of New York suffered one of the greatest tragedies in our nation’s history on September 11th. The idea that these trials would be held just blocks from where the tragedy occurred is an outrage, and shows a callous and blatant disregard for the people of New York. Holding the terror trials in New York City will unnecessarily put New Yorkers at risk and have a staggering economic impact on businesses, disrupt city residents, and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.”
I urge all New Yorkers to make their voice heard by joining my on-line petition and my Move the Terror Trials Facebook page. Together, we can send a loud and clear message to the Obama Administration that these terror trials need to be moved, and need to be moved now.
I’ve also announced that I have co-sponsored a resolution in the New York State Senate opposing the Obama Administration’s decision to conduct the 9/11 terror trials in New York City in federal civilian court. My colleague, Senator Leibell, is urging the Senate Majority Leadership to bring this resolution to the floor of the State Senate immediately for a vote.
Since the birth of our nation, the United States has recognized that enemy combatant terrorists should be tried by military tribunals. It is an outrage that these terrorists would be given the same protections that U.S. citizens have. The Obama Administration is wrong and has offered no justification whatsoever for this change in policy, which places everyone in New York City at risk. The President and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder need to reverse this decision without delay and prosecute these individuals on a secure military base where the public cannot be harmed.
Last week, New York City Mayor Bloomberg said that the trials should not be held in New York City. Lower Manhattan community groups and business organizations echoed the Mayor’s opposition. Mayor Bloomberg’s office estimated that the terror trials, which are expected to take several years to complete, would cost the City of New York nearly $1 billion.