Don’t Make Us Frown, Open Up The Crown

It is important that the National Park Services re-opens the Statue of Liberty’s crown to show terrorists that we are resilient and will not allow them to adversely change our lives. The statue is a internationally recognized symbol of freedom and America’s willingness to embrace people all over the world. The Patriots say open the crown now and limit the lengthy political debate and rhetoric.

Thankfully, Congressman Anthony Weiner announced that Congressional hearings will be held to discuss the re-opening of Statue of Liberty’s crown. The Congressman has been an outspoken critic of the National Park Services’ reluctance to open the crown to the public. The crown has been closed since 9/11 while Lady Liberty’s base, pedestal, and observation deck were reopened in August 2004. The Statue’s crown is the only site overseen by the National Park Service that has yet to re-open since 9/11. The National Park Service overseas such sites as the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. and Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

Please read Congressman Anthony Weiner’s Press Release regarding the Stature Of Liberty.

July 4, 2007


WEINER ANNOUNCES CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS
INTO REOPENING OF STATUE OF LIBERTY

AFTER YEARS OF DELAY, NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE
TO ANSWER WHY AMERICA’S SYMBOL OF FREEDOM REMAINS CLOSED

New York City - Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn), a member of the House of Representatives Energy & Commerce and Judiciary Committees, announced Congressional hearings into the reopening of the Statue of Liberty, which remains the only national park to remain closed since the attacks of 9/11. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands announced they will hold hearings this summer to review management of the Statue and the decision to keep Lady Liberty's crown closed.

While Lady Liberty’s base, pedestal, and observation deck were reopened in August 2004, her crown – and the observation deck it houses – remain closed. The Statue’s crown is the only site overseen by the National Park Service that has yet to re-open since 9/11. The National Park Service overseas such sites as the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. and Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

The Interior Department’s failure to reopen Lady Liberty has had a profound impact on New York City’s economy. Since her crown was closed to the public, the Statue has seen a 40.8% drop in visitors. This loss of 2.24 million tourists has cost New Yorkers millions in lost economic benefits.

Weiner has been a longtime vocal critic of the Park Service’s failure in “courage and imagination” to reopen the Statue. Last week, Weiner’s legislation which provides the National Parks Service with $1 million in the Interior Appropriations bill for the purpose of reopening the Statue of Liberty unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

In April 2004, Weiner called on the Government Accounting Office (GAO) - the non-partisan, chief investigative arm of Congress - to initiate a federal investigation into the fund raising practices of the Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation.The Foundation, a non-profit organization, said they were working in partnership with the National Park Service to raise the funds to reopen the Statue. But while the Foundation raised sufficient funds to re-open the statue, Lady Liberty remains closed.

“The National Parks Service has repeatedly ignored the will of Congress to reopen Lady Liberty and send a strong message that America will never yield in the face of terror,” said Rep. Weiner. “These hearings will finally allow us to get answers why the Parks Service is choosing to deny this generation of guests the thrill that many of us first had as children – gazing at the New York landscape through the iconic crown of the Statue of Liberty.”


Courtesy of House.gov