User talk:TwinTowersAlliance/Article



The Twin Towers Alliance (TTA) is a grassroots political organization advocating and representing supporters of the rebuilding of new Twin Towers at the World Trade Center site in New York City. Since its founding in 2006 and in continuation of the efforts of the greater Twin Towers 'Rebuilding Movement'; the TTA has presented and advocated the merits and case for new Twin Towers, putting forth and promoting a wide variety of sociological, political, economic, financial, logistical, architectural and symbolic reasons as to why new Twin Towers are superior to and/or are themselves the only valid redevelopment option over the current Port Authority 'Freedom Tower' Plan.

TTA has published a collection of literature and critical and comparative commentary on both new Twin Towers and the ongoing redevelopment process; has advocated the Twin Towers case to elected representatives and agencies; has operated a highly successful E-poll; and has recently allied with Kenneth Gardner's Twin Towers II proposal as part of their mission and 'Restoration Alternative' campaign.

Selected Organization Mottos:

 "What the People Want - What New York needs - What America Deserves" 

'' "Make New York New York Again!" ''

'' "It’s Not Too late To Do The Right Thing - And To Do The Thing Right!" ''

= TTA History =

Greater Rebuilding movement
The origins of the rebuilding movement can be traced back to September 11, 2001 when the first responses to the question “How do we reply to what just happened?” was met with “We put them right back up”. Over the course of several months, internet-based groups began to form leading to organizations such as Team Twin Towers and the World Trade Center Restoration Movement. These organizations became bases for supporters to donate to advocacy causes, meet and share their support in rebuilding.

Team Twin Towers and the WTCRM are still active today although in contrast to TTA’s endorsement of Twin Towers II maintain a broader level of advocacy; with Team Twin Towers supporting a Twin Towers concept and WTCRM supporting a building complex with a roof and floor height greater than the former One World Trade Center.

LMDC and the Design Competition
The rebuilding movement was active during the 2002-2003 design competitions and voiced their opinions actively. There is speculation that Team Twin Towers silently assisted through their advocacy efforts the second and third level of designs incorporating higher building heights and more floors in the buildings.

Trump and The Belton-Gardner Plan
In development for some time by original WTC Emery Roth and Sons architect late Herbert Belton and engineer Kenneth Gardner was what is now known as the Twin Towers II plan. Using the original WTC blueprints as a starting point, "the plan's creators re-engineered the Twin Towers to recapture what was grand about the originals, while diligently addressing their flaws” according to the Twin Towers II website. In 2005, developer Donald Trump publicly endorsed the plan, showing it at Trump Tower and showcasing it at the 2005 season finale of his television show The Apprentice (U.S. TV series). This led to a wave of press attention towards the plan leading to more public and media curiosity in the idea “Can the Twin Towers be rebuilt for the 21st century?”

Rebuild The Towers
In 2005 ‘Rebuild The Towers’ was established which would eventually become the Twin Towers Alliance. The site put forth a more refined theme than past webpages, engaging a discussion and presentation of the symbolic, political, sociological and logical reasons to rebuild the Twin Towers. RTT established a web-poll, too which was the forerunner to the Twin Towers Alliance poll existing today.

The Twin Towers Alliance
In 2006 the Twin Towers Alliance was formed, incorporating the wealth of ideas, support, and community into a central unified group. From here a new, more detailed poll was created, the ‘Restoration Alternative’ campaign was presented, and a ‘Bulletins’ page was added to update supporters and visitors of relevant news. The TTA is the newest and one of the most professional in a series of groups and associations and is widely recognized as the most active and largest Twin Towers advocacy organization today

The Twin Towers Alliance endorses Twin Towers II
The TTA joined forces at the end of 2007 with Ken Gardner who as mentioned co-designed the "Twin Towers II" plan as an alternative to the official plan.

= General Mission and Operations =

The Twin Towers Alliance’s Mission is generally several-fold and is detailed further in this article:

To Rebuild the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center site
Although the TTA has endorsed Twin Towers II; ‘Restoration Alternative’ and the greater TTA still maintains a general support for the idea of two 110 story+ and 1365 foot+ Twin Towers at the World Trade Center site. As well, there is even a section in ‘Restoration Alternative’ discussing the possibility of erecting twin ‘Freedom Towers’ at the site.

To give supporters of Rebuilding Twin Towers a national forum
The Twin Towers Alliance seeks to represent the voice of the public supporting the idea of new Twin Towers. The organization through information about past polls and surveys, the hosting of current polls and surveys; and through their overall mission of information has put forth the realities of immense public support for Twin Towers and through TTA's advocacy mission: to put forth the public's case:

From a TTA interview:"...By requiring those who undersign ...(The TTA official)...petition to identify themselves with one of eighteen demographic categories and giving them the opportunity to leave a comment, the petition provides a snapshot of America. The thousands of comments on the site lend credence to the anecdotal and statistical evidence that public opinion has been overwhelmingly in support of the idea of new Twin Towers at the World Trade Center site..."

“To lead a campaign of education to inform the public and policymakers on the value and merits of new Twin Towers at the World Trade Center…To be a vocal critic of the Port Authority Plan and the redevelopment process that led to it”

Through the ‘Bulletins’, other sections of the website, special press releases, the “Saving the Dream” report, and TTA’s activities stated further on in the article, the TTA puts forth “The Twin Towers case” and compares it to / criticizes the current Port Authority plan and redevelopment process in this constant educational mission.

As well, the TTA has begun a campaign to have the freedom tower and Twin Towers’ merits compared and contrasted to determine the optimal concept overall; a process done clearly and factually in Twin Towers II's official website. The Twin Towers Alliance also presents a constant discussion on its website and press releases pointing out the demerits and lack of public process by the current authorities during the redevelopment process.

“To create, grow and continue a policymaker and public dialogue on the idea of Twin Towers and to give the concept the ‘Fair Trial’ it never had"

In “Sixteen Acres — Architecture and the Outrageous Struggle for the Future of Ground Zero,” architecture critic Philip Nobel wrote: “Though it would always run at least 50 percent in scientific polls (online it did much better), the idea of replacing the Twins never really had a fair trial…”

The Twin Towers Alliance has led a public debate on the merits of new Twin Towers through their literature, arguments and 'Bulletins' Campaign. The organization, following the greater rebuilding movement, seeks to hold a constant, ever growing public and policymaker dialogue on the issues of rebuilding and new Twin Towers.

Following Nobel's quote above; the TTA hopes to engage in a serious, solid and thorough discussion on all fronts and with all stakeholders of the Twin Towers option for the first time as part of their general mission.

Web Poll
In 2006, the Twin Towers Alliance launched a Web-Petition The petition signers affirm their name in approval to the preface and have the opportunity to both place themselves into one of 18 demographic placements and leave a small comment on their additional, personal thoughts. The Preface is, below:

Preface
”We, the undersigned, share the belief that nothing could be more inspiring to our people, or disheartening to our enemies, than Twin Towers, at least as tall as before in every respect, soaring above Ground Zero.

We believe that the devastation of September 11, 2001 clouded the picture long after the rubble was cleared away and that a thorough public examination of the rebuilding option is overdue and now required before proceeding on an unalterable course.

We recognize no financial or political roadblocks that cannot be overcome if rebuilding the Towers is the will of the people. And, we see no conflict between stunning Twin Towers and a noble Memorial, which belong together on this site that means so much to us all.

We submit that there is only one way to truly heal the skyline of Manhattan and the heart of America: Rebuild the Twin Towers. Doing anything less would leave a permanent scar on the face of New York and diminish a legendary city.”

Demographic Placements:

 * Metro New Yorkers
 * Lwr. Manhattan Residents & Workers
 * /11 Families & Close Friends
 * NYC’s Bravest & Families
 * Other NYC Responders & Families
 * Construction Workers & Families
 * WTC Tenants Who Would Return
 * Business Supporters
 * Journalists & Media Figures
 * All Other Americans
 * All Other NY & NJ Residents
 * /11 Survivors & Families
 * NYC’s Finest & Families
 * Our Armed Forces & Families
 * P/A (Past and Present) & Families
 * Architects and Builders
 * Citizens of Other Nations
 * Our Elected Representatives

Petition Update
As of 22:04 EST February 5, 2008: there are 6611 signatures on the petition