This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to spent time at the new 7 World Trade Center. The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) held tours of their office on the 40th floor. There was also a special talk on Saturday about the lighting features of the building. I have now posted photos from the tour, as well as some from last year from a visit to the 45th floor, where there was a photography exhibit. The 45th floor was, and I think still is unfinished. Various other photos of the building are also included.

This is the entrance to the NYAS office on the 40th floor:

WTC7 - more photos

Costs

I think it’s useful to see the 45th floor (unfinished) compared to the 40th floor (finished). It cost $700 million for Larry Silverstein to build the new 7 WTC, but that’s with all the floors unfinished. What’s not figured in that price tag is that each floor needs to be finished and set-up for whatever needs the tenants have. The designers/architects who finished the space for the NYAS were on hand on Saturday. They explained that it cost $12 million to finish the 40th floor for the NYAS. In all, there are 42 floors of space to lease in the building. (along with the mechanical space used by Con Edison)

$12 million * 42 = $502 million.

$700 million (cost of the building) + $502 million = $1.3 billion

Silverstein received $861 million from insurance on the old building, however he had $400 million remaining in mortgage to pay off for the old building. He was left with $461 million. And, he still has to pay the the ground lease for WTC7 and the rest of the complex. ($102 million annually) - that’s $612 million since 9/11/2001

Also, it cost $1.4 billion to restore the adjacent Verizon Building, which was heavily damaged by the collapse of WTC7. Fiterman Hall, located next to WTC7, is currently undergoing deconstruction, and will be replaced with a new building. I’m not sure how much all that costs.

Do the math. In all, very substantial costs involved due to the collapse of WTC7, rather than people making a profit from insurance proceeds.

Anyway, the photos are posted here: (be patient for the page to load all images)

• WTC7 - gallery

Same photos are also posted on Flickr (this may be faster):

• WTC7 - Flickr set

Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has made a request — to visit Ground Zero and lay a wreath there, while he is in New York for the U.N. General Assembly. Ahmadinejad has been widely criticized for his anti-semitic remarks and as a holocaust denier.

In May 2006, Ahmadinejad sent a letter to Bush, which included a message about 9/11, hinting at his belief that 9/11 was an “inside job”, involving governmental ‘intelligence and security services.’

September eleven was not a simple operation. Could it be planned and executed without coordination with intelligence and security services — or their extensive infiltration? Of course this is just an educated guess. Why have the various aspects of the attacks been kept secret? Why are we not told who botched their responsibilities? And, why aren’t those responsible and the guilty parties identified and put on trial?

Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric about 9/11 are tied in with his anti-semitic beliefs. Generally speaking, it turns out that many of the 9/11 conspiracy theories have roots in antisemitism, including many pieces written by Christopher Bollyn in American Free Press.

* 9/11 Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories

The NYPD has declined Ahmadinejad’s request for “security reasons”.

* Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asked to visit Ground Zero - NY Daily News
* Iran Leader Denied on WTC Wreath Request - Washington Post

Update: September 20, 2001 - 11:30 p.m.

The exact nature of Ahmadinejad’s request is unclear. If he wants to actually descend into the “pit” to lay a wreath, he requires permission from the Port Authority which owns the site. With ongoing construction, that will not be possible.

Instead, Ahmadinejad may just visit the area around the site. It appears that talks with Michael Bloomberg are still ongoing, and yet to be determined whether or not he will go down there to Ground Zero. As a visiting head of state, the NYPD and the Secret Service are required to provide security for him, and have some say in this.

* U.S. May Escort Ahmadinejad to Ground Zero - N.Y. Sun

Update: September 21, 2001, 3:00 p.m.

Michelle Malkin reports that Ahmadinejad might visit Ground Zero anyway at 10 am on Monday, under protection of the Secret Service. Counter-protests will be held there, including members of the Foundation for Democracy in Iran.

Ahmadinejad has also been invited to speak at Columbia University, though counter-protests will be held there as well.

* Columbia U. students organize: Ahmadinejad is not welcome here - Michelle Malkin

New video by Mark Iradian, 9/11 Deniers Speak–the Ground Zero edition focuses on the leaders of the 9/11 Truth Movement and their actions during the 5th anniversary of this tragic event. Features Loose Change boy Jason Bermas and Alex Jones, along with debunkers Mark Roberts and Abby Scott.

It’s been a while since I showed up on a Saturday at Ground Zero. In December, Gravy and I showed up and took some video, trying to find out if the troofers even know what the official story is that they are questioning. One we spoke with hadn’t even heard of NIST.

See the video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9076865725629547637