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World Trade Center Performing Arts Center Aims to Lead NYC’s Cultural Revitalization
By Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center is the last piece to the recovery and revitalization of the World Trade Center site after the September 11 terrorist attacks. It will also aid in New York’s pandemic recovery when it opens in 2023 – delayed because of COVID-19.
“The performing arts sector is the last to come back, but it’s coming back roaring,” said Leslie Koch, president of the Perelman Performing Arts Center.
On the WCBS Small Business Spotlight, sponsored by Dime Community Bank, Koch pointed out to Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso some parallels between the 9/11 and pandemic recovery efforts.
“The planning back in 2003 that resulted in the master plan said we need to have culture on the 16 acres because New York needs to not only memorialize what was lost here on 9/11 and rebuild the offices that were destroyed, but this site needs to be a living, breathing part of New York,” she said. “We’re that symbol again.”
She believes that people are suffering “creative loss” by working remotely because New York City offers a vibrant experience of arts and entertainment, which attracts many people to the city in the first place.
When the Perelman Performing Arts Center opens, it will be a public place where arts and entertainment intersect with New York’s restaurants and financial industry.
Koch describes it as the “living room of the World Trade Center” where it will host free performances on a small stage on the first floor and a variety of theater, dance, film, opera and more music upstairs.
“The Perelman Arts Center at the World Trade Center is a critical piece not just for the revitalization and return of Lower Manhattan, which is an office district and also a place where thousands of people live and millions of people visit, but also for New York broadly that New York is always investing again,” Koch said.
She sees culture as the vehicle to get New Yorkers to participate in the economic recovery.
Before leading the World Trade Center’s arts project beginning in 2019, Koch oversaw the redevelopment and rejuvenation of Governor’s Island from a military base to a park and thriving business and recreation center. She served as president and chief executive officer of the Trust for Governor’s Island from 2006-2016.
Connolly asked her what advice she has for young artists looking to make it to the big time. Koch responded by saying, “Follow your passion and know your numbers.” She noted that’s applicable to people in any industry.
“One of the great things about when artists follow our passion is that that’s something that the rest of us get to experience and enjoy,” she added.
The pandemic shut down impacted businesses and workers across the hospitality industry. Entertainers were among those who struggled to survive when performances were canceled. Koch told WCBS 880 many artists discovered new creative ways to reach audiences virtually.
“You put a performance on the screen, and all of a sudden, you have audience members in Tanzania, and Singapore, and Utah. New York is the capital of the arts for the world and I think that digital is helping make that even stronger,” she said.
Get an inside look at the development of the Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center and see how performances are helping the city emerge from the pandemic on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight video above.
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HENRI MAKES LANDFALL NEAR RI: Weakens to tropical storm; NY, LI, CT slapped with heavy rain, wind gusts
Produced by Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Tropical Storm Henri made landfall in Rhode Island around 12:15 p.m. Sunday, packing heavy winds and drenching rains as it began lashing the northeastern U.S. coastline.
Landfall came after Henri lost strength as it went above cooler waters around 7:30 a.m. Maximum winds were under 75 miles per hour, just shy of hurricane status.
Hurricane and storm surge warnings have been canceled, and tropical storm warnings are now in effect from Montauk up into southern New England. A Flood Watch is in effect for New York City through Monday, Aug. 23, at 8 a.m.
Despite the downgrade, strong wind gusts of up to 75 miles per hour are possible and the rising tide threatened to produce dangerous storm surge between 3 and 5 feet in much of Long Island Sound all the way to Chatham, Massachusetts, and slightly less on Long Island’s Atlantic coast, the National Hurricane Center said.
Tens of thousands were left without power in the region as of Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service’s Boston office has reported about 75,000 customers without power in Rhode Island, about 20,000 customers out in Connecticut and nearly 6,900 customers out in Massachusetts.
The storm will slow down and bands of wind and rain will circulate around through Sunday night and into Monday morning.
Flash flooding was possible in inland areas already saturated by recent rain.
Heavy rain overwhelmed storm drains and drivers plowed through foot-deep water in a few spots in New York City, and Newark and Hoboken, New Jersey as the first thunderstorms drenched parts of the Tri-State area late Saturday.
The severe weather also canceled the “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert” in Central Park.
The White House said President Joe Biden discussed preparations with northeastern governors, including Govs. Phil Murphy and Ned Lamont. New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who succeeds Cuomo on Tuesday, also participated.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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WCBS 880 Weekly Rewind: Inside the Afghanistan Crisis
Produced by Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The United States military is evacuating Americans and Afghans from Kabul after the Taliban regained control of the war-torn country as U.S. troops withdraw.
WCBS anchor Lynda Lopez looks at the failures in Afghanistan and the resulting humanitarian crisis, especially the plight of innocent Afghan women and girls who had made strides the past two decades in their fight for basic rights. The 880 Weekly Rewind also talks to a U.S. veteran who served in Afghanistan and Ari Fleischer, the press secretary for former President George W. Bush when the war on terror began.
Also on this week’s episode, Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert who is a voting member of the FDA’s advisory committee that approved Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines, explains why he does not believe booster shots are necessary, yet, as officials announce third doses will be available to fully vaccinated Americans starting the week of September 20.
Subscribe and download The 880 Weekly Rewind podcast for in-depth reporting and deeper analysis of the top stories of the week, produced by Neil A. Carousso, for WCBS-AM New York.
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‘At their wits’ end’: Inside a decades-long fight to declassify 9/11 documents
By Lynda Lopez, WCBS Newsradio 880
Produced by Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A bill introduced in Congress last week would require the Department of Justice, Central Intelligence Agency and the Director of National Intelligence to oversee a review into declassifying documents related to the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
The families of 9/11 victims, first responders and some survivors have been calling on the federal government to release the documents for some time, alleging they will reveal Saudi Arabia financed the attacks.
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal has been leading the bipartisan effort to get the documents declassified and into the hands of the families looking to sue Saudi Arabia.
He spoke with WCBS 880 this week saying he believes the documents are the key to winning the lawsuit.
“There is mounting credible evidence, profoundly significant evidence that the Saudi government was complicit and indeed aided and abetted the 9/11 attackers,” Blumenthal said. “These 9/11 families lost loved ones, and they are seeking justice against the Saudi government, but they need some of the documents and notes and other evidence to prove their case in court against the Saudi government.”
He adds that the lawsuit is also much more than getting justice for these families.
“It’s about holding accountable a foreign government that may have aided and abetted and enabled an attack on the United States – one of the most unspeakable and heinous attacks in our country’s history,” he said.
Multiple administrations have refused to release these documents in the past with many saying that it would be a national security concern.
“No government, and no official, has yet provided any explanation or justification for refusing to release these documents,” said Blumenthal.
However, Brett Eagleson – who lost his father, Bruce, on 9/11 – says the investigation by the FBI is now over and the information can be released for the lawsuit.
“It’s gone on for too long, quite frankly, and the families are at their wits’ ends, it’s been 20 years, we’ve been made promises and assurances from previous administrations, and the time has come,” he said. “As we look to see what’s going to happen over the next 30 days, the focus of the world will be on us … And we need to take this opportunity to let the world know, and let the United States know, what our own government has been doing to us. They’ve been blocking justice, and they’ve been blocking truth and information. And quite frankly, they’ve been blocking the closure that we so justly deserve. So, we are really hopeful that we can finally cross the finish line.”
The Justice Department on Monday announced it will be reviewing 9/11 records with a goal of providing the families of victims with more information about the run-up to the attacks.
The announcement came after 1,800 relatives, first responders and survivors signed a statement saying President Joe Biden wouldn’t be welcome at the 20th anniversary events in New York City, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania unless the documents are released.
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WCBS 880 Weekly Rewind: Cuomo Resigns Amid Sex Harassment Scandal, COVID Cases Soar Among Children, Taliban Gains Ground in Afghanistan
Produced by Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will take over the reigns from Gov. Andrew Cuomo who announced his resignation effective August 24. We look at what New Yorkers can expect from the state’s first female executive.
WCBS anchor Lynda Lopez talks to CBS News Foreign Correspondent Charlie D’Agata about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. She examines the COVID-19 Delta variant surge among unvaccinated children with Dr. Jon LaPook, an internist at NYU Langone Health, who discusses ways to keep kids safe in schools this fall.
On The 880 Weekly Rewind, Lopez also speaks with Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Middlefield, CT resident Brett Eagleson whose father Bruce died in the September 11th terrorist attacks. Along with thousands of 9/11 families, they are demanding the truth from the federal government about alleged Saudi involvement in the attacks.
Subscribe and download The 880 Weekly Rewind podcast for in-depth reporting and deeper analysis of the top stories of the week, produced by Neil A. Carousso, for WCBS-AM New York.
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