The Independent View: NYC Highrise Safety Initiative

For years, 9/11 conspiracy theorists have been marginalized if not utterly ignored, producing blog posts and online films that gain little traction with the general public.

The group, NYC Coalition for Accountability Now, is following the steps to place a referendum on the ballot in November that would require the city’s Department of Buildings to investigate the collapse of any building taller than 20-stories dating back to 9/11, and in the future, but not including the Twin Towers. So far, only 7 WTC fits that description.

The group, which now bills itself as the Highrise Safety Initiative, has previously attempted a ballot initiative and failed. In 2009, the city successfully challenged in court an attempt to include a referendum on the ballot calling for an investigation into 7 WTC’s collapse.

This time, they have raised more money, over $190,000, which they have used to hire a media consultant (Andrew Moesel of Sheinkopf Communications), an election lawyer (Leo Glickman of Stoll, Glickman & Bellina) and a petition-gathering consultant (the BrownMillerGroup).

The Highrise Safety Initiative has gathered more than 53,000 signatures, far beyond the requisite 30,000, which it will present to the City Council July 3. Assuming the council declines to act on the proposal, the group would then gather an additional 30,000 signatures to submit in September to force its initiative onto the ballot. Approval by a majority of those who vote on the question would compel the city to act on its instructions.

Both the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have issued reports on 7 WTC, and both determined that fire, falling debris and faulty sprinkler systems were responsible for the collapse. NIST noted that it was the only known instance of a high-rise building being brought down by fire.

“The Highrise Safety Initiative is run by a professional group of people that have legitimate safety concerns about New York City buildings.” “We have no problem making that case to voters, who will ultimately be the ones who decide it on the merits.” said Mr. Moesel.