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SPITZER'S
PA BOSS TO EYE 'FREEDOM' REDO
That drew a quick retort from Gov. Pataki. Changing plans for the Freedom Tower "would be an enormous mistake," he told The Post. Shorris acknowledged there was concern that re-examining the project would delay the timetable, which calls for the completion of the Freedom Tower by 2011. He said "the No. 1 priority of the [incoming] governor is to get Ground Zero moving. "The last thing that any of us wants to see is slowing down the process," Shorris said. He added there was a "very limited" opportunity to rethink the Freedom Tower.
Sources said New Jersey would support a downsizing of the Freedom Tower. Spitzer has yet to spell out his views about the project and its cost, but aides say he is studying the issues. "He is looking at it closely, and clearly some important decisions have to be made," said Paul Francis, Spitzer's choice for state budget director. "But again, I think Eliot has been clear that provided that the federal and state leases are available and other conditions, like insurance proceeds being available, he believes that the Freedom Tower should move forward," Francis told The Post.
Spitzer named several of
his appointees yesterday, including Avi Schick, an
assistant state attorney general, who will play a role
in the rebuilding of Ground Zero as downstate chief
operating officer of the Empire State Development Corp.
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The
incoming head of the Port Authority said yesterday the
Spitzer administration wants to take a "fresh look" at
the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site.
Tony Shorris, executive director-designate of the
authority, said, "We'll be looking at every aspect of
it, both the plan and the execution of it. We'll take a
fresh look at everything." 
Pataki said the Freedom
Tower is now designed to be juxtaposed with the trade
center memorial - rising to 1,776 feet, making it taller
than the Twin Towers were. "It's a critical
element," he said. "It should and will go forth." Shorris' comments come amid concerns by New Jersey
officials - who have equal representation with New York
on the Port Authority board - that the current design is
so costly it would hamper other PA projects.