Just Asking
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Who is Really Accountable For the October 15, 2003 Ferry Crash That Killed 11 Innocent People?
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The Transportation Committee of the New York City council is angry that Iris Weinshall, the Bloomberg Commissioner of Transportation, is not answering questions about the Staten Island Ferry accident on October 15, 2003 that killed 11 people and injured 71. Michael Cordozo, Corporation Counsel for the City, is not allowing Ms. Weinshall to answer questions because this would, he said, disclose information that "could jeopardize potential criminal prosecutions."
The New York Post ["2 Ferry Bigs Refusing to Meet With Fed Crash Probers", Jan 29, 2004] reports that Department of Transportation Director of Ferries Patrick Ryan and Port Captain Joe Ecock have also declined to voluntarily meet with the Brooklyn U.S. attorney to discuss their enforcement of ferry rules. The regulations have become a pivotal part of the grand jury's probe into the crash of the Andrew J. Barberi. Do we have to put accountability for this under the carpet so that public officials such as Ms. Wenshall (wife of NY State Senator Charles Schumer) are not questioned about improprieties in performing their jobs? Isn't this the same thing that is happening to teachers and parents who speak out against the Administration and/or Board of Education about the school reform movement? |