The father of one firefighter lost in the Twin Towers said, “The memorial should be free for everybody to pay their respects. You wouldn’t charge money to get into a cemetery.”
Families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks in New York City are furious over the site administration’s decision to start charging for advance reservations reports the New York Post. The mother of one firefighter who died in the Twin Towers said, “I don’t want the American public to have to pay a dime to pay respects to my son. They made … a vow that no one would ever be charged for going to the memorial, but money is the bottom line here.”
The website for the memorial explains the fees are to help them “safely manage visitor capacity,” and then goes on to claim that the nonprofit, “receives no federal, state, or city funding.” However, the memorial has actually receive hundreds of millions of dollars in “taxpayer-funded grants and private donations in recent years.” The Post also reports that 10 out of 12 directors receive six-figure salaries.
Foundation CEO Joe Daniels is even considering charging a $20 admission to the underground museum when it opens in 2014.
Photo: AP/Mark Lennihan