DAY EIGHTY-NINE:Dec. 8:
Cold weather, at last! And rain. You can hear the plants going GULP, GULP, GULP. There may even be snow on the way in the next few hours: Hurrah!
While Mother Nature's chill is long overdue and welcome, the Cold Shoulder Congress gave to New York this week cut to the bone. In a completely partisan vote, led by the Bush White House, Congress defeated Democrat attempts to send billions of dollars to aid the city in her recovery. President Bush said he would absolutely resist any total domestic antiterrorism package over $20 billion, with about $6 billion designated for New York. Because even the Republican leadership of New York City and State say the real needs level is well over $100 billion, local political leaders had expressed confidence that a Senate drive to exceed the White House cap would succeed. The Senate passed an initiative that would have given $9.5 billion to New York: $5.8 billion for cleaning up the World Trade Center site, $2 billion to support small businesses in the Ground Zero area; $140 million to offset costs accrued by NYC hospitals; and $10 million for psychological services for children.
The Republicans in the House killed it.
Meanwhile, tourism is way off. Based on current tourist booking rates, cancelled conventions and slowed rates of reserving space in the city for future conventions the city estimates it will lose $4 billion over the next two years. Signs of falling economics are everywhere: Broadway ticket sales have plummeted in recent weeks, restaurant bookings are down, hotel rooms are empty, and the stores are practically giving things away. This week Bloomingdales is actually offering 65% off usual prices for many things in the department store. The city estimates it has lost $797 million in tax revenues from tourism since September 11.
This afternoon I was, again, at La Guardia Airport, flying to a National Cancer Institute meeting in Virginia. La Guardia was routinized its security procedures sufficiently that the entire process took less than 3 minutes. The airport is sparsely attended, however, compared to the throngs that filled it in August. The same can be said for Dulles International Airport here in Virginia.
I want to close with a joke. But I can't think of one. Funny is hard right now.
Be well. Stay safe. Stand defiant.
Laurie Garrett
