New York Daily News
NEW YORK Nov. 26, 2003
The New York Daily News repoted today that New York City Mayor Bloomberg opened a nationwide fund-raising campaign to raise $5 million to reopen the Statue of Liberty, closed because of security concerns since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Liberty Island re-opened 19 December 2001.
The federal government has not offered money neceswsary to make the necessary security improvements to Liberty. Local politicians expressed disappointment at the federal lack of funding.
The security improvements include upgrading fire suppression and emergency notification systems and creating additional exits from the statue's base.
American Express has already agreed to donate $3 million, and Folgers Coffee another $1 million. In the 1980s, the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, headed by Lee Iacocca, raised $500 million for the statue's restoration, completed in 1986.
Liberty and Ellis islands operating budget was increased from $10 to $11 million following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and $2 million was spent to boost security, including metal detectors.
The statue reopening date has not been set, perhaps in 2004. Even then it is unlikely that visitors will be allowed to climb to the statue's crown as in years past, probably no higher than the statue's base.
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