Chilling Message From Port Authority - come visit the WTC!

CBS New York ^ | Nov 19, 2003 7:08 am US/Eastern

[Grig]

NEW YORK (CBS) A chilling story you'll see only on CBS 2. There’s been an apparent oversight by the people who ran the World Trade Center. A message that has shocked every person who has heard it.

Victims families are beyond outraged. They're speechless. CBS 2's Lou Young has more.

“Go upstairs to the World Trade Center mall....” says the recording.

Until late Tuesday it was possible to direct dial into a cruel fantasy in which the World Trade Center had never been destroyed. 1-800-234 -PATH.

The folks at the 9-11 Coalition of Families were shocked, nearly speechless when CBS 2 brought the problems with the Port Authority's official information line to their attention.

“For the World Trade Center observation deck press one. Enjoy a spectacular view from the observation deck from the 107th floor and the outdoor promenade on the 11th floor of two World Trade Center. Hours are 9:30 am to 9:30 pm daily.”

And it's not as if this phone line hadn't been updated. It had Tuesday's date and new information about train schedules and station access. The only problem is if you tried to figure out how to get to the new PATH World Trade Center station, well you get information about how to navigate the twin towers that have been gone for more than two years.

“To reach the World Trade Center take PATH to the World Trade Center terminal. Go upstairs to the World Trade Center mall. General information is available on the mall at the booth next to the PATH escalator from 6am to 6pm.”

Are people angry? “That's not even the right word, it's an understatement, yeah, we're on television, I can't tell you anger, I can't tell you anger,” says Lee Lelipi of the 9-11 Coalition of Families.

Viewer Connie Pandolfo told us about the tape. She'd been trying to get directions to the new PATH station at ground zero, when she got the recording. "I felt sick" she said. "I got goose bumps, it was like nothing had happened."

“Windows on the World restaurant is currently closed. For more World Trade Center information press one.”

Greg Trevor, a spokesman for the Port Authority told Young, "We are extremely upset to learn about this and we apologize to the families of those lost on September 11th 2001, including the 84 members of the PA family. This should've been caught. We have shut down the system until it can be fixed. Thank you for bringing it to our attention."

“It seems like a cruel joke to me, I still can't believe that anybody could make that mistake,” says Bruce Decell.

[Republicus2001]

he did it again! damn it - it's Bush's fault

[dirtboy]

Mistakes happen. Folks need to deal with it, instead of ripping into PATH for an honest mistake.

[AgThorn]

And the news here is???? That government forgot to update a tape? Sheesh .. people need to get a life. Moving on.

[Sloth]

The folks at the 9-11 Coalition of Families were shocked, nearly speechless when CBS 2 brought the problems with the Port Authority's official information line to their attention.

So why didn't they just bring it to the Port Authority's attention to fix it?

[Mo1]

Because it wouldn't make the news then

[Sloth]

"“That's not even the right word, it's an understatement, yeah, we're on television, I can't tell you anger, I can't tell you anger,” says Lee Lelipi of the 9-11 Coalition of Families."

"Camshaft fury, fury," added Lelipi, unable to form coherent English sentences. "We stake horses, yeah, crust off off my sandwiches, indeed."

[Dog]

Gotcha journalism....

[Constitution Day]

United States of the Offended, part MCMXLVIII.

[Dog]

Thanks for the laugh.

[M. Peach]

"Gotcha journalism...."

Nah - I think it's more like someone has plans to contact an attorney...

[Mark was here]

Victims families are beyond outraged. They're speechless.

I am so sick and tired of the whining coming out of these ingrates, sometimes I wish they were just simply lifeless.

[adam_az]

Maybe I'm a sick f or something...

But I found this story to be very funny.

[Dog]

Her she is the next lawyer millionaire lottery winner..

Viewer Connie Pandolfo told us about the tape. She'd been trying to get directions to the new PATH station at ground zero, when she got the recording. "I felt sick" she said. "I got goose bumps, it was like nothing had happened."

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!

[Paleo Conservative]

So why didn't they just bring it to the Port Authority's attention to fix it?

Because that way they wouldn't have a big "got'ya" story to pump up their ratings. I'm sure the Port Authority has had lot's to worry about since 9-11-2001 and this was just an oversight.

[Moonmad27]

Like Berke Breathed's Opus character once said, "Offensensitivity."

[cyncooper]

The folks at the 9-11 Coalition of Families were shocked, nearly speechless when CBS 2 brought the problems with the Port Authority's official information line to their attention.

And CBS 2 felt they needed to go running to the 9-11 Coalition and make sure they stirred the outrage pot.

What vultures. This was obviously an honest oversight and the message was not left in place out of malicious intent. I can't say I conclude the same can be said of CBS 2 and their journalistic pursuits.

[Cindy]

Slow news day (as usual) for CBS...


LINKS OF INTEREST
http://www.truthusa.com/LinksOfInterest.html

[Sloth]

No doubt, they wanted to stir up controversy for a news story.

So I guess my real question is, how come the supposed victims get angry with the Port Authority for inadvertently failing to update their phone menu system properly, but DON'T get angry with the CBS affiliate for deliberately exploiting the matter for their own benefit?

Not that I don't know the answer to that one, too...

[Salgak]

Here's to betting that the entire office that ran that answering machine died on 9/11, and the Port Authority forgot about it, with more important things to do since then. . .