Plum Crazy

There's nothing like the sales pitch of a real estate broker. A broker from Cushman & Wakefield had the following to say about potential tenants for the new Freedom Tower:

"I think there's a huge desire, not just by leaders of companies but also by individuals, to overcome" fears of terrorism, said Bruce Mosler, president of U.S. operations at Cushman & Wakefield in Manhattan.

I think you're nuts, Mosler. Speaking as someone who worked at the World Trade Center up until the very day that my office was destroyed by a 757, I'm telling you that I feel no need to overcome my fear of terrorism by going back to work in a stupidly tall tower. How Freudian can you get, anyway? "Ooh, look, my tower's bigger than your tower! I'm so mighty!" The very fact that people still live and work in New York City is indicative of having overcome fears of terrorism. Working in a tall, ugly building proves nothing. Although I can imagine the rental ads: "The Freedom Tower. Rent space now, or The Terrorists Will Win^TM."

Besides, the real reason companies will rent space in the Freedom Tower was summed up by a businessman, not a real estate broker:

Some survivors agree. Anthony Schirripa, chief executive of Mancini Duffy, an engineering firm, was in the south tower Sept. 11, 2001, but none of his employees were hurt. Schirripa said he would return to the trade center if the numbers worked.

"I don't think anybody would be squeamish about it," said Schirripa, an East Northport resident. "It's an economic decision."

That's right. It won't be about overcoming fears of terrorism. It'll be about the bottom-line. Just like it always is.