N.Y. Governor Warns of Court Action on 9/11 Museum Fight

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are speaking publicly for the first time about the dispute over skyrocketing construction costs for the September 11 Memorial & Museum, being built on the site of the World Trade Center, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The dispute is over whether the foundation that has raised money for the project or the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is responsible for covering the cost overruns, which have delayed the opening of the museum. Mr. Cuomo says the Port Authority is “on the verge of litigation.”

In a radio interview Thursday, Mr. Cuomo said that “the City of New York, or the mayor as the chair of the memorial, owes the Port Authority $300-million, according to the Port Authority.”

In the meantime, construction on the project has come “basically to a halt,” said Mr. Bloomberg, who chairs the memorial.

The foundation denies it is responsible for the cost overruns, and believes it is owed more than $140-million for costs caused by delays.

“We don’t think we owe anything,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “You know, it’s hard to see us getting to a courtroom, but if it has to go there, it has to go there.”