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John Makely / NBC News
A police officer makes his rounds at the Statue of Liberty National Monument which has been been closed since Hurricane Sandy.
John Makely / NBC News
Superintendent David Luchsinger walks along the pathways damaged by Hurricane Sandy on Liberty Island. Luchsinger and his wife were residents of the island when the storm hit in October 2012.
John Makely / NBC News
Much of the brick pathway on Liberty Island damaged by the storm will be replaced with larger pavers.
John Makely / NBC News
Ruined spotlights that once illuminated the Statue of Liberty need replacement.
By Andrew Rafferty, NBC News
The Statue of Liberty no longer towers over huddled masses these days. Instead, at her feet sit atop dumpsters filled with debris, piles of dirt and bricks ripped from the walkway that once led tourists around Liberty Island.
More than three months after Hurricane Sandy devastated parts of New York and New Jersey, the symbol of American exceptionalism still stands on an island full of rubble. Lady Liberty escaped the storm unharmed, but like so many Sandy victims, her home was destroyed. About 75 percent of Liberty Island was submerged. Nearly all the island’s infrastructure was destroyed by water that was more than five feet deep over some parts of the 12-acre island.
Neighboring Ellis Island has no upended sidewalks or debris anymore, but it will take a long time to repair the electrical system and infrastructure of the sprawling complex that welcomed 12 million immigrants to America.
Both islands have been closed indefinitely to visitors.
Despite the visible disarray, officials say they have recently turned a corner. The cleanup is largely complete, the damage is documented, and some relief money will soon start coming in to begin repairing millions of dollars worth of damage. Details of a final plan for the parks reopening will likely come within the next two weeks, according to park officials. They are hopeful the Statue of Liberty will be open by summer.
But not knowing when Lady Liberty will welcome visitors again has caused frustrations, both for those who work in the park and for politicians who view the landmark as a revenue source for the New York economy. Earlier this month, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. asked the Department of the Interior to set a hard and fast timetable for reopening the statue.
"The Statue of Liberty is still shuttered more than three months after Sandy struck the city and tourists, businesses and all New Yorkers need to know that the end is in sight," read a statement released by Schumer this month.
The National Parks Service and the vendors that cater to the island stand to lose at least several million dollars in ticket, concession and souvenir sales, park officials estimate. They've already lost two of their busiest times of the year -- Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even on a cold February day between 7,000 to 8,000 people will brave the Hudson River to view some of America's best known landmarks. As the weather gets warmer, everything gets busier. Last year the Statue of Liberty welcomed 3.7 million visitors.
John Makely / NBC News
Millions of dollars in revenue are lost with the closure of the popular tourist destination.
John Makely / NBC News
A tour boat passes the heavily damaged auxiliary dock on Liberty Island.
Those numbers are not lost on David Luchsinger, superintendent of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. He understands the toll that the prolonged closure has taken on the 450 employees and contractors who worked at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island before Sandy.
John Makely / NBC News
Hurricane Sandy inundated Ellis Island, flooding all the basements where most of the mechanical systems operated. Ellis Island will probably take longer to open than Liberty Island.
“We want it opened as soon as Sen. Schumer and everybody else does, and we're going to get it open as quickly as we can, and we're hoping that by the summertime we'll at least have the Statue of Liberty back open,” Luchsinger said.
But Luchsinger's focus has been not only on rebuilding, but improving. Before coming to New York, Luchsinger spent three years in Louisiana helping the recovery effort from Hurricane Katrina and getting through Hurricane Gustav and Ike. And for him, attention needs to be placed not only on repairing, but on preparing so that when the next storm hits, this type of devastation will not occur. That means elevating electrical and HVAC systems to prevent flooding from knocking them out again and looking into putting a gas line underground to Liberty Island.
"That's what's taking so long, we want to make sure that when we put things back, we put them back the right way," said Luschsinger.
For most of the past three months, the superintendent has had the task of telling media, members of government and the public that no timetable exists. Just this week, the Department of Transportation announced $28 million in emergency relief funding that will partially go toward repairing Liberty Island's two docks.
"The tourist season means jobs and customers - and we want to help make sure popular parks and tourist destinations in New York and New Jersey are as accessible as possible and open for business," Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said in a statement.
The announcement set off a new round of speculation that Lady Liberty could be open to the public by Memorial Day. But Luchsinger, thanking the Department of Transportation for the aid, said that "the many other necessary repairs" will keep the park closed indefinitely.
Also, it took 91 days after the storm hit Oct. 29 for Congress to pass a $50.5 billion relief package.
After Hurricane Sandy swamped both The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island much work remains according to Superintendent David Luchsinger, who also lost his residence in the storm.
"Now that Congress has given us the funding, you know, we're in a position to start making things happen finally," said Luchsinger. But he is quick to point his team did not wait for a check to get to work. Almost as soon the storm moved out, the cleanup effort began. An incident command team took to the islands, working out of their cars.
While progress is slow but sure on Liberty Island, much larger Ellis Island will take well beyond summer to get up and running. The silver lining is that none of museum’s more than one million artifacts was lost. After the storm, the valuables were shipped to a museum archival center in Landover, Maryland, and there are no plans in place for bringing them back anytime soon.
Many of the employees who worked on Ellis Island and the surrounding parks now operate out of Federal Hall, still without phone lines.
Members of the parks department were getting ready to celebrate in the days leading up to Sandy. For the past year, the interior of the monument had been closed for a $30 million renovation that made it more accessible to visitors with disabilities. On Oct. 27, the monument's 126th birthday, visitors were again able to peek through Lady Liberty's crown. Thankfully, since there was no damage to the statue during the storm, none of the new renovation will need repair.
"The secretary [of the Interior Department] and I were celebrating one day and crying in our beer the second," joked Luchsinger. "But I know this park will come back, and I know it will be better than it was."
John Makely / NBC News
The Registration Room at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. While the building is intact, all of the mechanical systems in the basement were heavily damaged.
John Makely / NBC News
Until the building can be adequately climate-controlled, most of the artifacts that were on display in the Ellis Island Immigration Museum have been removed and archived in Maryland for safe-keeping.
John Makely / NBC News
A vacant wing of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
John Makely / NBC News
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Well, it's just the sign of the times when people want hand outs for help instead of helping themselves. Here is a perfect example of where to put some of the people to work in exchange for their unemployement or food stamps!
america is done.. game is over.. it is not even worth it to work anymore..
the government is too busy taking care of the lazy parasites..
government wants to see people fail.
Too bad about the time frame, but reality is not a TV show that works all things out in one episode. More truth then appears, looks good from the outside, but a mess inside.
All you people can ramble on about Republicans and Democrats but remember who put this country another 5.6 TRILLION dollars in the hole.I remember a time when the country could afford to just write a check and the money was there.New Yorkers voted him back in(and in the first time around)and now "the bird"has come home to roost.When I get off here I know that ten million of you will come back and say,"Don't blame me,I didn't vote for him".Well,somebody did.Get your head out of the sand and take your kids over there while you can still afford it.It's absolutely pathetic what this president has done and mark my words....you haven't "seen nothin"yet.From this day on til the end of his term look for 10.5 to 11 trillion in the hole.I wouldn't trust the guy to run a Kool-aid stand.Never even been in business,not even a budget in the last 4 years.(and yes,that is his end responsibility as he's the head of the country)Totally worthless.(And he always has that crap-eatin' grin on like nothings wrong).
MoreJustice, I invite you to start paying corporate income tax. Or how about matching every dime withheld from every employee's paycheck for Social Security? How about property tax on vehicles, fixtures, tools, and equipment? Or providing the majority of Americans with their health insurance? Corporations give back every day. Its just zealous idiots like you who think they are the robber barons of old. Why don't you take a little responsibility for yourself?
danman, are you talking about wonderful corporations such as Walmart who post how to collect food stamps in their break-rooms. How about Papa-john's pizza who gives away 2 million pizzas during football games while complaining that health insurance for his employees will cost him 14 cents per pizza. How about corporations and people such as the Koch brothers and Adleson who tried to use their money to buy the last election. Lastly corrupt Supreme Court Justices such as Thomas who declared that corporations are people. That ruling can't be reversed fast enough. The only decent corporation is Costco. Their employees are treated very well.
No, John, I am talking about the other 50,000 companies in the United States that provide jobs and benefits for the millions of Americans that otherwise could not afford individual medical insurance, retirement, etc. As you badmouth a Walmart please let me know what you would do, otherwise, to employee the many who work there with little education and few skills? Rather than show them how to collect food stamps shall we just place them on the rolls permanently? So Papa John should have taken the $280,000 from 2 million pizzas @ 0.14 each and purchased, what, a bottle of aspirin for each employee? How about the many unions that used their members' dues to successfully buy the last election? You are confusing the term "benefit" with "entitlement." Very common these days. The majority of companies owe you a paycheck. You owe them production for that paycheck. Sad how the ethic of work is lost on the current generation.
Danman, Thank you for your reply. You don't find it disturbing that Walmart pushes foodstamps rathaer than paying a better wage? You do realize that this causes the federal government to subsidize Walmarts low wages with food stamps. The Papa-john's comment is what the owner said when questioned about providing heal insurance. He said that it would cost 14 cents more per pizza to provide health insurance. Seems like a reasonable trade to keep the employees out of emergency rooms that we all pay for in higher taxes and health insurance rates. Due to Republican gains in gerrymandered state elections unions have lost members and power. The amount of money spent by unions in the last election is tiny compared to what the corporations and billionaires spent. Ed McMahons's wife spent over 200 million dollars on a Senate bid. Fortunately the voters were not fooled and she lost.
For that paycheck all workers deserve a living wage, health care benefits and a retirement plan just as it is done in the rest of the industrialized world. Universal health care will remove one of the three from employers. Again, I thank you for the conversation. I enjoy the discourse.
John, it does not cause the federal government to do squat. The federal government does not "pay" for anything. No government "pays" for anything. Taxpayers, of which corporations are one of the largest, pay for everything the government "provides." I do not find it disturbing that Walmart provides information to their employees on food stamps. Would it be better if they did not? Because they don't have to. Walmart employs a LOT of people that, with their relatively low level of preparation for adult life, could not find work elsewhere. If you think of it this way you realize Walmart helps keep people OFF food stamps.
Unions have not lost members due to Republican gains. Unions have lost members because, in most cases, they are no longer relevant and they rob their own membership. Do you find it interesting that the three largest labor unions represent government workers? Could it be that, of all employers, the government is the one that needs the closest policing?
The term "living wage" is also extremely subjective. Also, please show me one person that has been denied medical care in the United States. And what in the world do you think Social Security is meant to be? People must stop relying on the government for their binkies and sippy-cups. They need to take some personal responsibility. If you wish to be paid a living wage make best use of a taxpayer supported school system and get an education. If you wish to have a retirement plan start saving when you are 20, not expect it to be handed to you when you are 65. The citizens of the United States have the HIGHEST level of disposable income in the industrialized world. So why are bigger TV's and faster cellphones their priority? Self-responsibility. The Greatest Generation understood it. Today's average citizen does not.
So...who are we blaming? Bush? Obama? The Democrats? The Republicans? The Mayor of New York City?
How about WE look in the mirror first?
The lady will still be their when ya finally get around to fixing her.
Use the money to help real Americans, also hurt by this storm.
In this case lady liberty would nor mind waiting.
Collapsed my true comment, oh well, try again. Don't bother fixing it, the lady is on Obama's drone attack list.
And this a National Historic Site........
The Repubs and Dems need to get off their a#s and take care of business.
But........the party of NO blocks everything regardless of who or what it affects. (I will do everythinf in my power to ensure that Obama is a one-term President and now it has hit everyone...)
Look deep and you will find the answers to why this is NOT funded................
Oh, that is right, how could I have missed it....Bush's fault. Do you really think Obama and liberals give a rats a.. about historic sites on american soil?
dmallett, I did NOT say it was W's fault, what I said was "the party of NO blocks everything regardless of who or what it affects. (I will do everything in my power to ensure that Obama is a one-term President" and now it has hit everyone...)"
Get off of the "Bush blame game" AND READ BEFORE YOU POST!
It seems the reasoning behind getting the islands re-opened is completely wrong! The article states they would like to get them open because the state of NY and the vendors are losing money. What about simple American pride? We should get these places open again as fast as possible and spare no cost at doing it simply because, to the world, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are a symbol of America and what we stand for - freedom and equality.
Here we are whining because we're losing tourist dollars, when that should be the furthest thing from our minds. It should be priority #1 to restore these Landmarks to the glory that they were before the storm.
If the State of New York is losing money because of it then the State of New York must normally MAKE money from the Statue of Liberty and has done it for a very long time. Therefore, let the State of New York fix it!
Wow...NYS can pass ridiculous gun control laws in a matter of days, but when it comes to repairing one of the most recognized symbol of freedom.....who cares, right? This state and our lawmakers disgust me.
Use common sense. There are some repairs that can't be done in that weather. Further, had they started and finished already, every person that had storm damage would be yelling that their place is more important and the the socialist nanny government isn't helping them.
The fed.gov has never respected this national treasure. I'd rather tax dollars go to Liberty's maintenance than into the pockets of crony Senators bilking the nation by pretending to represent the people. A bigger con was never invented.
That's what she has given us the last 20 years.... trash and rubble. THX Mrs. Liberty, they have all but ruined our once great country! And in the not so distant future... they will ruin it!
Might as well get used to it lady liberty. we are all up to our knees in Ships.
Now there's a powerful metaphor. There was a time when America was a beacon of hope to the people of the world. Now we just want to hole up with our reality TV and our fried chicken and ignore the plight of the poor. We've become a radically inward-looking, self-centered people, indifferent to the dreams of our founders. Thanks, Tea Party. This one's on you.
get a clue
The original pedestal was paid for by children by collecting pennies.
The wealthy won't pay since the statue just encourages poor people.
The libertarians won't pay because it is a government project.
The debt and deficit crowd won't pay but could charge for postage.
The anti-immigration groups won't pay because the statue would be 180 reversed.
The sons of the confederacy won't pay unless they can add a flaming cross.
The American veterans already paid, and paid and paid but how much from the neocons
The 2nd amendment crowd won't pay unless the Lady is armed and crowned with sniper positions.
Without safety for children, the great lady should become indignant, turn heel, and swim to France, looking back and shedding tears.
you too , get a clue ya scumbag !
"More than three months after Superstorm Sandy caused considerable damage on Liberty and Ellis Islands, this symbol of American exceptionalism still is not open to tourists."
"American exceptionalism?" Did Fox News hijack nbcnews.com?
I still love this place... LOVE IT
Originally having been there decades ago - I re-visited the Statue Of Liberty in Summer 2008. What a great spot to visit. This is the premier "National Monument" in the United States and thank goodness the statue itself was not damaged and that the surrounding area will now get funding. This attractive and historic place a "Huge Priority". The images here are great and really tell a story. Hurry up but fix this landmark right - and "FORGET" putting a gas line "directly under" the statue - that will only be a disaster (of any kind) "waiting to happen" . Surrounding communities do not need to risk another financial set back.
Wow! This could have been a positive story of how our symbol of liberty is still standing after the storm. Your putting a pretty bleak outlook on things. Or just report the facts and leave the slants out of it altogether.
Looks to me like there are a LOT of jobs to be had here. But if Obama brings that up, for sure the jobs will be axed.
Let's see, Obama not worried that his, tree huggingf nut cakes have shut down, most of our oil refinerys, so now we pay up the ass for fuel, and Obama has no clue as to price of fuel, or any other hard ship, his people have put on us Americans, maybe it's time to change the old lady to a homless person, holding an empty gas can.
I cannot believe all of the posters bickering about political parties.The article is about the disrepair of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.Both are great American symbols and they bring in tourist dollars.The Statue of Liberty was in disrepair once and items were sold to raise funds to fix it.The U.S. has the money and can afford to repair Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.People need to stop buying into the propaganda that we are broke.
let me guess. cantor, boner and the dishwasher don't want to commit the funds. let it pay for it self and fix it self. a broken statue of liberty is actually the way it should remain. it's a fitting statement of our country.