19 May 1998

    Date: Mon, 18 May 98 18:40:00 -0400
    From: myoung <myoung@bbbarch.com>
    To: jya@pipeline.com
    Subject: South Side of Ellis Island

    Original Message from lsoloff@bbbarch at 5/15/98 5:51 pm

    Memorandum

    To	  All Staff
    From	  John Belle and Maxinne Leighton
    Date	  15 May 1998
    Subject	  South Side of Ellis Island

    Roger Lang and Mark Weber of the New York Landmarks Conservancy
    gave us an eye-opening talk on the deterioration of the buildings
    on the south side of Ellis Island, which inspired us to ask each
    of you to consider writing a letter in support of allocating funds
    for its restoration.

    Attached is a version of a letter that might be written to Chairmen
    Gordon and Regula of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior
    expressing your support.  You are welcome to sign the letter as is,
    or modify it for a more personal expression.

    We are happy to provide a stamped, addressed envelope and mail the
    letter for you.  Because there is a deadline for receipt of support
    letters, please give your signed letter to Jennie by Tuesday, 19 May.

    Thank you, and we appreciate your taking the time to do this.

    Copies of this message were sent to 92 users.

    ----------

    15 May 1998

    The Honorable Slade Gordon
    Chairman
    Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior
    730 Hart
    Washington, D.C.  20510

    Dear Senator Gordon:

    I write in support of allocating $6.6 million for the South Side
    of Ellis Island and urge you to pass it in your subcommittee.

    The restoration of the Main Building as the National Museum of
    Immigration has created a place where millions of people come
    annually to learn, remember, pay respect to what has made America
    great.  But like all history, what creates greatness is often the
    tense duality between hope and pain.  Though the South side of
    the Island tells a different story than the restored side, one
    with greater focus on the challenges and tears associated with
    coming to this country, it is still part of our story as Americans,
    immigrants, and children of immigrants.  To not appropriate this
    money and thereby allow these buildings to disappear through
    neglect, is to wipe out and revise a part of our history that
    speaks to the truth as much as the stories of immigrants crying
    with joy when they saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time.

    In ten years do you want the annals of history judging you and
    your subcommittee harshly for not protecting our past and not
    honoring our vision for future generations?  The destruction of
    one's history is why so many immigrants fled their homes to come
    to America.  $6.6 million dollars is a small price to pay to
    uphold our country’s foundation.

    We owe it to ourselves and to each other to honor our past in
    all of its truth.  Don’t allow the wrecking ball of time destroy
    that.  Please allocate the $6.6 million for the South Side
    of Ellis Island.

    Sincerely,