Writing with concern about the United Nation’s plan to construct a new tower on a local New York City play ground, 21 Republican senators and 50 Republican representatives issued a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Thursday, urging her to oppose the project.
The letter, spearheaded by Louisiana Sen. David Vitter and Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn, also requests that the U.N provide an analysis of the project’s expected cost, as the United States would foot a hefty portion of the bill.
Construction of the tower is expected to require between $370 and $475 million, for which the U.S. will likely shoulder 22 percent. According to the congressmen, however, precedent shows that this price-tag is likely far less than what the final cost will be. The current renovation of the main U.N. building was initially estimated at $600 million, but now costs over $2 billion.
“In a time of fiscal austerity, the United States cannot afford unnecessary extravagances,” the letter reads. “The U.N. has not provided Congress with an explanation as to why this project is necessary or why it must be pursued in this time of budgetary crisis rather than at a later date. Therefore, we urge you to oppose this deal and immediately request all relevant details, plans, and cost estimates.”
According to Vitter, the United States simply does not have the funds to back an unnecessary project.
“Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton once said that if the current U.N. building lost ten stories, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference,” Vitter said. “Unless the U.N. can explain to Congress why a second tower is necessary and why it has to be done now, this just seems like a huge waste of money.”
Lamborn added that the expense would be a poor use of taxpayer money, and joined his colleagues in urging Clinton to oppose the deal, which will be finalized on October 10.
“As Members of Congress, it is our job to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used wisely,” Lamborn said. “I don’t want the taxpayer stuck with an outrageous bill for extravagant spending by the U.N.”
Dear Secretary Clinton:
It has come to our attention that New York City is proceeding quickly with plans to sell the Robert Moses Playground, which is adjacent to the current United Nations building, to the organization for the purpose of building a second U.N. tower. We urge you to oppose this project and immediately request the U.N. to provide a detailed analysis of the project’s expenses and the anticipated financial implications for the United States federal government.
According to news reports, the cost of constructing the new U.N. building is estimated to be between $370 million and $475 million. The cost of purchase of the playground from the city, the construction of the new building, and other associated expenses will likely be paid by member-states either through their payments to the U.N. regular budget or through a separate budget similar to that used to pay for the current renovation project under the Capital Master Plan. The U.S. will likely be expected to shoulder 22 percent of the increased expenses resulting from the project.
Moreover, it is likely that the cost of this project will be substantially higher than this estimate. As you know, the current renovation of the U.N. building was initially estimated at $600 million and has subsequently risen to more than $2 billion. Moreover, as we saw in 2010, the U.S. was expected to pay for $100 million in security related expenses above and beyond our contribution to the Capital Master Plan and would likely be asked to assume sole fiscal responsibility for security upgrades related to the new building.
In an editorial published in the New York Post on September 21, 2011, Meghan Clyne, managing editor of National Affairs, wrote “The question, however, is why US taxpayers would pay a dime toward this project…At a time when we’re hugely in debt, and the United Nations is busy pushing Palestinian statehood…why should we fork over millions of dollars — and a city park — to make the United Nations’ dream of nicer, more convenient offices come true?” Last year, U.S. taxpayers paid a record $7.7 billion to the United Nations, an organization long overdue for reform.
In a time of fiscal austerity, the United States cannot afford unnecessary extravagances. The U.N. has not provided Congress with an explanation as to why this project is necessary or why it must be pursued in this time of budgetary crisis rather than at a later date. Therefore, we urge you to oppose this deal and immediately request all relevant details, plans, and cost estimates related to the transfer of the playground to the U.N. and the construction of a new U.S. tower. We ask that you share that information with Congress so that we are able to determine the financial implications for American taxpayers.
Unfortunately, time is short. The New York legislation authorizing the deal requires the terms to be finalized by October 10, 2011. We look forward to your timely response.