New York City, July 15 2014 – A non-partisan non-profit organization is working to get a measure passed that would lead to a new investigation into the collapse of World Trade Center 7.  The New York City Coalition for Accountability NOW (NYC CAN) is seeking to get the High Rise Safety Initiative on the ballot for City Council.The group submitted over 67,000 petition signatures on July 3rd, 30,000 more than required.  If the initiative eventually passes it would require the NYC Department of Buildings to investigate all high-rise collapses in New York City that happened on or after September 11, 2001.

This would apply to the collapse of World Trade Center 7, a 47 story tall skyscraper that collapsed at 5:20 p.m. on September 11th despite not being hit by a plane. The National Institute of  Standards and Technology (NIST) released a report on the collapse in  November 2008. NIST said the official cause for collapse was caused by falling debris which created fires that raged because faulty sprinkler systems in the building were not able to put the fires out.  Critics say NIST refused to release modeling data, which kept independent engineers from being able to replicate the study.

So far City Council and Mayor De Blasio has resisted the initiative. Mayor De Blasio recently said he would work with City Council to block the proposal, calling it an “insensitive and inappropriate action”. The group is already preparing more petitions. If they are able to gather another 15,000 before September 4 the proposed amendment would appear on the November 2014 ballot. The group is planning to gather 33,000 more signatures.

Ted Walter, campaign director for the High Rise Safety Initiative , told Crain’s New York he was “unsatisfied” with NIST’s report and wants to provide the victims families, first responders, and survivors who support NYC CAN with an impartial investigation into the attacks of September 11, 2001. Walter previously attempted to get a similar measure passed in 2009.

On the 12th anniversary of the September 11th attacks Ben Swann released a report on the ReThink 9/11 Campaign.

Ted Walter said the growing number of Americans who question the collapse of building 7 support his campaign but he is not officially affiliated.  On the upcoming 13th anniversary of the attacks activists plan to gather in New York City once again.  Ground Zero 911 is one group making plans for the anniversary. The Ground Zero 911 organization is a loose coalition of a number of individuals, activists, organizations, and alternative media outlets.  The group hopes to capitalize on a recent rise in Americans questioning the events of September 11. The coalition is encouraging individuals to organize outreach events locally or go to New York City on September 11, 12, and 13 for street action, outreach and networking at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, Building 7, Times Square and other locations. The group is partnering up with Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth.