By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
LOWER MANHATTAN — Despite reports that the Obama administration is considering moving the 9/11 terror trials out of Manhattan, downtown residents pushed for the decision to be finalized Friday out of fear the government might reverse its position.
Approximately two-dozen people gathered outside the federal courthouse to protest holding the trials in Lower Manhattan, the latest of many such demonstrations held by community leaders.
"We're here because we don't have an answer," said Jan Lee, a Chinatown resident and activist, who has been leading protests against keeping the trials local.
One reason Lee is so anxious for a final decision is he's concerned the government is looking for private donations to cover the massive security costs, he told DNAinfo. The estimated $200 million price tag is one of the largest motivations for moving the trials out of Manhattan.
But Lee is more worried about the disruption to life and security risks posed by the trials being held in his backyard.
He believes the Justice Department could receive donations to pay for precautions — like police officers, sharpshooters and even barricades from manufacturing companies — from people who want to see the trials held in Lower Manhattan for symbolic reasons.
"It's conceivable that people will contribute large sums of money to see the trials held here," Lee said.
With supplies and police officers' time donated, the only cost the city would incur is overtime pay for city workers around the building, he explained.
"If we took all that into account, of all the things that could be donated to New York to make the trials happen here, then the money's issue's gone and we could be stuck with it here," Lee said.
While the movement has gained support from leaders of Community Board 1, including Marc Ameruso, who spoke at Friday's rally, Lee said he hasn't heard a peep from Community Board 3, whose boundaries technically include the courthouse, according to Lee.
On Thursday, Community Board 3 Chairman Dominic Pisciotta told DNAInfo.com he hadn't been contacted by Lee to participate in the protests. But Lee said for such a large national issue, an invitation shouldn't have to be handwritten.
"I think it's unreal when we have a case of national importance, [we have to] speak on behalf of the community," he said. "He shouldn't rely on me."
