By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — The Obama administration is strongly considering moving the 9/11 terror trials out of Manhattan, but they don't know where else to hold them, a Congressman told the City Council on Thursday.
Rep. Peter King blasted the president for not working with Congress on picking a location during testimony before the City Council. The Long Island Republican said downtown residents' opposition to the plan poisoned the well for the government regarding a new trial location.
"I don't know any members of Congress who would say 'bring the trial to my district' after seeing what has happened in New York City," King said.
Despite reassurances from King that the trial was heading elsewhere, community members voiced their concerns that holding the terror trials in Lower Manhattan would destroy any progress they made rebuilding after the 9/11 attacks.
John Doyle, speaking on behalf of the Real Estate Board of New York, said the terror trials could be catastrophic for the real estate industry, with vacancy rates in lower Manhattan expected to skyrocket. Right now, he testified, they stand at 9.6 percent, which is on par with the rest of the country.
"If the terror trials are going on, that would be an incentive to move," he said.
Chinatown activists like Jeanie Chin also voice her displeasure at local politicians for waiting so long to act, despite knowing about the possibility of the terror trials being held in lower Manhattan nearly a year ago.
"Democracy does work," she said to the council. "But that will require you not sleep [on the issue] for five months."
The Washington Post reported Thursday that Obama would help choose the location for the terror trials, a reversal from previous statements that he would leave the choice to Attorney General Eric Holder.
