Ground Zero

I come from a long line of firemen in my family. My dad, Anthony T. Alt, was chief of the 18th Battalion on Tremont Ave in the Bronx at a time when the Bronx was burning! His brothers were all firemen too — Billy, Bruce, and Bobby. As was their dad, my father’s father, was a fireman, too! My cousin Ricky is (or actually was) a fireman and both his sons, Brent and Lenny are now firemen.

I have lived in more or less, a fireman community growing up. Across the street, was my “uncle,” who was not my real uncle, but a close friend of the family and his son, are both firemen too! WOW! When I put it down on paper, it really seems crazy to have been so lucky to grow up with so many amazing and giving creatures!

My family and my family’s friends were first responders at the World Trade Towers. And I cannot pretend to even understand what the magnitude of that was like. I am so proud of my family and my friends for their selfless devotion and the firefighters as a FDNY family. I am also proud of all those who came from miles around to pitch in during those dark days after Sept 11.

I recently had the good fortune of going to Ground Zero to see what work has been done lately to get that area back, working, and prosperous again. My friend Steven owns the building which is called Building 7 (or its actual address is 250 Greenwich St.). Floors 47-50 are used these days as sets for Law and Order and other movies and TV shows that are filming in the city. He invited me up for a special tour and to see the view from above; what most people have not seen: the filling of the hole where the Trade Towers were.

I know there is a lot of controversy about the re-building of this area. I am not very political. Being an actress, I am more emotional. So to stand on the 47th floor and gaze upon this area which, when I viewed it last, was a steaming pile of twisted metal; bigger than anything I had ever seen. Bigger than a cruise ship, or a battleship. Bigger than a building. In contrast, these ruins were not done any justice in photos I have seen before or after I saw it in person. I give the respect and awe due to the men and women who persevered and toiled there. Some have lost their lives from unimaginable diseases; my father died from cancer due to inhaling PCB’s at the NY Tel fire in 1976. My mom received no benefits. So I understand the frustration, anger and politics involved in the aftermath of 9/11. Going up into building number 7 and seeing the slow and steady progress being made was a bittersweet moment for me.

I want to share my photos with you. I know, I am not a great photog! I enjoy being in front of the camera more being the ham that I am! But I sure hope you enjoy seeing 9/11 ten years later.

This is the view few get! Normally you are seeing this building from the opposing view.

This is the view looking OUT from the 47th floor of building 7.

I told you I was a ham so I had to get into the picture! Literally! The view is behind me:

This is looking down on the construction work going on right at ground zero! I went 360 degrees to see the whole view from the 47th floor!:

These artist’s rendering were against the wall on a work bench. I took the photo because the rendering looked so beautiful and upbeat compared to the grey I saw all around me. Being on an unfinished floor, the wall, and floor were concrete grey! And the day was grey, too! Almost forgot that! It was just all grey-so you can see how the colors in this painting captured me.

The construction workers were quite upbeat. After sitting for months, they were happy to be up and working. They called to me as I was leaving building 7 and we took photos together!:

You know, being in this business you sometimes get to do things that maybe someone else could not do. I think this was one of those moments. And I want to thank Steven Cayre for this opportunity!!

See you next blog…