Trying to pacify the city after news of the foiled JFK plot, Mayor Michael Bloomberg rattled some nerves instead of calming them when he told worried New Yorkers to "get a life" Monday.
"You have a much greater chance of being hit by lightning than being struck by a terrorist," the mayor said Monday of the thwarted plan to blow up JFK pipelines.
"You can't sit there and worry about everything. Get a life."
While acknowledging Bloomberg's intention, City Councilman Joseph P. Addabbo (D-Queens) said his constituents are worried -- and rightly so.
"Regardless of what anyone says, a resident whose house is less than 25 feet from the pipeline is going to be very concerned by this," said Addabbo, who represents neighborhoods near JFK airport.
"My constituents, who before this had no idea where the pipeline ran, now know exactly where it runs."
The councilman said the jet fuel pipeline is less than 50 feet away from a daycare center and just a block away from two senior centers. Although experts have stressed how difficult it would be to get the jet fuel to explode, none has discounted the possibility that the plot could have worked.
"I've told all my constituents, if you see any suspicious activity, call in and report it," said Addabbo. "If anyone on the other end of 311 or 911 calls you a 'nervous Nelly,' I want to hear about it."
5 years ago
