Anthony Weiner: “As remarkable as it might seem to anyone who is listening to these remarks, there is one national park in our country…”

“As remarkable as it might seem to anyone who is listening to these remarks, there is one national park in our country that was closed after September 11 that remains closed to this day. We all remember that after September 11, there was kind of a general lockdown. We weren't sure what was going to happen next. National parks throughout the country were closed. That included this building. It included the White House. It included, frankly, monuments, memorials, and parks throughout the country. Almost immediately thereafter, with some changes to security, some more enhanced like this building, some less so like some national parks, every single one of the national parks and institutions was reopened, except for one: the Statue of Liberty. Perhaps the single most symbolic of all parks, the Statue of Liberty remains closed to this day. It is true you can take a ferry and go around the Statue of Liberty. It is even true that you can go to its base, walk inside, and tap Lady Liberty's toes. But the Statue of Liberty and its iconic stairway that leads to the very top, to the crown, where all of us or so many of us remember standing on our tiptoes to see that regal view, remains closed today.”