Honestly, Once You Finally Get Up There It’s Kind Of A Letdown Anyway

The Statue of Liberty’s crown will remain closed to visitors:

The decision, revealed in a letter from outgoing National Park Service Director Fran Mainella, drew a swift rebuke from some lawmakers who fought to allow the public back into the crown, closed since 9/11.

“The Park Service announcement shows that at least in this case, freedom has given way to fear,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said. “The Park Service should be ashamed of their cowardice.”

“One of my favorite memories as a child was going up to the top of the Statue of Liberty and looking out of her crown to what I thought were the ends of the Earth,” Schumer said. “Now, generations of kids and adults will be denied that opportunity.”

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens, Brooklyn) called the decision a “capitulation to the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11” and he vowed to continue waging the fight.

Mainella’s Aug. 4 letter, made public yesterday, cited ongoing security issues at the landmark.

“After a thorough review of the safety issues at the statue, we have concluded that current access patterns reflect a responsible management strategy in the best interests of all our visitors,” Mainella wrote.

“While we can never assure complete elimination of all security risks, we are satisfied that the measures in place address the security concerns highlighted by the events of Sept. 11, 2001,” she added.

The federal government reopened the statue in August 2004 after keeping it closed nearly three years after the terror attacks. But visitors are allowed access only to the pedestal.

A spokesman for the Park Service described the letter as the federal government’s “final” decision on the matter.