Paterson: NY cooperating on 9/11 trial security; NYC residents split on trial locale

ALBANY -- Gov. David Paterson says that while he fears a security risk, he's fully cooperating with the White House on President Barack Obama's decision to put the Sept. 11 terror suspects on trial just blocks from ground zero.

Paterson says he was told six months ago that the federal trial could be held in Manhattan. He says he has spent the time preparing for it.

But he says that the 2001 attacks are still fresh for New Yorkers and the trial could add to anxiety and frustration in a city that, as he puts it, took a bullet for the rest of the country.

He said Monday that holding the trial in New York City wasn't the choice he would have made. In September, some Washington Democrats close to Obama urged Paterson, low in the polls, to give up his bid for election next year.

Poll: NYC residents split over terror trial locale

A poll finds residents are split on whether a terrorism trial should be held in New York City. But most feel law enforcement can handle the security risks.

The Marist College poll questioned 602 residents on Monday.

Forty-five percent of those polled think it's a good idea to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other 9/11 suspects in the city. Forty-one percent disagree; 14 percent are unsure.

The poll also found that 67 percent of respondents were confident the city could handle the potential security risks.

Twenty-two percent weren't confident that was the case and 11 percent were unsure.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

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On the Net: www.maristpoll.marist.edu/ 

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