Two weeks ago I called on all the parties to come together to attempt to break the logjam and resume progress on the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site.

I am extremely grateful to Mayor Bloomberg for immediately taking up my call and hosting all of us at Gracie Mansion this afternoon. And I want to thank Governor Paterson, Governor Corzine, [Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director] Chris Ward and Larry Silverstein for agreeing so readily to come to the table.

Today all of the parties agreed that allowing the current impasse to go on is simply not an option. That we are where we are after this much time is an embarrassment to our city, our state and to the nation.

And today we were clear to all the parties - it can not go on like this any longer. There must be no more stalled negotiations.

This is about returning Lower Manhattan to its position as the third largest central business district in the nation and building a more vibrant, 24/7, mixed-use community - complete with amenities like a performing arts center and a new Fulton Street Transit Center - that is better and brighter than ever before.