Sen. Bateman works to ‘free’ Princeton’s hidden World Trade Center beam

Last week we told you about Princeton's controversial concealment of a steel beam from the Sept. 11 World Trade Center wreckage. During our discussion Senator Kip Bateman pledged to help make this memorial public, and today he called to give us an update on his efforts to #FreeTheBeam.

"I think it's a totally inappropriate location," said Bateman of the recovered steel's current placement inside the Chestnut Street firehouse. "I think it should be out in the public."

Bateman contacted Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert about moving the beam after I spoke with her on air last week. But according to the senator, Lempert mainly repeated what she said to me- that the reason the beam remains hidden is "complicated."

Bateman said on air that he thinks the beam should be moved to the municipal complex, where plenty of people can see it, and it can honor the lost lives of firemen who responded to the 9/11 attack in New York City. He pointed out his district of Somerville as an example of a prominently featured memorial.

He encourages all listeners to contact Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert about putting this historic article on public display. Meanwhile, he'll continue to keep us posted on any progress he makes in accomplishing that goal.