it's gonna be hard to shake and destroy the corrupt system that pataki had put up around him for the wtc rebuilding. those cronies have proved themselves to be willing to defy what the public demands and put up only what they want (unless the public threatens to run them out of albany tarred and feathered for all the nation to see).
but i think if the public's response to trump's plan is enthusiastic and positive, then pataki will never be able to recover his reputation, and he will be viewed as someone who sought for his own gain, instead of the nation's. his freedom tower will be greeted with hate, and his original source of legacy will turn into a source of defeat and shame. history will likely vindicate the public of any wrongdoing if the freedom tower turn out to be a total disaster and treat trump like a hero, and people of the future will vent their anger at pataki and his cronies instead.
the one really apparent benefit of trump's actions is that it helps to refocus the public on restoration of the wtc as well as pataki's incompetence in getting construction started at the wtc site, and let them realize that actions need to be taken to get things going again. even if the twins can't be rebuilt, there will be greater pressure for better and more powerful architecture at the wtc site.
but if this ground zero stalemate can last until pataki leave office and if elliot spitzer (or whoever replaces him) realizes the importance of rebuilding the twins to repair the wounds of that fateful day, then the possibility definitely becomes real...
i just hope what trump's doing rite now is not in vain...