Documents: Feds, City Knew Of Ground Zero Toxins

[maxrandb]

http://wcbstv.com/911/local_story_249164937.html

CBS 2 News has obtained documents revealing that Lower Manhattan was reopened a few weeks following the attack even though the air was not safe.

The two devastating memos, written by the U.S. and local governments, show they knew. They knew the toxic soup created at Ground Zero was a deadly health hazard. Yet they sent workers into the pit and people back into their homes.

[maxrandb]

1. Here's a little more

Sprague said the E.P.A. had written much more conservative health assessments, but the memos had to go to Washington. And when the White House got its hands on them, they -- according to Sprague -- softened them.

Bolding is mine

[scarpa43]

4. And??

What were they supposed to do, wait for the air to clear for a few weeks before looking for people that might still be alive?
If they did eveyone would be saying "who cares if the air is bad, put on a mask and start searching".

[rodeodance]

5. "dated Oct. 6, 2001, noted:"---they are talking clean up period, NOT the

immediate days following.

[scarpa43]

7. Whoops...

I read too quickly and did not see the date referances, my bad.

[maxrandb]

16. Please disregard my "snitty" post.

I should have kept reading. Sometimes we all hit the "send" button a little too quickly.

Part of why I hate this mis-administration so much. Before them, I wasn't so full of venom.

[maxrandb]

9. That's not what they're talking about

they're talking about the city, and our Federal Government telling the residents and the people that worked at the businesses around WTC that they could safely return to work and home.

Curious, did you get that talking point from Freaker Repukelick?

[rodeodance]

2. "The mayor's office is under pressure from building owners ..

The two devastating memos, written by the U.S. and local governments, show they knew. They knew the toxic soup created at Ground Zero was a deadly health hazard. Yet they sent workers into the pit and people back into their homes.

One of the memos, from the New York City health department, dated Oct. 6, 2001, noted: "The mayor's office is under pressure from building owners ... in the Red Zone to open more of the city." The memo said the Department of Environmental Protection was "uncomfortable" with opening the areas but, "The mayor's office was directing the Office of Emergency Management to open the target areas next week."

"Not only did they know it was unsafe, they didn't heed the words of more experienced people that worked for the city and E.P.A.," said Joel Kupferman, with the group Environmental Justice Project.

Another part of the memo noted: "The E.P.A. has been very slow to make data results available and to date has not sufficiently informed the public of air quality issues arising from this disaster."

[rodeodance]

3. He calls it "a smoking gun."

The city health department refused to comment on the memo, but inside sources told CBS 2 News the memo is real. And its veracity is not questioned by the Environmental Justice Project's Kupferman.

He calls it "a smoking gun."

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

[rodeodance]

6. i am trying to recall who the former EPA adm. was--a women --I think

there has been stuff about this the news.

[KurtNYC]

10. Christy Whitman

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0823-03.htm

[rodeodance]

13. yes, thats the one. Thanks.

[KurtNYC]

8. "was reopened a few weeks following the attack " - 3 days

The attack was on Tuesday -- the area was opened the following weekend. My neighbor wanted to go so I grabbed a couple of particle masks and we went down. Tourists were scooping up the dust in envelopes. The Burger King was open and serving food even though it was highly unlikely that they had thoroughly cleaned up. My neighbor refused to wear a particle mask because he thought he would be embarrassed to do so. I wore mine from the time the train got below Canal. There were abandoned coffee carts with the donuts still in them and street vendors wares still laid out -- everything covered with about 3 inches of dust.

I asked a tourist who was scooping up ashes if he was aware that those ashes might include the remains of people killed on Tuesday. He didn't answer. Most of the dust was pulverized glass (which I really wouldn't want to breathe or eat). It was a crazy scene.

It was also pretty irresponsible of "America's Mayor" Rudy Giuliani to reopen the area that soon.

[rodeodance]

11. Giuliani opened downtown despite danger (better headline I think)

Giuliani opened downtown despite danger

NEW YORK, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- A 2001 memo reveals then New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani re-opened sections of downtown Manhattan weeks after the 9/11 attacks despite knowing the air was toxic.

The New York Post published a CBS News report that said the city's Department of Environmental Protection was overruled by the mayor after it said it was "uncomfortable" with the idea of reopening the area to the public.

"The mayor (Rudy Giuliani) is under pressure from building owners ... to open more of the city," a Health Department official wrote in Oct. 6, 2001.

The memo's release came as New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said the body was preparing to allocate millions of dollars to a treatment program for downtown residents who became ill after breathing polluted air at Ground Zero, the Post said. The decision followed a Mount Sinai Medical Center report that said 70 percent of emergency workers had developed respiratory problems after Sept. 11, 2001.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060907-125022-2473r

[rodeodance]

12. "overruled by the mayor "

[acmavm]

14. Yep. And that phony bastard wants to be pResident.

[anotherdrew]

18. he'll never be president

there are too many pictures of him in a dress. plus after what he pulled with the ex-wife, I frankly hate the worthless sonofabitch.

[confludemocrat]

15. A CNN crawl the week of 9/11 quoted EPA on this very problem

and large inherent toxic situation that did and would prevail. I think I assumed the ground zero workers were "sacrificial heros" because despite the obvious hazards and the ones detailed to the local govs, that they went in there anyway to "find the lost loved ones". How could these workers assume anything but an extreme danger to their health going into that place?

How could the locals not know what they were quite evidently in for (but for maybe some post-trauma psychological reason, did not want to leave)?

[maxrandb]

17. Our Government, that you and I pay taxes to

told the people of New York that there was no danger! They told them it was OK! They told them that Ground Zero was "open for business"!!

That's the "kicker".

They were told by their government...BY OUR GOVERNMENT...that it was OK.

How many lives, how much health, how much misery was sacrificed so that we could get Burger King and Wall Street open again?

[JPZenger]

19. After the first couple days, everyone should have had airpacks

In the first couple days, there was chaos and a desire to try to save trapped people. After that, the toxics should have been identified, and everyone working at the site should have been required to wear airpacks.

An AP article a couple days ago said that many illegal aliens worked in the cleanup and are not suffering health problems. They are not eligible for government medical assistance and have few places to turn for treatment.

[maxrandb]

20. Is this mis-administration

going to ever be held accountable for any fucking thing?

This shows a complete and total disregard for the well being of our friends, our families, our children, our fellow Americans!

Wonder if they'll put this in that piece of propaganda crap ABC is running this weekend?

[Joanne98]

21. YES! I knew we'd get a whistleblower! Goodbye Rudy!

[Lisa]

22. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. special on this, Sunday night

http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/program/index.jsp?program=9%2F11+Toxic+Legacy&network=CBC%20Television&startDate=2006/09/10&startTime=21:00

9/11: Toxic Legacy examines the environmental fallout of September 11, the resulting health dangers, and what this means for people working and living in downtown New York. What are the implications for the next disaster? Will we be prepared?

[kskiska]

23. (9/11) Giuliani opened downtown despite danger

A 2001 memo reveals then New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani re-opened sections of downtown Manhattan weeks after the 9/11 attacks despite knowing the air was toxic.

The New York Post published a CBS News report that said the city's Department of Environmental Protection was overruled by the mayor after it said it was "uncomfortable" with the idea of reopening the area to the public.

"The mayor (Rudy Giuliani) is under pressure from building owners ... to open more of the city," a Health Department official wrote in Oct. 6, 2001.

more…
(edited for better link)
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060907-125022-2473r

[whistle]

24. Rudy had his protective mask which he wore, so screw everyone else

:sarcasm:

[LiberalFighter]

33. He really knew the risks and was prepared NOT

[GeorgeGist]

25. Bye bye Rudy...

even the citizens who don't die will know you're a lie.

[Monkeyman]

26. Documents Feds City Knew Ground Zero was not safe

http://wcbstv.com/911/local_story_249164937.html

[Sherman A1]

30. Your Tax Dollars at Work!

Federal, State and Local. Just like a well "oiled" machine.......

[no_hypocrisy]

27. Killer.

[Bob3]

28. Money's more important the people well that's a surprise

I mean the gop has always been the party of the average joe right?

I was working at 125 Board Street around 9/11 (near the Staten Island Ferry station) - when we went back to work the smoke was still coming out of ground zero - hell the site was burning for weeks afterwords. Lord really knows what kind of chemical hell broth was being cooked up in there. My exposure was limited thankfully but this news has me worried about my cousin, a fireman, who spent a lot of time at the site. We're not in touch as much as we might (no fault just the way things are) - but I'm told he's okay. Still - what happens years from now?

[Secular Agent Man]

29. Gives new meaning to the phrase: "Shop till you drop"

Remember, the Bushies were telling everyone to go shopping. "Git in da' mawls and spin sum money, hehehe" -W

[Hissyspit]

31. But, but... he's a HERO. A 9/11 Hero!!

:puke:

[NYC]

32. Out in Kansas, maybe.

I never met a single New Yorker who thinks Giuliani is a hero. My crystal ball tells me I won't meet one in the future, either.

[Hissyspit]

34. Because New Yorkers had to LIVE with him.

Mythology withers and dries up in the harsh light of reality and experience.