The BroadsheetDAILY – 5/13/22 – What Did Rudy Know and When Did He Know It?

The Broadsheet – Lower Manhattan’s Local Newspaper

What Did Rudy Know and When Did He Know It?

Nadler Presses City Hall to Release Documents from 2001 about City Hall’s Awareness of Ground Zero Health Risks

Above: Congressman Jerry Nadler: “We have yet to see a full accounting of what then-Mayor Giuliani and his administration knew at the time.” Below: Kimberly Flynn, director of 9/11 Environmental Action: “The City put the health and lives of hundreds of thousands of Lower Manhattan residents, students and local workers at risk. Everyone whose health was affected by toxic exposures that could have been prevented is entitled to full accountability and transparency.”

United States Congressman Jerry Nadler is calling upon the administration of Mayor Eric Adams to make public previously unreleased City documents, which may shed light on what Rudolph Giuliani, who was Mayor at the time of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, knew about environmental health risks in weeks and months following of the destruction of the World Trade Center.

In a May 12 letter to City Hall, Mr. Nadler and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney write that, “we have yet to see a full accounting of what then-Mayor Giuliani and his administration knew at the time.” They argue that such an accounting would, “help provide injured and ill 9/11 responders, survivors, and their families a better understanding of what the City knew at the time about the likely scope of the health crisis and when they knew it.”

“The time has come for a full accounting of the history of 9/11,” they add. “The ongoing review and declassification of documents related to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s possible involvement in the 9/11 attacks ordered by President Biden was a critical first step in this accounting. Providing full transparency on what the government knew about the health risks at Ground Zero and how they potentially covered up that information will finally provide transparency to a too-often overlooked aspect of the attack’s history.”

They continue, “while previous reports have hinted at what the Giuliani administration knew about the health risks, it is time for a complete accounting of this history. If it is true that they knew that thousands of responders and community members would face tremendous long-term health impacts, the administration unnecessarily delayed the effort to provide health care to the thousands of responders and survivors exposed in the aftermath on the pile and in schools, offices, and homes around the area.”

The push by Mr. Nadler and Ms. Maloney has garnered support from local activists who focus on the continuing health impacts of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Kimberly Flynn, the director of 9/11 Environmental Action, said, “the City and its agencies, like the Department of Education and the Department of Health, put the health and lives of hundreds of thousands of Lower Manhattan residents, students and local workers at risk. Yes, the EPA lied when [then-EPA director Christine Todd] Whitman declared that the ‘air is safe,’ but City agencies fell right in line with that lie. Everyone whose health was affected by toxic exposures that could have been prevented is entitled to full accountability and transparency. And we all need to know what went wrong so that the same bad decisions are not repeated if—God forbid—there is a future disaster.”

Mariama James (above), a member of Community Board 1 who has led the charge for accountability, transparency, and support for survivors for almost two decades, said, “New Yorkers need to know what really happened here—especially now that we know how many people are suffering from World Trade Center-related toxic exposures. The City lied when they told parents and residents that we should not be concerned. That the kids could all go back to school. And all we needed was a HEPA filter and HEPA vacuum in our homes. Literally, my entire immediate family is sick as a result of the EPA and the City misleading us. We demand accountability. Any and every representative of Lower Manhattan and the September 11 community needs to get behind Nadler and Maloney’s urgent demand. Show me the records!”

In their letter to the Adams administration, Mr. Nadler and Ms. Maloney add, “we urge you to have the City review its files and, in the interest of transparency, fully release any information it has on what the City knew about the hazards faced by 9/11 responders and survivors who lived, worked, and went to school in the covered disaster zone.” They continue, “more specifically, we urge the City to release any documents related to 9/11 that are in its files or emails from the period of September 11, 2001 through the spring of 2002. While some documents may have been disclosed in past litigation, we do not believe this represents the entirety of the City’s files and demand a complete release.”

Although Mr. Giuliani said little in public about the dangers posed by environmental toxins at Ground Zero during the three months that remained in his tenure after September 11, 2001, one indication of his frame of mind might be gleaned from an action he took in November. The Mayor urged members of New York’s Congressional delegation to help pass the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which specifically capped, “the liability for all claims against the City of New York as a result of such attacks to no more than the City’s insurance coverage or $350 million.”

In the years since 2001, many thousands of people (both first responders and survivors who lived or worked nearby) have died of September 11-related illnesses, far surpassing the death toll exacted by the terrorist attacks themselves.

Matthew Fenton

EYES TO THE SKY: May 13-16, 2022

Extraordinary: Supermoon Lunar Eclipse Sunday Night

We are about to witness the eclipse of a supermoon, a moon larger than regular size, occurring when our moon is closest to Earth, at perigee, in its monthly elliptical orbit. The animation connected to the illustration above shows the eclipse that begins this Sunday evening at 9:32pm through its conclusion at 2:10am Monday morning. A total lunar eclipse occurs only at Full Moon, when Sun, Earth and Moon precisely line up. May’s Full Flower Moon occurs at 12:14am on Monday the 16th. Totality is 12:11am. Monday morning.

See the Full Flower Supermoon rise in the southeast on Sunday, the 15th, at 7:50pm just before sunset in the west-northwest. Experience the moon’s position in the southeast; feel yourself on the Earth, in the middle, while looking to the setting Sun, opposite, in the west-northwest. We’ve lined up the Full Moon, Earth and Sun.

AstroBob, one of the greats among popular astronomy writers, reminds us that “the sky turns dark at total eclipse. With the moon effectively cut off from sunlight, we’ll have almost 90 minutes of true darkness. Watch for your shadow to disappear and the stars and Milky Way to return to view. Eclipse darkness feels very special, even a little sacred.”

Bad weather on Sunday night? Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi will live-stream the eclipse on his Virtual Telescope, as will Griffith Observatory.

Judy Isacoff, naturesturn.org

Dispossessed Edifices

A Pair of Downtown Marquee Properties Seized by Lenders

Two Lower Manhattan trophy properties have fallen into foreclosure and have been seized by creditors. In a story first published by the property industry newsletter, The Real Deal, China Oceanwide Holdings, the owner of the development lot at 80 South Street (in the South Street Seaport) has lost control of the parcel, which it purchased from the Howard Hughes Corporation for $390 million in 2016.

Letter

To the editor,

I throughly enjoy reading the Broadsheet.

Part of the water intrusion in the Battery goes back in time when the Lower Manhattan boundary was farther north! Land fill does eventually cause conflicts with Mother Nature. But I do agree with the climate change issues well.

Betty Reeder

Are you a fan of the Battery Park City Library? Let Mayor Adams and the New York City Council know with a letter of support by May 13, the date of the City’s budget hearing at which library funding will be debated.

Click here or on the image above to sign a pre-written letter of support. The Library is hoping for 25,000 signatures by May 13.

Alluvion Alarm

Federal Report Foresees Rising Water in Lower Manhattan

A new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the federal scientific agency responsible for study of oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere, predicts that Lower Manhattan will face increasingly frequent flooding in the decades to come.

‘A General Feeling of Neglect And Disrespect From the City’

Niou Allocates $20 Million for Asian Communities, Argues Against Proliferation of Shelters in Chinatown

State Assembly member Yuh-Line Niou, who represents Lower Manhattan in Albany, has secured $20 million in State funding for what she calls an Asian-American, Pacific Island Equity budget. Half of this allocation is earmarked specifically for confronting hate crimes, with the other half divided among a broad range of community organizations.

CALENDAR

Friday, May 13

11am – 5pm

South Street Seaport Museum

On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, visit the exhibitions and the ships of the South Street Seaport Museum for free. At 12 Fulton Street, see “South Street and the Rise of New York” and “Millions: Migrants and Millionaires aboard the Great Liners, 1900-1914,” and at Pier 16, explore the tall ship Wavertree and lightship Ambrose.

7pm-8:30pm

Wagner Park

Singer/songwriter Terre Roche leads this weekly singing program with the beautiful backdrop of the setting sun in NY Harbor. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned crooner, the singing circle is perfect for mellow melodies and healthy harmonizing.

7pm

6 River Terrace

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, BPCA presents Kikujiro (1999, Takeshi Kitano). Based on The Wizard of Oz, a young, naïve boy sets out alone to find his wayward mother. Soon he finds an unlikely protector in a crotchety man and the two have a series of unexpected adventures along the way. Free popcorn will be served, and a discussion will follow the screenings. This film is rated PG 13.

7:30pm

Concert at Pier 17. With special guest Adam Doleac.

Saturday, May 14

9am

Visit The Battery Urban Farm for projects for all ages in the vegetable farm.

10am-12pm

South Cove

Paint in watercolor or use pastels and other drawing materials to capture the magical vistas of the Hudson River and the unique landscape of South Cove. An artist/educator will help participants of all levels with instruction and critique. Materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media.

10:30am

Spring is here and we’re seeing green! To celebrate the arrival of spring, kids will learn about the history and design of skyscraper gardens. Architects have added landscaped roofs and terraces to New York’s buildings for a century! Drawing inspiration from “green” skyscrapers, young architects will decorate their designs with flowers and greenery. All ages welcome. RSVP required. This indoor program meets at the Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Pl. Masks are required for indoor programs. For those who prefer the Zoom option for this in-person program, email programs@skyscraper.org.

11am – 5pm

South Street Seaport Museum

See May 13. Also tomorrow, May 15.

11:30am – 5pm

Cajun & Cre­ole music fes­ti­val that cel­e­brates the musi­cal, cul­tur­al and culi­nary tra­di­tions unique to South­west Louisiana. The four‑day fes­ti­val will take place May 12-15 on Gov­er­nors Island and in Red Hook, Brook­lyn, and will fea­ture world-class Louisiana dance­hall bands, Cajun jam ses­sions, Cajun and Cre­ole food, cook­ing demon­stra­tions, dance lessons, a Sun­day music camp, and a fam­i­ly dance. Today’s event on Colonel’s Row on Governors Island is free; performances in Red Hook are ticketed.

8pm

Online

Lecture by UCLA Professor King-Kok Cheung, a renowned scholar of English and Asian American Studies. Professor Cheung will discuss 27 writers in nine clusters to show how they have preserved history and created worlds of imagination beyond the borders of nations. Free.

Sunday, May 15

2pm

Aboard Wavertree

Join NYC Poets Afloat for their third annual group poetry reading aboard tall ship Wavertree at the South Street Seaport Museum. After micro-residencies aboard ships in New York Harbor, nine poets come together to share their poetry in a group reading. Free; registration required.

CLASSIFIEDS & PERSONALS

Swaps & Trades, Respectable Employment, Lost and Found

To place a listing, contact editor@ebroadsheet.com

Lower Manhattan Greenmarkets

Tribeca Greenmarket

Greenwich Street & Chambers Street

Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8am-3pm (compost program: Saturdays, 8am-1pm)

Bowling Green Greenmarket

Broadway & Whitehall St

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8am-5pm (compost program: 8am-11am)

The Outdoor Fulton Stall Market

91 South Street, between Fulton & John Streets

Indoor market: Monday through Saturday,11:30am-5pm

CSA pick-up: Thursday, 4pm-6pm; Friday, 11:30-5pm

Outdoor market: Saturday 11:30am-5pm, May through Thanksgiving

Today in History

May 13

The Pantheon, in Rome, has been in continuous use throughout its history. This ancient temple, now a church, was dedicated c. 126 AD by the emperor Hadrian, who built it on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD).

609 – In Rome, Pope Boniface I converts the Pantheon, a temple, to a church

1110 – Crusaders march into Beirut

1607 – English colonists, led by John Smith, arrive by ship to the site of what becomes the Jamestown settlement in Virginia

1643 – Heavy earthquake strikes Santiago, Chile; kills 1/3 of population

1787 – Arthur Phillip sails with 11 ships of criminals to Botany Bay, Australia

1913 – First four-engine aircraft built and flown (Igor Sikorsky, Russia)

1917 – shepherd children report seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary in Portugal.

1950 – First round of the Formula 1 World Championship is held at Silverstone.

1965 – Rolling Stones record “Satisfaction”

1979 – Shah of Iran and family sentenced to death in Teheran

1981 – Pope John Paul II is shot and wounded by Turkish gunman Mehemet Ali Agca in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City

1983 – Reggie Jackson is first major leaguer to strike out 2,000 times

1985 – confrontation between Philadelphia authorities and the radical group MOVE ends when police drop a bomb onto the group’s row house, igniting a fire that kills 11 people and destroys 61 homes.

1992 – Three astronauts simultaneously walk in space

2017 – Pope Francis adds two shepherd children to the roster of Catholic saints, honoring siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto, who reported visions of the Virgin Mary 100 years earlier.

Births

1729 – Henry William (Baron) Stiegel, early American glassmaker

1882 – Georges Braque, cubist painter and sculptor

1914 – Joe Louis, world heavyweight boxing champion (1937-49)

1931 – Jim Jones, leader of Peoples Temple cult, (Jonestown Massacre)

1939 – Harvey Keitel, actor

1950 – Stevie Wonder, singer-songwriter

1961 – Dennis Rodman, NBA forward (Chicago Bulls)

1964 – Stephen Colbert, comedian and TV host

1986 – Robert Pattinson, actor

Deaths

1835 – John Nash, British town planner/architect

1882 – Jules-Nicolas Crevaux, French explorer, murdered at 35

1884 – Cyrus Hall McCormick, inventor

1930 – Fridtjof Nansen, Arctic explorer/diplomat (Nobel 1922), dies at 68

1962 – Franz Jozef Kline, US expressionist painter, dies at 51

1962 – H Trendley Dean, doctor (introduced fluoridation into water)

1988 – (Chesney) “Chet” Baker, American jazz trumpeter and vocalist (“My Funny Valentine”), falls to his death from an Amsterdam hotel balcony at 59

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