Officials ‘lied’ about toxic air after 9/11 as mayor releases 170,000 pages of never-before-seen documents
US officials downplayed the health risk posed to the public in wake of the September 11 attacks, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has said.
While releasing more than 170,000 documents referencing the alarming findings that he says were 'buried' by former administrations, he accused authorities of covering up the severity of the situation to 'limit liability'.
Mamdani unveiled air quality reports which warned of the hazardous conditions in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, as well as communications among city officials indicating that they knew the potential human cost of concealing this.
The trove of documents released on Tuesday (8 September), which were previously undisclosed, detail how those in charge were aware that the conditions around Ground Zero were unsafe.
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"People got sick because the leaders they trusted lied and told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air," Mamdani said at a news conference.
He claimed that previous administrations had 'ignored those calling for answers and clarity' and instead chose 'to bury them in legal arguments and in red tape'.
"We will do no such thing," the mayor went on. "As we mark 25 years, it is time for this painful chapter to end. These are documents that show what the city knew about the toxic air around Ground Zero, when they knew it and how they acted to limit liability. They contain details about the DEP's (Department of Environmental Protection) response. They show how asbestos was found nearly everywhere that inspectors tested.
"And they will help New Yorkers access the healthcare they need."
He pointed out that more people have passed away from 9/11-related illnesses than were killed on the day itself due to the actions of authorities.
The collapse of the Twin Towers created dust clouds which blanketed streets in ash, harmful particles and debris - but people were told it was safe to 'return to the area too soon', the files state.
Just five days after the devastating incident, New Yorkers were told that the risk of 'any short or long-term adverse health effects are very low'. A fortnight afterwards, it was announced that the 'air quality is safe and acceptable'.
Although 'smoky conditions' persisted in the area surrounding Ground Zero, the office of former mayor Rudy Giuliani told people that the 'test results from the ongoing monitoring of airborne contaminants indicate that the levels continue to be below the level of concern to public health'.
But it turns out that this was not the case.
One document from October 2001 known as the 'Harding Memo' has been dubbed the 'smoking gun', as it revealed how officials feared that the city would be slapped with tens of thousands of lawsuits.
Former City Hall lobbyist Michelle Goldsen warned Robert Harding, who was the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development at the time under Giuliani, suggested there would be at least '35,000 potential plaintiffs'.
There were concerns that the Big Apple would be forced to cough up 'substantial damages to compensate individuals for their loss', while it was warned that there would likely be 'direct effect' due to 'public safety officers directing individuals who relied (to their detriment) on the direction'.
Residents were told to 'clean their buildings with wet mops and rags' by the city's health department, despite tests suggesting disturbing the dust would likely cause 'long-term health impacts' due to it containing asbestos and other contaminants.
'They covered it up to get back to business as usual'
Comedian and 9/11 advocate Jon Stewart said at Tuesday's news conference: "What they all knew and what we all knew who live in downtown Manhattan, is that there was poison in the air and on the ground, in the window sills, in your air conditioners and covering your pets and your clothes - and it stayed there for months. Everyone knew. And now, it's very clear that the city knew as well.
"And rather than take the steps to ameliorate the damage that would cause to its citizens and to the people that were down there, they instead covered it up to get back to business as usual.
"But unfortunately, after 9/11, business will never be usual again.
"I want to be fair to the city - they didn't find out, they didn't recognise that the air that everyone was breathing in downtown Manhattan...until October 2001.
"We've lost three times as many people to 9/11-related illnesses as we did on 9/11. Almost 10,000 people. There's more work to be done."
You can take a look at the documents released by Mayor Mamdani here.
Olivia Burke