New York City Releases 9/11 Response Documents

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced the release of over 170,000 pages of documents related to the government’s actions and responses following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

This release comes just three days ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, with a new portal allowing access to records that highlight the concerns among city officials regarding air quality in the wake of the attacks.

“There was poison in the air and on the ground and in the window sills and in your air conditioners and covering your pets and your clothes, and it stayed there for months,” remarked Jon Stewart, host of “The Daily Show,” during Tuesday’s press conference. “Everyone knew, and now it’s very clear that the city knew as well,” he added.

The CDC estimates that around 400,000 individuals were exposed to toxic substances, as well as sustained physical injuries and psychological trauma after the attacks. Alarmingly, more fatalities have occurred due to 9/11-related ailments over the years than the number of individuals who died on the day itself.

“People got sick because the leaders they trusted lied and told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air,” Mamdani emphasized.

Mamdani stated that the newly accessible documents aim to illuminate the city’s understanding and actions in the aftermath of the attack.

“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,” he explained.

According to The Center for Public Integrity, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared the air safe to breathe just days after the attacks. However, the CDC reported ongoing fires within debris piles that smoldered long after the initial incident, continuing into 2002.

“And rather than take the steps to ameliorate the damage that 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,” Stewart said. “But unfortunately, after 9/11, business will never be usual again.”

This release of records coincides with the settlement of two lawsuits filed by 9/11 Health Watch against the city.