9/11 records detail what NYC knew about toxic air around ground zero

Christy Strawser (0:00)

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I'm Christy Strawser, you're listening to Audacy's On Deadline. New York City ended a multi-year legal battle on Tuesday by launching a 9-11 records portal to the public, including 173,000 documents. Mayor Zoran Mamdani said they detail what the city knew about toxic air around Ground Zero when they knew it, and how they acted to limit liability. The release came days before the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, with the hope that the documents make it easier for some to apply for and receive necessary 9-11 health care. Here's more from 1010 Winds in New York.

SPEAKER_2 (0:40)

New Yorkers were assured it was safe to return to the area in the months after the attacks, but as many as 10 months later, health officials, the documents suggest, were still finding evidence of asbestos in the air, as much as a half mile away.

Mayor Mamdani is saying the documents will be available online to the public and that they've ended a long legal battle on accessing those 9-11 documents. Late night host and long time 9-11 relief advocate Jon Stewart, angry and saying the city purposefully covered up the documents to the public and that this release is long overdue.

Jon Stewart (1:15)

And now it's very clear that the city knew it. 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.

SPEAKER_2 (1:37)

The documents were apparently stored in 68 boxes that were shielded from public view for nearly 25 years and were only discovered last year, according to city officials. Families of 9-11 victims meanwhile are still pressing for answers about Saudi Arabia's alleged role in the attacks. They are outside the Saudi Consulate today, urging the Trump administration to declassify more government records that they believe could bolster their case against the kingdom. Brett Eagleton is the president of 9-11 Justice. He five years later, the public is still owed answers.

Brett Eagleton (2:11)

We deserve the truth and the families deserve, the people of New York and the people of this country need to know the truth, and the record needs to be set straight.

SPEAKER_5 (2:25)

We're talking about proof that the government knew just how toxic the air was post 9-11 at Ground Zero.

SPEAKER_6 (2:31)

The Uniform Firefighters Association, as well as the Uniform Fire Officers are demanding answers. Mayor Mamdani saying this at his presser yesterday, quote, people got sick because the leaders they trusted lied, told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air.

SPEAKER_5 (2:47)

It's another veteran New York City firefighter has died from exposure to the toxins at Ground Zero.

SPEAKER_6 (2:53)

This is a week later today, a funeral tomorrow in Rockland County for retired Lieutenant Jerry Riley. At 75, he passed away from 9-11 illness last Thursday, serving 21 years with the department. This comes as preparations continue for the ceremonies at the 9-11 Memorial. The Vice President of Advances, Dan Fishman.

Dan Fishman (3:09)

The idea for it is quite simple. 2,753 chairs, all aligned perfectly south towards the World Trade Center.

Christy Strawser (3:21)

Dennis Foley lives in the Bay Area now, but his father was one of the first responders on 9-11, and he talks to him about it next.

Dennis Foley (3:30)

So I had to call my dad, Ken Foley, who spent 27 years as a New York City police officer. I've never talked to him about what he saw that day until now. You were working overnight to this point, right?

Ken Foley (3:41)

Yes. I was working midnights, and my shift ends at 7.3 in the morning. By the time I drove home, and then I would say your mother was going to work. Her first day to a job, she was listening to on the radio by the plane, crashing to the World Trade Center. And I'm there with your four-year-old brother, watching cartoons on TV, when she gave me the phone call. And as soon as I turned the TV on, the second plane hit while I was talking to your mother over the phone, cell phone. We had cell phones back then.

And just basically, I saw the second plane hit, and I basically told her over the phone that that's a terrorist act. And then she asked me, so what are you going to be doing as well?

As per our procedures, I had to wait for my command to call me up to report to work, which I knew I would be going into the city.