NYC Council Demands Release of Secret 9/11 Air Toxin Reports

NYC Council Demands Release of Secret 9/11 Air Toxin Reports

The New York City Council is pushing for the release of information about air toxins following the September 11th attacks, despite Mayor Eric Adams' attempts to keep the information hidden.

Council Member Gale Brewer, who introduced the bill, argues that the Adams administration's refusal to release the documents, citing potential liability, is not a valid reason for keeping the files locked away.

The resolution would require the Department of Investigation to analyze city files containing information on toxin types, health impacts, and the extent of the problem. It would also examine what information was shared with the public.

A Long Fight for Transparency

This bill is the latest development in a years-long struggle for transparency regarding the health risks associated with the 9/11 attacks. Despite numerous Freedom of Information requests, letters to the mayor, and even a lawsuit filed by survivors, the information remains hidden.

"Those of us that are still alive owe it to the families of the sick and those who have passed to uncover the facts about what the city knew after the attacks, what they knew was there, and who made the decisions that have affected the lives of so many," said FDNY union president Andrew Ansbro.

The bill would give the DOI two years to complete its report and mandate biannual updates.

9/11 Health Crisis Continues

The push for transparency comes as the FDNY revealed a sharp rise in deaths among first responders due to 9/11-related illnesses. Over 125,000 people are enrolled in the CDC-run World Trade Center Health Program, and over 6,900 have died since the attacks. The FDNY expects its Memorial Wall for Deaths Related to World Trade Center Illnesses to eventually be filled with the names of all 960 first responders who have died from these illnesses.

"The City dishonors these men and women, many now dead, by refusing to open its 9/11 files to the public," wrote Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Dan Goldman in a letter to Adams.

The resolution has yet to be formally requested by Brewer's office, but the ongoing health crisis and the City's refusal to provide crucial information continue to raise concerns about transparency and accountability.