A001665
Thursday, December 13, 2001 10:16 PM
Dear Mr. Feinberg:
We are writing to urge you to ensure fair treatment for all surviving
families of the Sept. 11 tragedy, including the families of low-wage
workers, as well as those of gay and lesbians.
Low-wage workers:
Under traditional rules based on lost wages, the survivors of a bond
trader earning millions of dollars per year might receive thousands
of times as much compensation as the survivors of a dishwasher in one
of the restaurants destroyed. Justice requires looking far beyond
the last paycheck to the inherent worth of all those killed, so that
a high minimum compensation level is set to lessen the disparities.
It would be a double blow to the survivors to first lose their loved
one and then watch as most of the taxpayer money went to those who
were already well off in the first place.
Gay and lesbian families:
The families of gays and lesbians are especially vulnerable when one
partner is killed. Because the option of marriage is unavailable,
these families may find themselves in the traumatic predicament of
having to prove that their union is legitimate. Fortunately, both the
Red Cross and the State of New York have already announced that they
will not discriminate against gay and lesbian families. The
Department of Justice should do the same.
Thank you for considering our comments.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Los Angeles, CA