W000329
Monday, November 12, 2001 8:42 PM
Comment on fund
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a resident of the Gateway Plaza complex, which is the residential
building complex that is closest to the World Trade Center. My daughter and
I have lived in this community for ten years. It has been a special place
for us and many other families.
Our neighborhood is now devastated. Having survived a traumatic attack, we
are now coping with lack of access, air that has provoked many respiratory
and eye problems (including my own), disruption of schools, and the continual
grief that our unavoidable proximity to the site brings us. Yet we are a
strong and resilient community, and many of us want to rebuild and stay on.
I hope that the Victims Fund will take seriously our needs as a neighborhood,
and will help us obtain the infrastructure--particularly transportation and
coordination with police checkpoints-- that we desperately need to get back
to our daily lives. I also hope that on a case by case basis individuals with
real needs will be able to get some help in continuing with their lives
either in our community or elsewhere.
In particular our schools and youth need funds made available. has been a very important person in our community, as far as Youth Programs
go, and I hope funds will be made available both to him and to our other neighborhood organizations. has discussed establishing an independent authority to deal with the WTC-related community issues, and I
hope the Fund will assist this effort.
Actual data that provides levels of various contaminants measured --
asbestos, glass, heavy metals, volatiles-- should be posted and available for
review at a site similar to a library. Vague general statements of safety
are inadequate. Additionally, measures that can be taken to mitigate the
effects of contaminants should be implemented and continuing services should
be provided for residents to help cope with negative health effects.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment