City Council Secures Commitment from Corporation Counsel to Release 9/11 Documents

New York, NY - At today's New York City Council Preliminary Budget hearing for the Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation, Speaker Julie Menin secured a commitment from Corporation Counsel Steve Banks that the City's Law Department will create a public online portal to release documents related to post-9/11 air quality and health risks.

During questioning at the hearing, Banks confirmed that following Speaker Menin's questioning during his February 4 confirmation hearing, he directed the Law Department to review the issue and begin preparing documents for public release.

The commitment comes after Speaker Menin called for full transparency surrounding what the City knew about toxins in Lower Manhattan following the September 11 attacks, particularly after the recent discovery of an internal city memo indicating officials feared the health impacts of early air quality advisories.

"I asked the Law Department to take a hard look at releasing the 9/11 air quality and health risk files so that the public - particularly first responders and survivors of the tragedy - can finally have transparency," said Speaker Julie Menin. "Today we secured a commitment to create a public portal so all New Yorkers can access these vital documents. For too long, families have waited for answers. Transparency is critical not only for accountability, but for the thousands of people still living with 9/11-related illnesses."

"The remaining residents and survivors of the attacks want to know what the City knew about the hazards, and when," said Council Member Gale A. Brewer, Chair of the Committee on Government Operations, State & Federal Legislation. "Furthermore, early analysis of the toxins that engulfed lower Manhattan and northern Brooklyn could lead to medical breakthroughs for those still struggling with 9/11 illnesses."

Speaker Menin has been a leading voice calling for the release of all documents related to post-9/11 air quality. Last month, she joined Council Member Gale Brewer along with survivor advocates and labor leaders in demanding that the City disclose all records related to toxins surrounding Ground Zero after a newly uncovered internal memo indicated officials anticipated lawsuits tied to health advisories issued in the weeks following the attacks.

Speaker Menin previously served as the chair of Community Board 1 serving Lower Manhattan, helped establish the World Trade Center Health Registry, and served as a board member of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the 9/11 Memorial Jury, and the 9/11 Memorial Board.

More than 140,000 first responders and survivors are currently enrolled in the federal World Trade Center Health Program, with tens of thousands suffering from certified 9/11-related illnesses.

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