Put It Above Ground

News Conference 3/14/10 re: 9/11 Health Bill

dmckeon — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:29:05 +0000

Media Advisory: Event Sunday at Noon

Contacts: Joe Soldevere (Maloney), 917-536-1399
Ilan Kayatsky (Nadler), 917-757-3104

Sunday: NY Reps. to Announce Crucial Step Forward for 9/11 Health Bill

-Maloney & Nadler to Gather With 9/11 First Responders, Union Members, Lower Manhattan Residents Before Key House Vote Next Week-

New York, NY On Sunday, U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler will announce a crucial step forward for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, legislation that would provide comprehensive health care and compensation for those who are sick because of the 9/11 attacks.

WHO: Reps. Maloney & Nadler, 9/11 first responders, members of the FealGood Foundation and other advocates, union leaders, lower Manhattan residents, and others TBA

WHAT: News conference at Ground Zero

WHEN: Sunday, March 14th
12:00 Noon (Don’t forget to move your clock forward one hour on Saturday night)

WHERE: World Trade Center PATH Station
(Vesey St. and West Broadway)
Lower Manhattan, NYC

WTC Captive Reaches Settlement of 9/11 Claims

dmckeon — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:27:45 +0000

WTC Captive Reaches Settlement of 9/11 Claims

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=50827

URGENT - March 5th - Symposium on Military Tribunals

dmckeon — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:36:35 +0000

On March 5, the New York State Chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association will host a lunch symposium.

Below you will find information regarding registration for this premier event.

The symposium, entitled “Protecting Homeland Security - Bringing Terrorists to Justice by Means of Military Commission Tribunals”, will feature two of the most respected authorities on Homeland Security in the nation today. Lunch will be held from 12 noon to 1 p.m., with the speakers commencing at 1 p.m.

Congressman Peter King will keynote the event. A member of the United States House of Representatives, from the 3rd District of New York, Congressman King is serving his ninth term, and is the Ranking Republican Member of the House Homeland Security Committee. An internationally respected leader in the’ fight against terrorism, Representative King has a well earned reputation as both a gifted speaker and devoted advocate of American veterans and public protection.

Following Congressman King’s remarks, Senator Vincent Leibell, the Ranking Republican Member of the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Homeland Security, will address the symposium. Senator Leibell is a 28 year veteran of the New York State Legislature, representing the Senate’s 40th District. Author of numerous laws and reports on homeland security, including a resolution this month asking President Obama to reconsider the civilian trials of these terrorists, Senator Leibell is nationally respected expert on the fields of Homeland Security, Intelligence, Terrorism and Public Protection A former Navy Officer (retired Captain) and former prosecutor, Senator Leibell is also highly knowlegable in the field of military justice.

Please join us for this discussion on a very important topic.

I hope to see you on March 5, 2010

My Warmest Personal Regards,

Bob

Robert T. Farley
Chair/President
NYS Chapter - Republican National Lawyers Association

Tel: 518-986- 2037 Email: bobfarley@bobfarley.org

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

The New York State Chapter
of the Republican National Lawyers Association

Cordially Invites You to a Luncheon Symposium Entitled:

Protecting Homeland Security -
Bringing Terrorists to Justice
By Means of
Military Commission Tribunals

With Special Guests:

Representative Peter King
Ranking Republican Member
House Homeland Security Committee

and

Senator Vincent Leibell
Ranking Republican Member
NYS Senate Homeland Security Committee

Metropolitan Republican Club
122 East 83rd Street
New York, NY 10028
Friday, March 5, 2010
Lunch and Registration: 12 noon to 1 p.m.
Formal Program 1 to 3 p.m.

RNLA Members: $13 Online or $15 at the Door
Non RNLA Members: $18 Online or $20 at the Door

To Register Please Click Here

For more information and to RSVP for pay at the door, please email
nysrnla@yahoo.com or bobfarley@bobfarley.org or nycrsvp@republicanlawyer.net

*** THIS IS NOT A FUND RAISER ***

Remembering February 26, 1993

dmckeon — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:05:14 +0000

On February 26, 1993, terrorists abandoned an explosive-filled van underground in the public parking garage of the World Trade Center. The detonated bomb ripped through that garage, rocking the North Tower’s foundation and sending shockwaves of fear and horror across a city of millions and killing six innocent people.

Please join the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in extending our condolences to those who survived this attack and to the families of the six who were killed. We remember John DiGiovanni, Robert Kirkpatrick, Stephen A. Knapp, William Macko, Wilfredo Mercado and Monica Rodriguez Smith and her unborn child.

In remembering the victims of both the 1993 and 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, we demonstrate the value we place on human life and protest indiscriminate mass murder. The six names of 1993 victims will be inscribed in bronze alongside the nearly 3,000 names of those killed on 9/11, rimming the waterfalls of the 9/11 Memorial when it opens next year.

Though the world has pledged to never forget 9/11, it is important that we do the same for the six stripped away from their families and friends seventeen years ago today. The 9/11 Memorial is dedicated to that commitment. Brick by brick we are building a memorial to the memories of innocent lives, in the face of the cruel intentions of terror.

We hope you will take a moment today to join the Memorial & Museum in pausing and remembering those killed on February 26, 1993, the families who lost loved ones that day, and the survivors of the attack.
Warm Regards,

Joe Daniels

One Liberty Plaza, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10006 ║p (212) 312-8800 ║f (212) 227-7931
http://www.national911memorial.org/

9/11 health care for our community is threatened

dmckeon — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:00:22 +0000

All,

In less than 2 weeks, the 9/11 health bill (HR 847) which was co-authored by Congresswoman Maloney and Congressman Nadler, is heading into a vote in the House Health Subcommittee. Mrs. Maloney and Mr. Nadler, who have been fighting to protect 9/11 health care for the community as well as for responders, NEED YOUR SUPPORT NOW! We are asking that you call and/or email their offices ASAP Please state your support for HR 847 and the 9/11 community medical program and your opposition to any cuts that would eliminate or harm that program. This will only take a few minutes!
US Rep Carolyn Maloney:202 225-7944
If you live in the 14th District, please use this link to email: http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_email_form&Itemid=73
Outside 14th District, please use this link:http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_email_form&task=nondist&Itemid=105US Rep Jerrold Nadler: 202 225-5635
Please use this link to email: http://jerroldnadler.house.gov/Forms/WriteYourRep/
Sample Message
I am a Lower Manhattan (resident, student, worker or 9/11 responder)
I support HR 847, which would guarantee tracking and treatment for those who are sick as a result of 9/11, whether they were responders or area residents, students and workers.
The 9/11 community medical program is a critical resource for our community and deserves your full support.
We urge you to continue to do everything in your power to protect the community program from any further cuts in the House Health Subcommittee.

If you are a constituent, please say so. If you have a personal story relating to your current need or potential future need for 9/11 medical care, or if you are currently a patient at the WTC Environmental Health Center, please tell them.

Also consider contacting US Rep Eliot Engel and US Rep Anthony Weiner, NY Congressmen who sit on the House Health Subcommittee and the leading Republican co-sponsor of the 9/11 health bill, US Rep Peter King. US Rep Eliot Engel: 202 225-2464 US Rep Anthony Weiner: 202 225-6616 US Rep Peter King: 202 225-7896 Back Ground Information
The bill, HR 847, would provide 9/11 health care to 9/11 responders AND to the affected community — affected area residents, worker and students as well as those caught in the initial collapse of the buildings. Many community leaders, as well as NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, have serious concerns that the program that provides health care to the community for 9/11-related illnesses may be ELIMINATED or suffer harmful cuts in the House Health Subcommittee. Please see below, the Battery Park City Broadsheet article detailing a recent resolution being considered by all Lower Manhattan Community Boards that opposes these cuts. BATTERY PARK CITY BROADSHEET DAILY: 9/11 health care for Lower Manhattan residents threatened9/11 health care for Lower Manhattan residents threatened
Reps. Maloney and Nadler urged to fight to retain community health care funding

Battery Park City as it looked on Sept. 11, 2001. (Det. Greg Semendinger/NYC Police Aviation Unit)

Although the Obama Administration has appropriated $150 million for 9/11 health programs for fiscal year 2011, the New York Congressional delegation and community activists say that the appropriation is inadequate. Future 9/11 health funding would not be mandatory. A bill known as the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (HR-847) now in front of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee calls for long-term federal funding for 9/11 health programs, but parts of it could be gutted to make the bill palatable when it reaches the House floor. Representative Frank J. Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), who chairs the Health subcommittee, mentioned health funding for residents affected by Ground Zero as being particularly vulnerable to cuts.

Last Monday, Community Board 1’s World Trade Center Redevelopment Committee unanimously passed a resolution addressing these issues. “We cannot accept the notion that civilians targeted in the WTC attacks who are now sick…are less needful or deserving of health care for their 9/11-related illnesses than first responders,” the resolution says.

The resolution goes on to say that “In a January 22, 2010 Letter to US Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler, New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver expressed his concern regarding possible attempts to eliminate or diminish the Community Program in the upcoming markup of the 9/11 health bill,” and urged Reps. Maloney and Nadler to “do everything in your power to protect the Community Program, which is a resource vital to the health of Lower Manhattan residents and to ensure that its scope, quality and level of support are preserved.”

The Community Board 1 resolution observes that “in the course of negotiations over the bill in the House subcommittee, the 9/11 Community Program has already undergone major reductions to which Community Board 1 has objected.”

The resolution ends by calling on the Obama Administration to support mandatory federal funding for 9/11 medical programs and asks Congress to entertain “no further cuts to the Community Program.”

The resolution will go before Community Board 1’s full board at its next meeting, which is on Feb. 23. A similar resolution is now being considered by Community Boards 2 and 3.

At the World Trade Center Redevelopment Committee meeting on Feb. 8, committee member Tom Goodkind asked, “Without funding, what would happen to the children’s clinic?” referring to one now being operated by the WTC Environmental Health Center at Bellevue Hospital on First Avenue and 27th Street.

“It would go away,” said Catherine McVay Hughes, chair of the CB1 committee.

“I personally know of dozens of children in our neighborhood who use that clinic,” Mr. Goodkind replied.

“That’s the purpose of this resolution,” said Ms. McVay Hughes, “to make sure that the community component, which is a tiny portion of the entire bill, is included.”- Terese Loeb Kreuzer
For information about the WTC Environmental Health Center (located at Bellevue and Elmhurst Hospitals and at Gouverner Healthcare Services), go to:-http://www.nyc.gov/html/hhc/html/services/wtc-health-center.shtml The Center provides health care with no out of pocket costs to residents, students, workers, or passersby who may still be sick from 9/11.
Regards,

Craig Hall - World Trade Center Residents Coalition (President)

NEW 9/11 PHOTOS

dmckeon — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:42:47 +0000

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=50613

9/11 Media Request RE: New 9/11 Photos

dmckeon — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:37:14 +0000

CNN South Florida looking for 9/11 families in the Miami Fort Lauderdale area to interview.

My Name is Kim Segal I am a producer for CNN.

I am hoping you can assist me in finding someone willing to talk about the release of the new aerial images of the 9/11 attacks.

I am based in South Florida therefore if you can find someone in the Ft. Lauderdale / Miami area that would be appreciated.

We would like to talk to a family member about their thoughts on the release and having to see these new images. With the time that has gone by how they feel about these pictures becoming front page news again. I would also like to request pictures of their loved one.

Thank You,

Kim

Rally at Ground Zero for 9/11 Health Funding 2/3

dmckeon — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:42:16 +0000

Wednesday: 9/11 Organizations, Responders & Widows to Denounce Obama Administration’s Opposition to Guaranteed 9/11 Health Funding

Who: Fealgood Foundation, NYC Firefighter Foundation, 9/11 Police Aid Foundation, 9/11 responders and Jennifer McNamara widow of FDNY hero John McNamara

What: News Conference

When: Wednesday February 3rd 2010

11.00am

Where: Ground zero, Site 7, across from Path Train Station

Last week, we learned that President Barack Obama no longer supports guaranteed funding for sick 9/11 responders contained in H.R. 847, the Congressional bill that would guarantee funding for health care and research. While this news is stunning, and a complete reversal of his position on this bill during his 2008 presidential campaign, the Fealgood Foundation, the NYC Firefighter Brotherhood Foundation & the 9/11 Police Aid Foundation alongside its friends in labor and the N.Y. Congressional Delegation will continue to fight for this bill and to advocate for full Presidential support. Our fight is not over.

Nearly eight and one half years ago we, the First Responder Community, demonstrated our strength, resilience and determination of spirit following September 11th. We must do so again. While the President’s current stance on H.R. 847 represents an obstacle, we have surmounted such obstacles before and will continue to overcome them now. “Never Forget” is more than a campaign slogan or bumper sticker to the men and women who bravely immersed themselves into the toxic Ground Zero air to save the lives of strangers and rebuild New York City and this country. We will “Never Forget” and today I tell all those opposed to H.R. 847 “We Will Never Give Up.”

H.R. 847 is about guaranteed health care treatment, monitoring and research; nothing more, nothing less. We have witnessed First Responder after First Responder fall victim to 9/11 illnesses over the past several years. Just this week another firefighter and friend perished as a result of his heroic actions. While the White House and detractors of H.R. 847 are quick to point out that treatment for First Responders currently exists at the Centers of Excellence, such arguments are missing the central mandate of the bill – guarantees! The reluctance of the White House to support this bill merely 8 ½ years after the worst terrorist attack on United States soil merely solidifies the need for guaranteed care now. Shall we rely on “discretionary budgetary spending” twenty years from now when the World Trade Center attack is a distant memory to new administrations? Are we to trust that presidents in the years to come will allocate sufficient funding for treatment and research when w!
e are already being told that current administrations “don’t have the money to make us healthy? We cannot and will not give up hope that this government will recognize its moral imperative to care for the World Trade Center First Responders.

The Coalition of 9/11 organizations will not give up its efforts on behalf of the First Responders. It is our sincere hope that you will continue to join us in our quest for justice.

THIS IS NOT THE CHANGE WE WERE PROMISED

dmckeon — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:33:39 +0000

For the past year we have been trying to give the president the benefit of the doubt.

Even when he bailed out Wall Street but still allowed ridiculous bonuses to the same execs who caused the financial meltdown.

Even after he pulled all resources in the House to work on nothing but a Health Care Plan filled with pork and tried to force feed it to America.

Even after his chief of Homeland Security didn’t think there was a problem with the underwear bomber getting on a plane.

But what his administration did today was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

After promising throughout his campaign and throughout his first year that he fully supported the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

After stating that the bill would be a top priority after National health Care was passed

His administration now says they cannot support the bill because of a technicality about permanent funding.

This from the same administration that with the help of Nancy Pelosi basically bought the votes they thought they needed to pass health care.

Just look what Nebraska and Louisiana got in return for their votes.

So votes can be bought but 9/11 victims cannot be cared for.

If there was really a technicality why was it not brought up when the bill was first introduced.

The bottom line is that this has nothing to do with a technicality.

The reason this bill is being stalled is because many of the other Representatives believe that 9/11 is a New York problem and they are also concerned that because the bill covers residents and workers of lower Manhattan that it may raise the issues of health care for some undocumented residents.

And the administration does not what to address these issues so they would rather turn their backs on 9/11 victims.

We have raised these issues numerous times (see links below) but our appeals went unanswered.

We yearn for the days when decisions were made on the facts and not because of political ideals.

You would have thought that after the vote in Massachusetts that president would be more aware that people are growing wary of broken promises.

For too long candidates have treated campaign promises like New Year’s Resolutions, unrealistic and usually discarded after a month.

We deserve better. We demand better.

We will never forget and will continue to fight for all those impacted by 9/11.

Mr. President this is not the change we were promised.

And if your administration thinks we are kidding just wait till the next election

9/11 Health Care Our View

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=50326

Terrorist Trials and 9/11 Health Care

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=50055

Fear of Flying…….The Government’s Solution

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=50254

Officials Urge Evaluation of 9/11 Trial Sites

dmckeon — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:04:24 +0000

Manhattan Elected Officials Urge U.S. Attorney General to Conduct Comprehensive Evaluation of 9/11 Trial Sites and Request Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, January 28, 2010
CONTACT:

Ilan Kayatsky (Nadler), 212-367-7350
Alex Haurek (Velzquez), 202-226-3636
Dan Weiller (Silver), 518-455-3888
Leilah Mooney (Squadron), 202-701-5209
Matthew Wing (de Blasio), 212-669-4193
Andrew Doba (Stringer), 212-669-7085
Jamie McShane (Quinn), 212-718-7124
Jake Itzkowitz (Chin), 646-300-1092

NEW YORK, N.Y. Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Congresswoman Nydia Velzquez, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Borough President Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and City Councilmember Margaret Chin sent the following letter (also attached), regarding the federal trials of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other accused terrorists, to United States Attorney General Eric Holder:

January 28, 2010

The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Attorney General
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530

Dear Attorney General Holder:

As the elected officials representing lower Manhattan, we are writing to you regarding the Administrations proposal to locate the 9/11 terror trials in downtown Manhattan.

We support the Administrations decision to bring those responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center to justice in federal civilian court, and we believe that this decision represents a victory for the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law. However, we are concerned that the Administration has not fully considered the impact that the trials would have on lower Manhattan in choosing the Moynihan Courthouse in Foley Square. Indeed, the lower Manhattan neighborhoods in which this courthouse is located are only now recovering from the physical, emotional and financial devastation caused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks and therefore the impacts of this trial site choice are likely to be extremely burdensome.

As such, we respectfully request that your office conduct a full and thorough examination of all potentially viable trial sites within the Southern District of New York in order to assess each sites safety and security requirements, impacts to the surrounding residential and business communities, and financial implications. Without such a full evaluation, it is impossible to determine which Southern District location choice would be optimal.

We further respectfully request a meeting with you, as soon as possible, to discuss these matters and the process by which the ultimate determination on the location of the federal criminal trials will be made.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Congressman Jerrold Nadler
Congresswoman Nydia Velzquez
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
State Senator Daniel Squadron
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio
Borough President Scott Stringer
Council Speaker Christine Quinn
Councilmember Margaret Chin