Relatives Of 9/11 Victims Speak Out Against City's Recovery Efforts
Anger
came out at a press conference on Friday from some of those who lost
family members on 9/11 to the news that more than five years later, a
Con Edision crew doing work at the world trade center site uncovered
the remains of more victims in two manholes. They say they've been
demanding a more thorough examination of all the debris. NY1's Solana
Pyne filed the following report.
“New York state and New York city need to sit down, call it a
summit if you will, with the families and work out the protocol for
searching the perimeter of the World Trade Center site and the World
Trade Center area that is in Fresh Kills garbage dump," said Diane
Horning, President of WTC Families for a Proper Burial, and a mother
who lost her son on 9/11.
At the press conference, families said they want an Army forensic
team, known as JPAC, brought in to search for remains of more than
1,100 victims that have never been found and said not enough was done
right after the tragedy. Richard Sheirer, former Mayor Giuliani's
Emergency Management head, said the army did help during the initial
recovery process, but suggested they may need to be brought in again.
"Calling in JPAC is something that should be considered,” said
Sheirer in a statement. “Everyone shares the anguish of the families."
Current city officials also defended the initial effort and agreed that more must now be done.
“I'm very proud of the work that our people did, I continue to
remain so,” said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scopetta. “And we will now
with this new development apply the same comprehensive approach.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg called an emergency meeting at City Hall
Friday, both to answer questions about why remains are still being
found more that five years after the twin towers fell and to figure out
what to do next.
“Why this wasn't discovered five years earlier, I have absolutely
no idea why,” said Bloomberg. “But we want to go and look at all of our
protocols and develop an ability to search and make sure we check
everything underground.”
In a statement after the meeting ended, Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler outlined several new protocols to do just that.
"Con Ed and Verizon will inspect several other manholes and
underground areas near West Street, and remove any material that may be
found,” said Skyler. “Under a protocol reviewed today, the City's
Medical Examiner will be on-site to carefully sift through any material
recovered to identify any human remains. The Medical Examiner's
forensic anthropologists will work closely with Police and Fire
personnel, who will be on scene at all times."
The city also will look for additional areas that should be re-inspected.
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