9/11 'LIES' HANG IN THE AIR
9/11 'LIES' HANG IN THE AIR
By JOHN MAZOR and LEONARD GREENE
August 20, 2007 -- Angry lower Manhattan residents who find themselves reliving the 9/11 nightmare say reassurances about air quality following the weekend blaze at the Deutsche Bank building are simply not enough.
"Residents were told after 9/11 that air was safe," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. "Well, we found out how untrue that was."
Officials, including Gov. Spitzer, said tests for asbestos and other contaminants during and after the fire were negative.
City environmental officials said 57 air samples near the building have tested negative for asbestos since the blaze.
But Stringer said residents need to see the results for themselves.
"This community in particular needs reassurance beyond one test result," Stringer said.
Two firefighters perished Saturday in the seven-alarm fire that brought back eerie memories of the terrorist attacks.
"I was back at 9/11," said Esther Regelson, 48, who watched the fire with neighbors from her Washington Street home. "There we were on the roof, watching things burning, wondering if the building was going to collapse."
Thankfully, it didn't, and Mayor Bloomberg said there was never any danger of that.
But that bit of reassurance was hardly consolation for those who still remember the roar of the Twin Towers as they collapsed.
"I've lived her for 30 years," said Ruth Davis, 49, "and I feel they should have blown the [Deutsche Bank building up right after 9/11.
"The quality of air was already bad. What difference would it have made if they blew it up right then?"
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