Extra

As this week marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, there is increasing demand for a full accountability of why so many first responders suffered serious life-threatening health problems. A stunning new documentary, “9/11 Unsettled Dust” describes the impact of cancer-causing smoke and dust that hung over ground zero and how the EPA put Wall Street’s interests before public health and told people the air was safe to breathe. 

Prominent officials from the New York’s offices, most notably “America’s mayor” Rudy Giuliani, downplayed the risks fearful that it might adversely impact the stock market. ”Film director Lisa Katzman says she made the film because she was a resident of Lower Manhattan who saw the attack and its aftermath up close and wanted “to address the lack of accountability” from city and federal officials. The documentary is scheduled to air on PBS stations this week. 

What is particularly galling is the blatant denial of health benefits to the heroes of 9/11, the first responders, who along with their families made many trips to Congress to demand relief from the crippling health costs. Jon Stewart, the former host of “The Daily Show” made an impassioned plea to Congress demanding full medical coverage for the “first responders. There are a long list of guilty state and federal agencies who were derelict in their duties, most notably the EPA, OSHA and the mayor’s office. Even students at Stuyvesant High School were told that the air was safe to breathe.