“One thing you can’t hide – is when you’re crippled inside.”
― John Lennon

A groundswell of opinion for those of us living downtown is that there is a major hole in the awards for victims. While actual damage suffered by those who were in harms way, these 22 years ago, has been assessed based upon specific diseases like cancer — psychological and mental illnesses have been ignored. Minimum awards have been distributed to those victims suffering from from PTSD to Bipolar disease. There are victims whose experiences range from an occasional bad memory to debilitating siezures that have developed into major psychiatric illnesses — threatening a person’s ability to live unassisted or engage in a career of any sort as a result of what they experience from 9/11 and after. And, yet, unable to make a living or pay for their lives, they do not qualify for subsistence and rely on family and society permanently.

It’s time to reevaluate the approach to mental illness, psychiatric diseases and serious psychological disability that we downtown have experienced — and still live with. Currently, the Victims Fund will not recognize illnesses and disability and compensate disabilities fully — which was caused by the terror attack.

Jerry Nadler’s office has been contacted. Contact him again and again. Especially, if you or a loved one has been impacted by seizures, hallucinations, terror dreams, or inability to work or go to school as a result of what happened to you on and after 9-11.

The political gossip is that Brad Hoylman, currently a New York State Senator is headed for Nadler’s position as U.S. Representative when he leaves office. This would be an excellent choice since State Senator Hoylman has shown himself to be an effective lawmaker.

Stay Tuned.