A001465
Tuesday, December 11, 2001 11:50 AM
Attn: Kenneth Zwick
Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Dear Mr. Zwick:
I am writing with regard to the proposed guidelines for victims compensation
for the families and partners of those killed in the September 11 attacks.
First, because I want to make my voice heard in order to insure the fair
dispensation of funds without regard to race religion, or sexual preference.
And last, but not least to help to insure that governement programs STOP
compensating victims families on a sliding scale according to the income
earned during the course of a victim's life.
I think it's obvious to everyone that the purpose of such policy is only to
insure against the possibility of future litigation; nonetheless it is
reprehensible. I have lived in New York city for 28 years; I have loved this
city like an old friend, and I can assure you that never once in all that
time have I been convinced that one life can be assigned a monetary value
that is more or less than that of any other life.
If anything, the magnitude of the September 11 disaster ought to convince us
of the folly of believing that we are anything but citizens of the
world--equal to our brothers and sisters of EVERY race, religion and creed. I
cannot hold to the notion that a firefighters life is somehow worth less to
his family than a CEO's, or that a gay man or woman's life can be measured as
inconsequential to those that loved them.
We see the injustice regarding victims' compensation every day here in New
York. Bereaved and needy families caught in reams of red tape, unable to get
help. We see the entirely arbitrary distinctions made as to who is
"deserving" of help. My husband lost his job less than a week after the
disaster. City bureaucrats have designated the area below Canal Street as the
focus of aid. HGis office was one block above Canal Street. According to the
current guidelines--we are eligible for nothing.
So please, keep real justice in mind as the guidelines for victims
compensation are drawn and redrawn in the coming weeks. Not for the dead--but
for the living.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment