W000319
Monday, November 12, 2001 2:11 PM
SEPT 11th VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND OF 2001
TO: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DATE: NOVEMBER 12, 2001
RE: SEPT 11th VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND OF 2001
Enclosed are my comments:
Because of the terrorist attack on September 11th, I am, as of this
writing, with no end in sight to my homeless situation, still one of the
"Battery Park City Displaced" While the majority of us have sustained no
personal physical injury, we are suffering psychologically, financially,
and emotionally.
I usually take the subway every morning at the WTC. That morning, I was late
and took a taxi at 8:40AM. I saw the first tower burning in flames minutes
after from the West Street.
My building is directly opposite what is commonly referred to as "Ground
Zero"
My apartment did not sustain any damage in the initial collapse of the
towers...unacceptable damage occurred in the weeks following the disaster.
Until September 20th, more than a week after the disaster, no information
was available as to the condition of my apartment, the building or to my
estimated time of occupancy. I can understand that during this time, the
area was designated a "crime scene" and sealed off. Although I left
numerous messages with the management office, no phone calls were returned
until the 20th. I indicated to the management that there was to be no
access to my apartment without my authorization. I was advised that this was
"on the record" and assured that they would adhere to my wishes.
On the 25th, I received an anonymous voice mail message at work that gave me
a number I could call for more information. The number was perpetually
busy. The next day (9/26) I asked a Sgt. , who is a friend of mine, to take a look at my apartment for me. He found my door wide open and the
lock removed. There were other apartment doors on that floor in the same
state which were being installed with new locks for which the building
refused to turn over the new keys. I had to argue with them over the phone
to authorize their turning over my keys to a uniformed police officer.
I returned to my apartment. I came with a police escort, had exactly 10
minutes to survey the scene and discovered that someone had entered my
apartment, made some semblance of cleaning, but basically just moved all my
personal possessions.
In the 2 days that followed, I had little success in reaching someone to
talk with at building management or who would return my e-mails. I did have
people assure me that no apartments had been cleaned unless permission had
been granted by the tenant. No one could give me an estimated time of
occupancy or when I might go to the apartment to retrieve some personal
items.
At this point, I had alternately stayed at (and moved between) one
apartment, 3 different hotels and was wearing a combination of borrowed
clothes, new clothes and the clothes I was wearing on September 11th, and
eating nearly all my meals in restaurants (not inexpensive in this city).
I have had enormous dry-cleaning and laundry bills, food bills, personal
care items.
I did not gain "official" access to my apartment until October 2nd, and,
again, only briefly. I realized that my soft furnishings (mattress, couch,
chairs) would be unusable or, at the very least, require expensive and
specialized cleaning to remove microscopic asbestos.
Even a full month after the disaster, there was no definitive word when we
might return. All we were advised was that the apartments would require
intensive (and, no doubt, expensive) cleaning of filters and ducts and
vents.
As of October 31st, I moved out of my apartment. All of my possessions are
in storage. I am still living temporarily with a friend. In total, the costs
and stress of moving coupled with the health hazards of the area have had a
huge effect on my life.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
New York, NY