Q&A
Discussion on Resolution 560 regarding investigation of past administrations' knowledge of 9/11 environmental toxins
1:13:26
ยท
174 sec
Council Member Brewer discusses the importance of Resolution 560 and inquires about the feasibility of investigating past administrations' knowledge of 9/11 environmental toxins. Commissioner Strauber explains the challenges and requirements for conducting such an investigation effectively.
- Emphasis on the significance of the issue and its ongoing impact on the community
- Discussion of the need for comprehensive efforts to identify relevant records and medical expertise
- Acknowledgment of the investigation's complexity and the need for adequate staffing and resources
- Consideration of the investigation's potential value for future public health emergencies
Gale A. Brewer
1:13:26
Okay.
1:13:28
The the this intro 560, which is, I mean, all of us I have more friends dying now.
1:13:34
I think we all do, perhaps, than died during that date.
1:13:37
It means everything to us.
1:13:39
And it's I think it's great that it was actually to Sam Gohs' credit that he came up with section 803.
1:13:46
I can't I can't believe that it's that difficult to come up with the type of data in the archives that would at least give some indication, some memos here and there.
1:14:01
And you'll hear later that there are discussions that have taken place.
1:14:06
Do you do you think you have to go to the great extent that you mentioned in your testimony in order to do this kind of investigation and report?
Jocelyn Strauber
1:14:14
I mean, I I don't know that what I mentioned was intended to suggest that there was an insurmountable difficulty.
1:14:20
My my concern is having the staff and expertise to do it justice.
1:14:26
I mean, I do think that you you need a comprehensive effort to identify
Gale A. Brewer
1:14:31
for a little bit of time.
Jocelyn Strauber
1:14:34
Records that that could be, you know, 20 years old, 15 years old.
1:14:39
I think you need medical expertise to understand the implications of what people knew.
1:14:45
I think so I'm not I'm not suggesting that those are not, you know, standard parts of an investigation, not that there's anything standard about that situation.
1:14:54
But those are those are aspects of investigations that we do.
1:14:57
We can contract with, you know, outside firms if there's, you know, specialized expertise that we don't have in house.
1:15:03
So my my point is not that it couldn't be done.
1:15:06
It's that it is a significant undertaking to which we would wanna devote the right staff and significant staff.
1:15:14
And I think you know from the discussions that we've had, including the discussion today, that that's not personnel that we currently have.
1:15:21
We we would certainly not wanna do something like this and not do it right.
Gale A. Brewer
1:15:25
I'm a big believer in you having more staff as you know.
1:15:27
I don't.
1:15:28
I I feel strongly that, the public deserves to have investigations that are complete and, reduce the kind of quality that you're interested in.
1:15:36
So I'm a big believer in OMB should wake up.
1:15:40
I just wanna say that another reason to do this, I don't know what the next crisis is, you know, in just in terms of people's health, not to mention other issues, but just health.
1:15:50
And that's what, is of concern in this particular case.
1:15:54
I don't know if this bird flu was coming around.
1:15:56
I don't know.
1:15:57
And I do feel that this would be an example of what the city did or didn't know so that the public feels comfortable the next time, you know, maybe that the city didn't know anything and that's fine or maybe they did.
1:16:09
But the next time, they should be more honest.
1:16:11
And that would what I think might show.
1:16:13
Who knows?
1:16:14
But I am concerned about being honest for the next public emergency that we might have.
1:16:18
Council member Williams had a question.