Rafael Pi Roman hosts a half-hour look at how 9/11 is still affecting the lives of many New Yorkers. The program explores the difficulties that have plagued the rebuilding effort. We also meet some of the people suffering from severe health problems because of their work at ground zero, and profile people who lost family or friends on 9/11. Watch.
SEGMENT 1 (9 minutes): MOVING ON?: A salesman who was one of the only from his firm to survive; two New Jersey parents who lost their son; and a fire-fighter’s widow all share their thoughts about the meaning of “moving on” seven years after this overwhelming tragedy.
SEGMENT 2 (8 minutes): HEALTH CONSEQUENCES: As a cloud of toxic air lingered over Ground Zero, many people rushed down to help in the rescue and clean up efforts, and have since suffered from severe health problems. We hear their stories and also get an update on the medical research and the federal legislation that are aimed at tracking and compensating these victims.
SEGMENT 3 (7 minutes): BIG PLANS AND BROKEN PROMISES: Not long after the attack on 9/11 there were big plans and promises for the World Trade Center Site. Yet, in the past seven years there is little to show behind the fence that surrounds ground zero. We look at the milestones of the reconstruction, what went wrong and if we are now on the right track.
THIS video was excellent; the range of subjects covered make it so. As a native New Yorker, living in Pennsylvania since 1992, I am affected profoundly by this tragedy that I can NEVER forget.
Visiting “Ground Zero” one night in late January, 2002 (my first trip to NYC after the 9/11 attacks) was an emotional experience that will live in my mind and heart forever. The intense bright lights being used to enable the cleaning of the debris from the site, the smells, the sound of construction vehicles “in reverse” beeping like a blaring siren, the taste of the air and the sense of “death” surrounding me are burned into my memory.
I hope Channel 13 will do a follow-up story for 9/11/09.The battles over the memorial at the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA echoes much of the sentiments expressed in this story regarding the memorial in NYC. However, I would be remiss in not making others aware of the beautiful “Memorial Chapel” that was finished just outside Shanksville in time for the 9/11/02 observance ( http://www.flt93memorialchapel.org ). The completion of such an amazing “spiritual refuge” by the founder Reverend Alphonse T. Mascherino (current director/curator) in only one year is PROOF of what a local community can make happen without government bureaucracy.
I recommend visiting the website above and making the journey to Shanksville to see what has been accomplished there ~ Zev Bek