Mount Sinai Medical Center Receives Critical Data to Evaluate First Responders Affected by 9/11

Here is news on a small victory that should help 9/11 first responders. It's amazing that issues like retrieving important health data, RELATED TO OUR 9/11 HEROES, take a decade to retrieve.

Gregory
*******************

Dear Friends,

I have good news to report on our efforts to help 9/11 first responders. After weeks of public pressure and negotiations, the City has finally agreed to hand over critical data to Mount Sinai Medical Center that will help researchers prove a link between the toxic debris at the World Trade Center site and the cancer many brave men and women have developed in the years since.

For months, the City stonewalled our efforts to secure this vital medical information —until now. The release of this data is an important step in the right direction, and we’ll continue working with our allies from the medical community and the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association to ensure every first responder who served on 9/11 and in its aftermath receives the justice they’re due.

Best,

Bill de Blasio
NYC Public Advocate

Bill O'Reilly Puts his Foot in his Mouth on Letterman by Predicting End of Occupy Wall Street Rallies as Local Activists Hunker Down for a Long Winter

Did anyone witness Bill O'Reilly of the Factor put his foot in his mouth by predicting on David Letterman that the Occupy Wall Street movement would dissipate after the attempted eviction on Friday morning? Please see the e-mail sent by local Occupy Wall Street organizers Mark Naison of Fordham University and Ira Shor of CUNY advocating for the collection of winter gear to sustain the protest through the winter. Again Mr. O'Reilly proves his ability to completely miss the pulse of average Americans as protests spread thought America.

What Mr. O'Reilly should be investigating in his “no spin zone” is the follow up related to Greg B. Smiths, October 14th Daily News article entitled "Owners of Zuccotti got a lotti 9/11 money". The article alleges subsidiaries of Brookfield Properties LLC, the $8 Billion conglomerate that owns Zuccotti Park, filed and received at least three six-figure grants meant for small business hurt by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Why is a subsidiary of a conglomerate worth an estimated $8 billion receiving small business grants from the Empire State Development Corporation???? So far $700,000 in small business grants to Brookfield LLC subsidiaries have been discovered. To review the digital article found on the Daily News site, with a slightly different title, and get the full stench here is the link:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/occupy_wall_street/2011/10/14/2011-10-14_zuccotti_park_owners_received_nearly_700000_in_govt_handouts_since_911_terrorist.html

It's a shame that every time the American public turns around they find a large corporation abusing their power and influence. It's no wonder the streets are flooding with irate protestors.

Gregory
*********
E-mail sent by Mark Naison and Ira Shore in their attempt to support Occupy Wall Street Protests:

"The Wall Street Occupation Needs Winter Gear! We the 99% have a great stake in the Wall Street Occupation. We can help the Occupation win by supplying its needs and by spreading its protest message across America. Food is already pouring in because so many oppose the 1%. Now, winter is coming! The Occupation needs warm, waterproof gear to make it to Spring: boots, socks, sleeping bags, tarps, polartec shirtsand pants, thermal underwear, gloves, scarves. Please start with others a "99% Club" where you are to protest inequality and to collect gear for the outdoor camps in NY and other cities where thousands sleep every night.

Send Gear to: OWS, c/o UPS Store, 118A Fulton Street, #205, NY, NY 10038
Checks or Money Orders to: Alliance for Global Justice, 1247 "E"Street, SE Washington, DC, 20003. Write on Ck or MO "Occupy WallStreet" or call 202-544-9355 to donate funds for winter gear. Our Winter Soldiers on Wall Street are counting on us and we are counting on them."

Mark Naison, Fordham Univerity
Ira Shor, CUNY Graduate Center

LIU ON 9/11 ANNIVERSARY

Here is a press release sent by NYC Comptroller Liu related to the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Gregory
********
NEW YORK, NY – "Ten years later, memories of September 11th remain as frightening and painful as ever. We will never forget those who perished, especially our FDNY, NYPD, and PAPD heroes who so selflessly ran towards the burning World Trade Center. Our world changed forever that day, the devastation leaving emotional scars on us all. In the aftermath of the attacks, the best of our humanity emerged, in the heroism of the first responders, in the outpouring of fellowship even among strangers, and in our steadfast resolve to recover and rebuild. Today, we continue to remember the victims of Sept 11 and remind ourselves of our humanity, knowing that the best is yet to come."

NYC COUNCIL MEMBER FERNANDO CABRERA TO DELIVER PETITIONS TO MAYOR BLOOMBERG CONCERNING PRAYER AT 9/11 10TH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY

Since my last post about the controversy surrounding Mayor Bloomberg’s decision not to include prayer at this years September 11th ceremony, NYC Councilman Fernando Cabrera has secured over 60,000 signatures advocating for prayer to be reinstated. He will present the signatures tomorrow at the steps of City Hall.

I have always advocated for the open expression of faith on the Boogiedowner. It's part of who we are and a powerful force in uplifting mankind. We already tried social experiments in "god less" societies. Is the former Soviet Union our new model?

I commend Councilman Cabrera for his steadfastness in attempting to promote prayer on September 11th and other occasions. I am sure we can find text agreeable to all religious groups. Please do give us your opinion on the topic and please do review the press release sent by his office.

Gregory
*********

WHO: NYC Council Member Fernando Cabrera, Community Leaders, and Clergy Members
WHAT: Councilman Cabrera, along with representatives of the faith community, will call on the Mayor to reconsider his position to not allow prayer at this year’s 9/11 Ceremony

WHEN: Thursday, September 8th 12:00pm
WHERE: City Hall Steps

****************************************************************
“During 9/11, the faith community served as pillars for many New Yorker’s coping with the tragedy. As a pastor during the tumultuous aftermath, I know first hand that it was a time where people were searching for meaning and things bigger than themselves,” said Councilman Cabrera. “People’s Faith helped fill this void and continue to serve as spiritual and emotional support.”

Councilman Cabrera has spoken nationally on FOX, CNN, the Associated Press, and various nationally syndicated radio stations in support of prayer inclusion during the 9/11 Ceremony. Many groups have joined the efforts, adding over 60,000 names to the petitions to be delivered to the Mayor.

“While many of the voices in this effort have divergent views on a wide-range of issues, I believe that we can put our differences aside to call for the uniting force of prayer,” said Councilman Cabrera. “I sincerely hope that the Mayor will allow prayer in this year’s ceremony as we remember and honor the victims of a tragedy that is still being felt today.”

###

NYC COUNCIL MEMBER FERNANDO CABRERA URGES MAYOR BLOOMBERG TO INCLUDE PRAYER IN THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY 9/11 CEREMONY

Religion and prayer has been in the news more often lately ,on a national level, due to the approaching Republican primaries and the association of the Republican party with religious issues. Here is a Bronx Democrat elected to the NYC Council making a statement of his own on a local level somewhat proving there is no straight line regarding beliefs in outward expression of religion and political affiliations. NYC Councilman Cabrera is urging Mayor Bloomberg to include prayer at this years 9/11 memorial. From the statement made by Councilman Cabrera, I think everyone can safely assume prayer is not included in the ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary.


NYC COUNCIL MEMBER FERNANDO CABRERA URGES MAYOR BLOOMBERG TO INCLUDE PRAYER IN THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY 9/11 CEREMONY
****************************************************************
“I am urging the Mayor to reconsider the decision to exclude prayer from the 10th Anniversary 9/11 ceremony,” said Councilman Cabrera. “During 9/11, the faith community served as pillars for many New Yorker’s coping with the tragedy. As a pastor during the tumultuous aftermath, I know firsthand that it was a time where people were searching for meaning and things bigger than themselves,” he continued. “People’s Faith helped fill this void and continue to serve as spiritual and emotional support.”

Councilman Cabrera has spoken nationally on FOX, CNN, the Associated Press, and various nationally syndicated radio stations in support of prayer inclusion during the 9/11 Ceremony. He has launched a petition to give voice to those who also support prayer for the 10th anniversary ceremony at CouncilmanCabrera.com and his Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/councilmembercabrera)

“I sincerely hope that the Mayor will allow prayer in this year’s ceremony as we remember and honor the victims of a tragedy that is still being felt today.”