9/11 News

A summary of news and opinion on the current state of the 9/11 community.

State sues Jefferson man, mom accused of abusing 9/11 charity

Authorities say pair misused $75K meant for first-responders

Thu, January 29th, 2009 @ 7:18pm

Frederick Parisi, Mar. 2008

The state Division of Consumer Affairs on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against a Jefferson man and his mother that alleges they misappropriated $75,203 from their charity that was established to help first responders who were sickened or injured at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001.

State Attorney General Anne Milgram and Consumer Affairs Division Director David Szuchman sued Oak Ridge resident Frederick M. Parisi, his mother, Jean Street of Passaic, and their non-profit foundation, 911 Rescue Workers Foundation, Inc. The complaint was filed in state Superior Court, Morristown.

Read On…

Bush leaves office with low poll numbers, but 0 terrorist hits on U.S. soil

President has detractors for some good reasons; but we'll never fathom some of the hatred

Thu, January 29th, 2009 @ 5:01pm

President George W. Bush

Shortly after Barack Obama takes the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, the 43rd president will take to the air on his final ride on Air Force One to return home to Texas.

It will once again demonstrate the truly remarkable greatness of the United States — a peaceful change of power from one political party to another in Washington as directed by the voters of the country.

That is something for everyone, no matter their political views, to celebrate. It will be an historic, glorious day with the first person of color assuming the office of U.S. president. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush leaves the Oval Office after a tumultuous eight years.

He came to Washington professing a “compassionate conservative” approach to governing. In those first several months of his presidency, Bush seemed focused on domestic issues, especially education.

Then came Sept. 11, 2001 — and the world changed forever.

Read On…

Sept. 11 memorial is taking shape at ground zero

Wed, January 28th, 2009 @ 3:31am

Cranes work above the north pool, lower right, of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 in New York. When finished, waterfalls will cascade down the four sides into a reflecting pool. The pool marks the site of 1 World Trade Center, which was destroyed Sept. 11, 2001. The Freedom Tower, lower left, is also under construction. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

NEW YORK (AP) — A Sept. 11 memorial is taking shape at ground zero, with a nearly completed reflecting pool the size of the World Trade Center’s north tower footprint.
New aerial photos show the pool, one of two being built over the twin towers’ footprints. The pool is the first piece of the Manhattan site that looks like the long-completed plans for office towers and other facilities.

The pools are meant to echo the voids left when the towers collapsed in 2001. The steel structure that’s been built is at street level and shows where water will cascade from the sides into a void in the center.

The memorial and an underground museum are expected to be completed by 2012.

Read On…

9/11 Families Urge Obama to Continue Guantánamo Terror Trials

Three families of firefighters killed at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 want “a firm commitment” from Obama to prosecute suspects in the 2001 attacks.

Tue, January 27th, 2009 @ 2:15am

NEW YORK—Three families of firefighters killed at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 want to meet with President Barack Obama to urge him to reverse his decision to suspend the trial of five detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who admit roles in the terror attacks.

In a meeting with reporters at their attorney’s office on Sunday, the families deplored what they called “delays and confusion” in the former Bush administration’s effort to prosecute suspects in the 2001 attacks, which killed about 3,000 people, saying they want “a firm commitment” that the same process won't continue under Obama.

“Seven and a half years is a very long time for 3,000 families to wait,” said Maureen Santora, whose son was among the 343 firefighters killed when the twin towers collapsed after being struck by two hijacked jetliners. Nearly 2,800 people were killed at the World Trade Center, another 184 when a third hijacked jetliner struck the Pentagon and 40 when a fourth plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pa. The totals don’t include the 19 hijackers.

Read On…

Anger over paid 9/11 holiday

Peabody City Council OK's day off for police to the dismay of some residents

Sat, January 24th, 2009 @ 4:42am

Mayor Michael J. Bonfanti signed off on the contract. (Lisa Poole for the Boston Globe)

PEABODY - It was more than seven years ago in New York City. But the city of Peabody says the Sept. 11 attacks are reason enough to give their police officers a paid holiday.

The 9/11 holiday, which received City Council approval this week, is believed to be the only one of its kind for police officers anywhere in the United States. Even those in New York do not receive such a benefit.

And now, as this quiet city of 51,000 grapples with deep budget cuts, including an $875,000 reduction in local aid announced yesterday, the holiday is sparking anger and debate about the meaning of Sept. 11 and the wisdom of commemorating it with a day off or a bump in pay. Many residents are accusing the police of exploiting a national tragedy for financial gain.

Read On…