9/11 emergency personnel not invited to NYC memorial

September 7, 2011 by TheLCN staff

Due to “space constraints” the office of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has decided not to invite 9/11 first responders to the commemoration event this coming Sunday. The decision has ignited a storm of criticism against the mayor’s office, which chose to invite the families of the victims and not surviving emergency personnel who struggled to rescue those victims at the risk of their own lives ten years ago. Emergency workers were invited to last year’s ceremony.

Some folks, including some first responders, are not buying Mayor Bloomberg’s explanation that space constraints are the real reason for not inviting emergency personnel. Many workers who rushed to the rescue that day are now suffering from severe illness caused by inhaling toxic dust from the building collapse. Although a fund has been established to treat these illnesses, many sufferers claim that the government has ignored their needs. “The promise ‘we’ll never forget’ becomes a blatantly obvious lie — a public display that the government didn’t do right by us,” says Bonnie Giebfried, when asked about why first responders are being excluded. “It’ll bring up the issue that we’re basically walking dead, and that we’re not being treated.” Giebfried inhaled massive amounts of dust and suffered upper body trauma while attempting to treat the wounded on 9/11.

A spokesman for Bloomberg had this to say about the decision: “While we are again focused on accommodating victims’ family members, given the space constraints, we’re working to find ways to recognize and honor first responders, and other groups, at different places and times.” Thus far there has not been extensive national coverage of these “different” places.

Schumer finally makes it to devastated New York farms

Sen. Chuck Schumer returned from his European vacation, and spent Labor Day touring damaged Orange County farms. The Senator had endured harsh criticism for continuing his vacation while Hurricane Irene pounded downstate and New York City, leaving large areas flooded and thousands without power. Schumer went to Orange County to pledge assistance to farmers there, many of whom are at risk of losing their farms after heavy rains destroyed their crops.

Hurricane Irene dumped about on foot of rain on the downstate region.

Post Office may run out of money

The United State Postal Service is in danger of defaulting, according to administrators. In fact, if something is not done soon, Postmaster General, Patrick Donahue says that the Postal Service will run out of cash by next year. An announcement on Tuesday by the Obama administration says that they have a plan to rescue the USPS, starting with a 90 day reprieve from paying its retiree health care bills.

Today’s Weather

Rain today with a danger of flooding in low lying areas. Tonight, more rain, with a low in the 60s

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