World Trade Center document custody notice, Law Department

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

horrendous, vicious circle. Mr. George Tabb, a Tribeca resident, reported that his “.. .insurance company won’t pay to clean his apartment of dust and asbestos until his landlord cleans up the building’s ventilation system. Management started a cleanup last month, but not an asbestos abatement.”’’ Even more disturbing is the fact feat some insurance companies have denied claims (for rental assistance, air purifiers, and hazardous materials testing and remediation) to bofe tenants and building owners on fee sole basis of EPA’s safety assurances.” Individual tenants have also reported that relief agencies, including fee Red Cross, and fee Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have also denied assistance for rental assistance and proper testing and remediation of common and private spaces on fee basis of Ms. Whitman’s statement. FEMA, in its “case-by-case” ^proach, has provided some assistance to individual residents for “cleaning,” though many individuals have reported having their application denied or have received very few funds.^' Moreover, FEMA announced in one of its own bulletins, that residents could be eligible for such funds, but only if the individual is willing to forgo rental assistance: If you were affected by the World Trade Center attack and receive rental assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), you may use the funds to clean your residence. ‘We’re giving people the option to decide what makes most sense for them - either cleaning their dwellings or finding someplace else to live,’ said Michael Cosbar, FEMA housing officer. Instead of using the check to rent another place, renters can use the funds to clean their residences. However, if you use the funds for cleaning, you will be ineligible for more FEMA rental assistance because you will be able to move back into your home.®^ Each of the problems noted above (and there are undoubtedly plenty of others) has contributed to the feet that there has been utterly uneven, if not totally inadequate, testing and remediation of hazardous materials in buildings in Lower Manhattan. This feet, in and of itself, presents the most troubling issue: even when public spaces or single apartments or offices are remediated appropriately, ventilation systems can move

Haughney, Christme, “In N.Y., Taking a Breath of Fean Illnesses Bring New Doubts About Toxic Exposure Near Ground Zero,” Washington Post, January 8,2002. ” “Official Transcript,” EPA National Ombudsman First Investigative Hearing on World Trade Center Hazardous Waste Contamination,” February 23, 2002. For examples see testimony of Ms. Catherine Hughes, resident, p. 317-318; testimony of Mr. Cooper, p. 681-682; testimony of Mr. George Tabb, resident, p. 151-152. “ “Official Transcript,” EPA National Ombudsman First Investigative Hearing on World Trade Center Hazardous Waste Contamination,” February 23,2002. For examples see testimony of Former City Council Woman Kathryn Freed, p. 243-244; and testimony of Ms. Elona Klauppe [sic] (Ilona Klope?), resident,p. 658-659; and testimony of Dawn Pryor, resident, p. 183-196. *' Statement taken from Constituent Services Staff Members, Office of Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY- 08). “ FEMA, “Disaster Assistance Guide: United We Stand,” New York, November 2,2001, FEMA Issue 2.

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