Lower Manhattan Public Information (Edelman)

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

*** DRAFT *** +T-i5_February 2002 I Preliminary Proposal for Centralized WTC Public Information Task Force

As the City recovers from the WTC terrorist attacks and engages in rebuilding efforts and decision-making, many complicated and overlapping issues continue to arise. These include operational matters, planning issues, communication, and political considerations. The Mayor has asked that OEM spearhead a task force of agencies with expertise on these matters.

Broad Proposal Appoint a task force of City Agencies involved with the various aspects of WTC recovery/rebuilding efforts, along the lines of the interagency task force that coordinated West Nile Virus prevention and control activities or the Rodent Control Task Force. The task force would regularly keep Deputy Mayors Doctoroff, Shaw, and Wolcott informed of its activities.

Mission The mission of the task force would be to share information, coordinate monitoring and surveillance efforts, inform the deputy mayors of critical issues and decisions, serve as a liaison with state and federal agencies, and disseminate a consistent message in various forums to City agencies, other governmental entities, the press, and the public. Issues of concern reach across broad categories: • environmental issues, public safety and health, air quality testing, street closures, etc., • economic development, business confidence, decision-making regarding the future of the WTC site • communication with the public, businesses, community groups, elected officials • liaison with EPA, Senator Clinton, council members, etc.

Possible activities • Establish a hotline/website/storefront to provide information to residents, businesses, visitors, parents, etc. on issues listed above. Feature daily DEP asbestos update; provide links to other testing information. Five people each from DEP and DOH could serve as staff, and additional computer/database staff would be necessary as well. • Hire an environmental/community outreach consultant to develop materials, staff hotline, etc. Involve CAU • DEP has information on over 100,000 samples taken by contractors in private buildings. Organize, digitize, and share this info to reassure the public (check with DEP legal on this.) • Develop database to provide information on how recently a given address had air testing and /( what were the results. Hotline operators could provide this information. Expected volume is \ approximately 100 calls per week, based on calls to DEP-HELP on the air quality issue. • Focus Citywide or just on 255 affected buildings in lower Manhattan? Citywide focus may generate an overwhelming number of phone calls (e.g. folks in Brooklyn wanting their apartments tested) • Establish guidance for residents and building owners for what to do about testing and cleaning dust (in addition to DOH’s current info.)

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