Overview: As the United States approaches the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released 170,000 pages of government documents following a lawsuit by 911 Health Watch. These records aim to prove that officials misled citizens regarding toxic air quality at Ground Zero. Recent estimates suggest at least 5,892 individuals have died from cancer linked to the aftermath of the collapse.
S. E. Williams
September 22, 2026, marked the 25th Anniversary of the most grievous attack on this nation in its history.
On that day, 2,977 American lives were lost—with both malice and forethought.
This year, like every year since, communities around the nation both large and small, including Americans of every race, creed and color, both gay and straight and persons with disabilities, often take time to reflect on this history.
Some do so publicly at one of the many special events held to mark the occasion and to honor and remember those who lost their lives; while others do so privately, in ways that are meaningful to them.
Regardless of how one chooses to mark the anniversary, what we too often fail to recall, are the subsequent consequences of September 11, 2001. Far too often, we forget “to remember” that the impacts of that day has continued to spread its funeral pall, continuing to reach out and snatch the lives of thousands of American sheroes and heroes who worked and/or lived near Ground Zero.
Recent estimates note that no less than 5,892 of these individuals have lost their lives to cancer resulting from toxic air in the 25 years since the Twin Towers collapsed. And, the American government knew the risks early on.
It is disheartening and somewhat disingenuous that for 25 years America has bemoaned the tragedy and rightly so, focused primarily on those lost that day. Meanwhile, nearly 6,000 more victims languished and are not alive today because the New York government and the nation periodically ignored their pleas and the cries of their loved ones for medical and other assistance.
In a public statement last week, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani cut straight to the chase on this issue, “People got sick because the leaders they trusted lied and told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air.” Mamdani also published 170,000 pages of receipts or as they are officially known—government documents—to substantiate his claim. The documents were released online last week. Mamdani also set an expectation for the release of more documents in the next six months.
The mayor released the documents subsequent to a lawsuit brought by the nonprofit 911 Health Watch. The recent agreement in the case that resulted in release of the documents will finally bring clear and credible information to the general public regarding what New York City and other government officials across four different New York mayoral administrations knew and when they knew it.
I applaud Mamdani for stepping outside the box of political secrets and cover-ups at the expense of anybody and everybody—even when the issue at hand, like 911, involved the loss of nearly 6,000 more lives than originally died on that fateful day.
I’m not saying that “true confessions” would have saved these people, but speaking the truth early on; helping to relocate those at risk who lived nearby, and providing healthcare and other support for those suffering, might have made a difference in their last days. It may have extended some lives. It may even have saved some of them.
Instead, many of these victims and their loved ones fought the government for for assistance to the very end of their lives; while political leaders barely batted an eye. Most moved on to the next election cycle, and the one after that, and the one after that, etc. Many I’m sure, rode to electoral victory on the legacy of 911 for as long as they could milk it.
Don’t get me wrong, Congress established the original 9-11 Victims Compensation Fund soon after 9-11; however, that fund expired after only eight months. In 2010 the Adroga Act, reactivated the fund but that expired in 2016.
In 2019, as 911 first responders were continuing to suffer and die, it took an all out plea from late night talk show host Jon Stewart to actually shame Congress into acting and extending the fund.
Congress finally got it right, or was shamefully embarrassed into moving forward on this issue. It acted that same year. The fund was finally extended to 2090, in the hope of ensuring compensation is available for everyone who suffered physical harm or death due to either the initial attack or as a result of clean-up efforts at the site.
Reflecting on those who suffered and died due to 911 related illnesses and who had to fight for compensation, although I would like to be, I am not surprised. Afterall, this is America—sometimes long on sentiment and remembrance; but short on government accountability and transparency. So many people died immediately on 911 and or, when the towers came down. So many others lingered and suffered for long periods before they succumbed.
I know this country has the potential to do better by its citizens of every race, creed and color. Afterall, when it came to the Americans who died on 911, none of this mattered.
But, when lives are at stake and the American government hides the truth, like it did regarding air quality in the wake of 911, and purposely allowed people to die rather than being transparent regarding the air quality, and then dragging its feet about insuring access to the 911 Victim’s Compensation Fund for those in need, I find myself once again rhetorically asking, who stole the soul of America? Maybe the better question is, Did America ever really have a soul? Look at its history and then think about it.
Of course, this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.