I was thrilled to see my old colleagues on the Daily News editorial board win a Pulitzer for their all-out fight to put the heatlh of Ground Zero workers on the local and national agenda.
One guy who really deserves that award, though, was left off: News columnist Juan Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was hammering the issue when most of the New York press, myself included, were believing assurances from the local and federal governments that the air was fine, assurances that virtually everyone has since backed off. A few local officials, led by Jerry Nadler, among others, didn't buy it, and neither did Juan.
Way back on September 28, 2001 he wrote the first about 30 columns on the subject,
"Ever since the World Trade Center disaster, federal and city officials have said there is minimal risk from the fetid, dust-filled air and smoke that continue to envelop Ground Zero. But independent tests of dust samples around the site have found dangerous levels of cancer-causing asbestos, fiberglass - and even residues of human bone particles," Gonzalez wrote. "Leaders of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association retained the New York Environmental Law and Justice Project to conduct independent monitoring after dozens of cops assigned to rescue operations voiced their worries to union leaders about what is in the polluted air they keep breathing."
Read entire article posted at Room 8 - NY Politics...
I couldn't agree more with Ben's assessment...Juan was way ahead of the rest of the pack on this issue...he also hammered away on his Democracy Now! broadcasts about the air quality downtown after 9-11 ...
Read the transcript or listen to a segment which aired on Friday, October 26th, 2001 - Toxic Zone: World Trade Center Clean-Up Workers Face Hazardous Conditions...
