New York City releases 170,000 pages of undisclosed 9/11 records

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has released over 170,000 pages of previously undisclosed internal records regarding the city’s response to the September 11 attacks. The release follows a multiyear legal battle and a settlement with 9/11 Health Watch.

The documents suggest that officials may have misled the public regarding the safety of the air around Ground Zero. Findings indicate that asbestos levels in dust samples throughout lower Manhattan exceeded hazardous limits in the days following the attacks, and a 2011 audit showed benzene levels were still spiking near the towers’ footprints.

Mayor Mamdani stated that “people got sick because the leaders they trusted lied and told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air.” The new public document portal, which cost the city more than $34 million to develop, is intended to provide transparency and help survivors, families, and first responders access records to establish their presence in exposure zones.

Activist Jon Stewart also addressed the release, noting that contaminants were present in the air, on surfaces, and in air conditioning units for months. The portal includes information on health assistance programs, such as the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.