New York failed to disclose what it knew on toxic air after 9-11: mayor

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Tuesday the release of tens of thousands of documents showing the city did not disclose all it knew about air toxicity after 9/11.

The release comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed 2,977 people, mostly from the collapse of the Twin Towers.

What do the newly released 9/11 documents show?

The documents show what the city knew about toxic air around Ground Zero, when officials knew it, and how they acted to limit liability, Mamdani said. He released 170,000 pages covering health concerns, air quality and the city's response to the attacks. More than 9,400 people have died from illnesses linked to exposure in the area since 2001, according to a federal medical monitoring program.

Why did New York City release the 9/11 air quality documents?

The release is part of an agreement with 9/11 Health Watch, a victims' advocacy group that took legal action to compel the city to make the documents public. The group's director, Benjamin Chevat, said four different mayoral administrations kept the documents from the public, the US Congress and the City Council for 25 years. He said this happened even as city officials continued telling the public the air was "safe and acceptable."

Who is responsible for withholding the 9/11 air quality information?

When asked to name officials who had withheld information from the public, Mamdani said the responsibility spans a wide range of people New Yorkers have trusted. He did not single out specific individuals or administrations by name.