Where were you when you heard that planes had struck the World Trade Center?
It was actually a very important day from the outset – a Democratic primary for City Council. I started very early that morning. I was out talking to voters, and then tidbits of information began to come in. At first it seemed so unbelievable, but as more and more information came in, we started to realize the gravity of what had happened. And when the election was cancelled, I rushed home to my wife and my son, who was almost one year old at the time.
What was your initial reaction to the attack?
Watching the images on TV, I had completely forgotten about what I was going through just one hour earlier because the devastation that was being brought on our city and indeed our country far overshadowed anything else that could be happening that day.
Ten years later, what are your thoughts and feelings about how far we have come since then?
Now 10 years later, notwithstanding the devastation and the tragedy of that day 10 years ago, I think we can all take solace in the fact that in the aftermath of such a horrific tragedy, in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, people came together here in New York and all throughout the country, and I dare say the world, and brought out the best of the human spirit, brought out the best in people. The pain does not go away, the pain certainly will never go away for the families who lost loved ones. We’ll never forget the brave people, firefighters, police officers, NYPD as well as Port Authority and citizens who rushed to help with rescue and recovery, and many had paid a very heavy toll, very heavy price for their bravery that day.
