New York After 9 11

An estimated 2 billion people around the world watched the catastrophic destruction of the World Trade Center. The enormity of the moment was immediately understood and quickly took on global proportions. What has been less obvious is the effect on the locus of the attacks, New York City, not as a seat of political or economic power, but as a community; not in the days and weeks afterward, but over months and years. New York after 9/11 offers insightful and critical observations about the processes set in motion by September 11, 2001 in New York, and holds important lessons for the future. This interdisciplinary collection brings together experts from diverse fields to discuss the long-term recovery of New York City after 9/11. Susan Opotow and Zachary Baron Shemtob invited experts in architecture and design, medicine, health, community advocacy, psychology, public safety, human rights, law, and mental health to look back on the aftereffects of that tragic day in key spheres of life in New York City. With a focus on the themes of space and memory, public health and public safety, trauma and conflict, and politics and social change, this comprehensive account of how 9/11 changed New York sets out to answer three questions: What were the key conflicts that erupted in New York City in 9/11’s wake? What clashing interests were involved and how did they change over time? And what was the role of these conflicts in the transition from trauma to recovery for New York City as a whole? Contributors discuss a variety of issues that emerged in this tragedy’s wake, some immediately and others in the years that followed, including: PTSD among first responders; conflicts and design challenges of rebuilding the World Trade Center site, the memorial, and the museum; surveillance of Muslim communities; power struggles among public safety agencies; the development of technologies for faster building evacuations; and the emergence of chronic illnesses and fatalities among first responders and people who lived, worked, and attended school in the vicinity of the 9/11 site. A chapter on two Ground Zeros –in Hiroshima and New York – compares and historicizes the challenges of memorialization and recovery. Each chapter offers a nuanced, vivid, and behind-the-scenes account of issues as they unfolded over time and across various contexts, dispelling simplistic narratives of this extended and complicated period. Illuminating a city’s multifaceted response in the wake of a catastrophic and traumatic attack, New York after 9/11 illustrates recovery as a process that is complex, multivalent, and ongoing.

The strike against the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, was a violent blow against the United States and a symbolic attack on capitalism and commerce. It shut down one of the world’s busiest commercial centers for weeks, destroyed or damaged billions of dollars worth of property, and forced many New York City employers to slash their payrolls or move jobs to other areas. The immediate economic effect was substantial, but how badly did 9/11 affect New York City’s economy in the longer term? In Resilient City, Howard Chernick and a team of economic experts examine the city’s economic recovery in the three years following the destruction of the Twin Towers. Assessing multiple facets of the New York City economy in the years after 9/11, Resilient City discerns many hopeful signs among persistent troubles. Analysis by economist Sanders Korenman indicates that the value of New York–based companies did not fall relative to other firms, indicating that investors still believe that there are business advantages to operating in New York despite higher rates of terrorism insurance and concerns about future attacks. Cordelia Reimers separates the economic effect of 9/11 from the effects of the 2001 recession by comparing employment and wage trends for disadvantaged workers in New York with those in five major U.S. cities. She finds that New Yorkers fared at least as well as people in other cities, suggesting that the decline in earnings and employment for low-income New York workers in 2002 was due more to the recession than to the effects of 9/11. Still, troubles remain for New York City. Howard Chernick considers the substantial fiscal implications of the terrorist attacks on New York City, estimating that the attack cost the city about $3 billion in the first two years alone; a sum that the city now must make up through large tax increases, spending cuts, and substantial additional borrowing, which will inevitably be a burden on future budgets. The terrorist attacks of September 11 dealt a severe blow to the economy of New York City, but it was far from a knock-out punch. Resilient City shows that New York’s dynamic, flexible economy has absorbed the hardships inflicted by the attacks, and provides a thorough, authoritative A Russell Sage Foundation September 11 Initiative Volume

The first book to document the terrorist attack on the WTC - from the moment of impact and the collapse of the Twin Towers to the rescue efforts at Ground Zero of the police officers, firefighters, emergency service personnel and volunteers from all over the US, as well as the family members and friends searching for their lost loved ones. Also includes some of the most beloved photographs of the WTC buildings, and the human activity within, as photographed by the esteemed Magnum photographers over the past 25 years. With 100 full-colour & b/w photos.

This important and inspiring collection is a sweeping overview of poetry written in New York in the year after the 9/11 attacks . . . This anthology contains poems by forty-five of the most important poets of the day, as well as some of the literary world’s most dynamic young voices, all writing in New York City in the year immediately following the World Trade Center attacks. It was inspired by the editors' observation that after the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, poetry was being posted everywhere in New York—on telephone poles, on warehouse walls, on bus shelters, in the letters-to-the-editor section of newspapers ... New Yorkers spontaneously turned to poetry to understand and cope with the tragedy of the attack. Full of humor, love, rage and fear, this diverse collection of poems attests to that power of poetry to express and to heal the human spirit. Featuring poems by Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Dunn; Best American Poetry series editor David Lehman; National Book Award winner and New York State Poet Jean Valentine; the first ever Nuyorican Slam-Poetry champ; poets laureate of Brooklyn and Queens; and a poem and introduction by National Book Award finalist Alicia Ostriker.

A nation in mourning. A city recovering. A unique moment in history when people came together to rebuild hope.When an unimaginable crisis emerged, politically polarized Oregon found a common mission. Three weeks after the September 11th terrorist attacks, airplanes were empty and the New York economy was tanking. So one thousand Freedom Fliers committed to taking sixty-two flights to NYC and infusing local businesses with revenue to show their unwavering support.Arriving en masse to the grief-filled streets, Oregonians from diverse backgrounds and social statuses came to make a difference in their fellow Americans' lives. But beyond the much-needed economic boost, these unsung heroes discovered themselves providing something even more essential... their open hearts.Sally Ruth Bourrie, freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune and The Boston Globe, witnessed firsthand this remarkable phenomenon sparked by the 2001 Flight for Freedom.In a comprehensive and poignant account, she brings this extraordinary and largely unknown story vividly to life. In Oregon Loves New York, you'll discover:- How everyday people can make a huge difference by being present for others in times of need-Ways a divided community can put aside politics, ideologies, and disagreements to achieve amazing things together- Almost 700 pages of tales of courage and humanity, including 200 full-color photographs, 100 personal interviews, 20 years of research, and archival news pieces now lost to history- Heart-touching examples of the healing power of person-to-person contact and how we as a nation can honor each other- Insight into a little-known event with a huge impact, positive messages of hope, and much, much more!Oregon Loves New York: A Story of American Unity After 9/11 is a stunning look into a country rising from the ashes of unthinkable catastrophe. If you like true-life narratives, triumphs over tragedy, and the goodness of the human spirit, then you'll be uplifted by Sally Ruth Bourrie's inspirational journey.

The most comprehensive account to date of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon and aftermath, this volume includes unprecedented details on the impact on the Pentagon building and personnel and the scope of the rescue, recovery, and caregiving effort. It features 32 pages of photographs and more than a dozen diagrams and illustrations not previously available.

In response to the tragic events of September 11, photographer Nathan Lyons, known for his honest and often questioning depictions of American culture, has created a poignant new body of images. Photographing in small towns and large cities, Lyons has keenly observed the extreme and often confusing variety of responses - from deep reverence to blatant commercialization - manifested by ordinary Americans. This provocative sequence of images, loaded with multiple messages, is powerfully coherent and strangely disturbing. One will marvel, for instance, at the myriad uses of the American flag. As noted by Richard Benson in one of the book's afterwords, Nathan Lyons here offers a "parade of flags - in print, plastic, cloth, and paint - and he shows them as ubiquitous markers of our national pride and consciousness." In the tradition of Robert Frank's The Americans, Nathan Lyons's photographs will both engage audiences to question their responses to this horrific event in the context of our complicated society and memorialize the tragic loss of so many innocent lives.

“You are a herald for your generation....Thank you for using your voice to help us make sense of that dark day, and forge a new beginning.”—Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a letter to Helaina Hovitz Helaina Hovitz was twelve years old and in middle school just blocks away when the World Trade Center was attacked. Her memoir encapsulates the journey of a girl growing up with PTSD after living through the events firsthand. After 9/11 chronicles its effects on a young girl at the outset of adolescence, following her as she spirals into addiction and rebellion, through loss, chaos, and confusion. The events of 9/11 were a very real part of Helaina’s life and are still vivid in her memory today. Hundreds were stranded in the neighborhood, including Helaina, without phones or electricity or anyone to help. Fear and despair took over her life. It would take Helaina more than a decade to overcome the PTSD — and subsequent alcohol addiction — that went misdiagnosed and mistreated. In many ways, After 9/11 is the story of a generation growing up in the aftermath of America’s darkest day —and for one young woman, it is the story of a survivor who, after witnessing the end, got to make a new beginning. This new trade paperback edition includes tips on how to cope with trauma, an FAQ section, and a guide to discussing 9/11 with children. “Inspirational, courageous and beautifully told. After 9/11 is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.” — Cathy Free, correspondent, PEOPLE magazine “Helaina Hovitz's engrossing narrative begins in the shadow of the twin towers with her as a backpack-toting twelve-year-old and plays out over the next fifteen years in dramatic - and sometimes distressing - detail. This impressive debut is both deeply evocative and intensely personal.” — Peter Canby, Senior Editor, The New Yorker “A moving and remarkable testament to a time that changed our country, told beautifully by a young woman who never gave up hope that she could reclaim her life, no matter how grim things looked.” — Sean Elder, contributor, Newsweek