Message from Liz . . .
We are a less than a week away from the 10 year anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, and just over a week past Hurricane Irene. Each had a very different and complex cause; both left us with the immediate need to rebuild our communities. Both also highlight the importance of interdependence as a fundamental strength of our democratic society. In other words, none of us "do it all by ourselves;" we survive through our inter-relationships and our dependence on institutions. When the basic safety and infrastructure of local communities is damaged, we must rely on others to help us rebuild. It really does "take a village."
It is during these times that we, as a society, are tested. The attack on 9/11 took thousands of lives and its impact was felt throughout the world. Here in NYC our fortitude, our ability to overcome fear and our challenge to work together to rebuild our City were tested. Hurricane Irene caused enormous destruction to communities up and down the East Coast, fortunately with minimal loss of life, and it tested our societal ability -- government and private citizens alike -- to plan for and respond to emergencies. In each case we passed these tests with flying colors.
Out of these tragedies we have seen something amazing: people - as professionals, as volunteers and as neighbors - rushing to help each other. But without the organization and direction of government and nonprofit institutions, this response would have been haphazard and wasteful. Imagine the rescue and recovery at Ground Zero without the FDNY, the NYPD and EMS. Absent prior planning, clear command and control, appropriate use of trained experts, monetary resources directed properly and coordination of effort, disaster response does not work. Neighbors helping neighbors is a wonderful thing, but it is only governmental entities that can ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness at such a large scale.
Rebuilding lower Manhattan post 9-11 is taking over a decade. The damage from Irene will take many months, if not years, to repair. Once the immediate response is over, the responsibility of overseeing and paying for reconstruction falls mostly to our governments. Yet disturbingly, in the case of Hurricane Irene, there have been anti-government rumblings questioning the appropriate level of response. We are hearing claims that official precautions were just another sign of government excess, suggesting that emergency response and funding aren't really all that necessary.
This messaging is exceptionally dangerous because the sub-text is that we are not interdependent and that we can, or must, do it alone. Some people writing about this debate place it in a partisan political framework. I see the problem as much larger than another case of political posturing. This rhetoric is more extreme and therefore much more corrosive to our fragile democracy than people realize.
For example, last week the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) declared that the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center are unnecessary. In CEI's view, the private sector would step up to the plate if such agencies were no longer in existence and therefore these sources of life-saving scientific research are unnecessary government programs. There is now a debate raging among candidates for federal office over whether or not the federal government should borrow money to pay for natural disasters or reduce funding to other programs to cover the costs. So, while homes and lives have been destroyed and people are hanging on by a thread, some politicians are asking these same people to wait a bit longer while they wage a political battle based on ideological beliefs.
Here in NY we have not forgotten the lessons from 9/11 and images from Irene still linger on TV, but let's please not forget the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina which just six years ago killed more than 1,800 people and flooded most of New Orleans. It was, and is, a devastating example of an ill prepared and poorly financed government both in advance of and after a massive catastrophe. And despite an enormous outpouring of citizen volunteers, the result is still not sufficient. No, we cannot always predict how and when disaster will strike, but we can have the infrastructure in place to best react and therefore protect our citizens.
If I had all the answers, I'd be throwing my hat in the ring for President. But I don't and won't. What I do know is that the solutions must involve the recognition that today more than ever no one can do it alone. We may each find justifiable fault with the failures of some of our governmental institutions, but the solution cannot be to defund and dismantle them randomly or en masse. This can only result in chaos (or worse) in the face of the ongoing threat of disasters and the need for appropriate responses. Only functioning democratic institutions can ensure the protection and enhancement of the lives of all citizens.
On a more personal note: ten years ago the lives of many New Yorkers were shattered by a tragedy many of us still find hard to comprehend. While our City and Nation rallied around us and helped us rebuild, those who lost loved ones on 9/11 will forever live with a hole in their hearts that cannot be filled. My strongest hopes and wishes go out to those who still feel the pain of loss each day. If there is anything my office can do, let us know.
Liz