Bombshell memo reveals city knew of 9/11 toxin risks

Officials told New Yorkers it was safe to return to Lower Manhattan despite internal warnings

Feb. 5, 2026 at 7:07pm

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A bombshell memo made public proves the city knew about the potential risks of Sept. 11, 2001 toxins weeks after the terror attacks, even as officials told New Yorkers it was safe to return to Lower Manhattan. The memo, which was kept secret for over 20 years, shows the city's lawyers admitted the city could face tens of thousands of lawsuits, including from people exposed to toxins after being advised they could return to the area around Ground Zero too soon.

Why it matters

This revelation raises serious questions about the city's handling of public health and safety in the aftermath of 9/11, as well as its transparency and accountability to residents. The memo suggests the city prioritized financial and liability concerns over protecting the health of New Yorkers, many of whom suffered long-term respiratory issues and cancers due to exposure to the toxic debris.

The details

The October 2001 memo, addressed to then-Deputy Mayor Bob Harding, stated that "health advisories caused individuals either to return to the area too soon (causing toxic exposure or emotional harm) or too late (causing economic hardship)." The document did not show the city knew the air was unsafe when it advised people to return, but it served as a 'risk assessment' showing the city could face up to 10,000 liability claims from residents over potential respiratory issues from contaminants including metals and asbestos.

  • The memo was written in October 2001, just weeks after the 9/11 attacks.
  • The memo was kept secret for over 20 years until it was recently uncovered by pro-bono attorneys for 9/11 victims.

The players

Julie Menin

New York City Council Speaker who unveiled the memo and criticized the city's failure to disclose it for decades.

Gale Brewer

New York City Councilwoman who also unveiled the memo and called the city's actions "shameful".

Bob Harding

Former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development under Mayor Rudy Giuliani, to whom the memo was addressed.

Wayne Barrett

Journalist who first referenced the memo in his 2006 book "The Grand Illusion", though the full document was not publicly released until now.

Andrew Carboy

Attorney representing 9/11 victims, who called the city's actions "outrageous, shocking, and heartbreaking".

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What they’re saying

“As we head into the 25th anniversary of 9/11, it's really just shameful that the city gave this information and refused to disclose this information.”

— Julie Menin, New York City Council Speaker (New York Post)

“It is outrageous, and it is shocking, and it is heartbreaking that ... the state of Texas is telling us more about what the city knew and when it knew it than the mayor's offices have told us for the past 45 years.”

— Andrew Carboy, Attorney representing 9/11 victims (New York Post)

What’s next

The city council and 9/11 victims' attorneys are calling on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to fund a $3 million project to probe and release additional records related to the city's handling of 9/11 toxins. They hope the release of this memo will spur further transparency and accountability around the city's actions in the aftermath of the attacks.

The takeaway

This bombshell memo reveals a troubling pattern of the city prioritizing financial and liability concerns over public health and safety in the wake of 9/11. The long-term cover-up of this information has eroded trust in local government and underscores the need for greater transparency around the city's response to the attacks and its treatment of affected residents and first responders.