NYC Mom

The hunt for a middle school that is. New Yorkers understand this but nobody else in the world probably has to deal with this problem. The middle schools here in NYC are extremely varied so you really have to know your child’s strengths when you look for a middle school. It’s really like looking for a college. With a million school age children in NYC, it’s not an easy task. First you have to find the schools you like, which can be about 10 or so, and start narrowing them down.

First, specialty schools. There are the schools that are strong in math and science, the schools that are strong in English, the schools that are known for art and the schools that push sports. Then you have to call them and arrange a tour. Yes, a tour. You go and tour the school. You then make a list of about 6 schools that you like in the order which you like them. Because your child will be placed into the first school that accepts him the order of this list is VERY important. Then, if you like it, the child either takes a test, has an interview or both. Then you wait. You wait to hear who “accepts” him. If nobody does, he goes to your zone school. This is the norm for most of America but of course not NYC! Just the thought of living in a small town and having the security of knowing where your kid will be in school until college makes me envious. That would be so easy and stress free! Then again, who said life was going to be easy.

We’re just now at the calling for appointments for tours stage and I’m already starting to freak out a bit. Then I tell myself…he’ll be where he should be. I want him challenged without being overwhelmed. I want him to strive for more and better. I want him to be well rounded. But most of all I want him happy. So whether it’s a school that’s strong in academics, art, sports or the school around the corner, I know my little boy will make the best of it.

This is taken from my brother in law’s website which you can find here http://www.nyfirestore.com/index.html

Dear Friends,

Recently a retired NYPD detective, who has been a long time friend and customer, stopped into the shop. He proceeded to tell me that his 37 year old son (expecting his 4th child next week) nearly died a few weeks ago from sudden kidney failure, and was since diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Multiple Myeloma is a very rare blood and bone cancer, which almost never appears in people under the age of 70. The son, until his illness forced him off the job, was with the NYPD Bomb Squad, and the cancer, is almost certainly the result of his months working at the Fresh Kills landfill searching the Ground Zero debris.

It is currently estimated that 40,000 people worked Ground Zero and Fresh Kills, and the Federal Government acknowledges as many as 71,000 are considered “at risk” from their exposure to the toxic cocktail that enveloped lower Manhattan.

I believe that number may be much higher when you factor in everyone who had to clean the apartments, storefronts, offices and streets following the World Trade Center attack.

Mount Sinai Medical center reported 70% of the 10,000 Ground Zero workers they tested reported new or worsening respiratory problems since their exposure to these toxins. Now, the number of deaths attributed to Ground Zero exposure are starting to mount.

The official 9/11 death toll is 2,752….it could easily reach 20 times that number before the full impact has been felt.

While the news media is starting to report on these matters, and the politicians and agencies responsible for the lax safety conditions, and misinformation regarding air quality, are starting to answer for it, I feel the media is not putting all the pieces together yet. The public is still oblivious to the magnitude of the problem.

Thousands of Ground Zero rescue workers and volunteers have already retired, or been placed on light duty, due to post 9/11 illness. If only 1/2 of the 71,000 figure develop medical complications, the ensuing cumulative medical costs will easily reach the Billions…yes BILLIONS. Some of these people do not have insurance, and many others who think they are covered by their job’s insurance, or Workman’s Compensation, will discover that the “job” does not consider the illness a “line of duty” injury, and therefore will not cover treatment.

The dollar figures that the Federal Government is currently proposing as relief or aid, will not even scratch the surface.

* We need to stay informed.
* We must share that information with family, friends and co-workers.
* We can not allow our government to abandon these Forgotten Heroes.
* We can not forget, even for a moment, that 9/11 is Still Killing.

Thank you for taking a moment to read this. Please check back, I will post more information about this subject as it comes available. I will also post information about related charities, and web sites that are supporting our Forgotten Heroes.

Below we have provided some links that we hope will offer further light on the subject, and provide resources for those seeking treatment or information:

WTC Environmental Health Center: http://www.nyc.gov/html/hhc/html/community/wtc-health-center.shtml
World Trade Center Health Registry: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wtc/index.html
FDNY Medical Screening: http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/units/bhs/wtcmm/index.shtml
NYPD World Trade Center Resources: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/nypd_wtc_emerg.html
NY Times - July 18th 2007: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/nyregion/18treatment.html
TIME Magazine: http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2006/first_responders/
WCBSTV: http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=96760@wcbs.dayport.com
Sierra Club: http://www.sierraclub.org/tv/episode-911.asp

Sincerely,

Noam D. Freedman