Fiterman Updates

Updates on the contamination and demolition of Fiterman Hall, the BMCC facility  that was severely damaged and saturated with hazardous substances on 9/11/01.

Council Hears Fiterman Financing Woes.  PSC officers and members were among those testifying on Friday, June 20, 2008, at a City Council hearing about the ongoing financing hold-ups that are preventing the demolition and reconstruction of BMCC’s Fiterman Hall from moving forward. PSC Secretary Arthurine DeSola, Health and Safety Committee Coordinator Joan Greenbaum and BMCC faculty members Joyce Moorman and Shirley Rausher spoke on the union’s behalf; other PSC members from BMCC and more than 100 BMCC students attended the hearing to add their support. Fiterman Hall was irreparably damaged in the 9/11 terrorist attack and its destruction has meant severe overcrowding at BMCC’s main building at 199 Chambers Street. Financing to conduct a safe demolition of the toxic-laden structure and to rebuild it is in place—except for a missing $79 million in matching funds from the City. The City Council hearing, which the PSC advocated for, was an opportunity for Council Members to hear firsthand how urgently CUNY students, staff and faculty need the Fiterman reconstruction to move forward, and a chance to put pressure on the other end of City Hall, responsible for the financing hold-up.

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Click image below for Oct. '07 Clarion article on BMCC and Fiterman Fire Safety.

Click image below for April '07 Clarion article on BMCC and 9/11 health risks.

The Decontamination and Demolition of Fiterman

As a result of an October 30, 2006 public meeting that the PSC and the WTC Labor-Community coaltion pressed for, CUNY and BMCC management have started a website with information about the decontamination and demolition of Fiterman.  Please bookmark and visit it http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/fitermannews/ and also sign up for BMCC's email alerts from the website. 

Worker's Compensation and 9/11 illnesses
Labor union pressure has resulted in an extension of dates for people to file Workers' compensation claims in relation to World Trade Center health issues. According to NYCOSH: "The New York State Workers’ Compensation Law has just been changed to help you file a claim for workers’ compensation if you have a 9/11- related illness. The change also applies to workers and volunteers who are not sick, but who may become sick in the future because they were exposed to the toxic air after 9/11"

People who worked in the area of the WTC, including all faculty and staff at BMCC, could file a claim.  By filling out the Workers' Comp form they can be counted, if in the future they become ill as a result of returning to work in the area.  While Workers' Compensation is specifically written to include those who are directly injured on the job, labor unions and the New York Occupational Health and Safety committee (NYCOSH) are urging all workers in the area to file if they returned to work soon after the World Trade Center disaster.  Please see the NYCOSH website for more information:  www.nycosh.org