(Opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent positions of or endorsements by Democracy for New York City)

In January, the City Council's Public Safety Committee (Peter Vallone, Jr., Chair) held a hearing on Intro 650, a bill that would require anyone who wants to set up a biological, chemical or radiological detector to get a permit from the police. The bill was submitted by the Mayor, and it was assumed that it would sail through the committee. Fat chance! Several groups showed up to oppose the bill, so many that it was pulled so that the council can focus on the budget crisis. However, the issue isn't dead, and you should keep on the lookout for future mutations of this legislation.

This does, however, relate to the larger issue that thousands of 9-11 workers and downtown Manhattan residents are now suffering from chronic, debilitating and potentially life-threatening illnesses related to the WTC attack. A study by Mount Sinai hospital found that some 70 percent of the workers whose health it had monitored suffered respiratory problems while working on "the pile.", as the World Trade Center site became known. The Mount Sinai study also revealed that about 40% of those suffering do not have medical insurance.

The Bush Administration has shown reckless disregard for the health effects of 9-11. The EPA's environmental testing at Ground Zero was incomplete (didn't measure indoor air quality and left out residents) and used faulty methodology. Intro 650 seems to be an effort by New York City government to stop all independant studies. Intro 650 proponents say that too much freedom with environmental testing could lead to a situation where anyone could be using a testing device and this may cause widespread panic. As far as we know, they offer no examples of this. It appears to be a solution in search of a problem...or, perhaps, just a way to sweep the ongoing 9/11-related health problems under the rug.

For further reading:

• DailyGotham on Intro 650
• LibertyPost.org on the hearing
• Sierra Club on Ground Zero issues
• NY Committee for Occupational Safety and Health
• GothamGazette on ongoing 9/11-related health problems