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CNN Live Today
Interview with Jonathan Greenspun, Community Assistance Unit
Aired May 30, 2002 - 11:54 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the official end of the recovery effort at ground zero today closed one chapter in the tragedy of September 11.
Joining us to talk about what this means for families of the victims is Jonathan Greenspun. He is the commissioner of New York mayor Michael Bloomberg's Community Assistance Unit -- thanks for joining us.
JONATHAN GREENSPUN, COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE UNIT: Thank you for having me, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, the end today of ground zero is a symbolic end of the effort there, the cleanup effort, but many people have described this as being just one phase of the recovery, that we are now entering a new phase of recovery. What emotions do you see that many families and victims are going to -- as survivors, are going to be feeling, now that this end of the recovery is over?
GREENSPUN: Well, the ceremony today meant different things to many different families. I had someone who I have grown very close to these last few months who lost his brother in the 1 World Trade Center tell me today that he felt that this ceremony was, in many ways, a funeral for his brother. He felt that his brother has not been identified yet, and this was in many ways a ceremony to pay respect to the 2,800 lives that we lost.
For other families, I think some have moved on. Others, you're right, they see this as another day, a day they are grieving as much today as they were yesterday and probably be grieving in some cases, weeks and months from now.
WHITFIELD: There were lots of emotions expressed in so many different ways today. You saw some very stoic expressions, there were some people who were fighting back tears, and I saw one man who had handkerchief and his face just kind of buried in the handkerchief in his hands. What did you see out there?
GREENSPUN: I was at the top of the ramp, right at ground zero. I was standing with a bunch of firemen, some city personnel. I have to say that of all of the emotions that I noticed this morning, the one that really stood out in my mind was an emotion of appreciation. I think that there are two stories that went on today, the symbolic acts that you saw, the last piece of steel being driven out, the empty stretcher representing those who haven't been found yet.
But you know what? Walking up West Street, walking up the West Side Highway, with the hundreds of people who were part of this ceremony today, I saw a demonstration of appreciation that I have never really seen in my life. Some people -- families, firemen, policemen, emergency service workers, and New Yorkers just standing side by side, applauding and saying, thank you in some small demonstration to these heroes who have been here, toiling, these last eight months.
WHITFIELD: You saw this as very -- a very important step for so many people to take today, didn't you?
GREENSPUN: I think in many ways, this meant different things to different people. I think that, you know, we are standing in the middle of a neighborhood right now called Battery Park City. Behind me is Chinatown, to the north of us is Tribeca. I think for the people who live in this neighborhood, I think they see this as an important step towards rebuilding.
For family members who haven't had their loved ones identified yet, I think that this is a very difficult day, to be honest with you. I think that in many ways, they have lost some hope that their loved ones are going to be -- continue to -- loved one's remains can no longer be brought out of this site.
It is a lot of cause for optimism. We have Fresh Kills, where a lot of the debris has been brought, and will be sifted through. Then, of course, the DNA match at the medical examiner's office.
WHITFIELD: Jonathan Greenspun, thank you very much. The rebuilding, far from over. Just beginning, say some. Thank you, very much. Well, the Herculean cleanup...
GREENSPUN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Thank you again.
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