Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main objectives of the ballot initiative?

The main objectives are to create an independent investigation of the 9/11 attacks, and pursue health and financial remedies for the thousands of first responders and others adversely affected by the environmental disaster. We seek to achieve its objective through the creation of a public referendum (ballot initiative) in New York City, which will offer the citizens the right and opportunity to make their own decision as to whether a new investigation of the events of 9/11 should take place through the creation of a new Citizens Commission to Re-Investigate 9/11.

Does 9/11 really need to be re-investigated?

Absolutely yes. There are a multitude of reasons why. Here are just a few...

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, was doomed from the start. Commission co-chairs Thomas Keane and Lee Hamilton wrote in their book “Without Precedent” that "we were set up to fail." The authors reported that, "the thought occurred to both of us as we prepared to meet for the first time on a cold day just before the Christmas season of 2002.” “This was frustrating, particularly since we were a creation of Congress.” “We were hung up with both Congress and the Bush administration over the documents that were mandated to be the starting point of our investigation.” CIA chief “Tenet opened by saying, ‘You’re not going to get access to these detainees,’” “Lee, who has known Tenet for 25 years, could tell from Tenet’s demeanor that there would be no give in his position on the matter.” "Fog of war could explain why some people were confused on the day of 9/11, but it could not explain why all of the after-action reports, accident investigations and public testimony by FAA and NORAD officials advanced an account of 9/11 that was untrue".

They considered the questioning of NYC Mayor Giuliani "a low point" in the commission's examination of witnesses during the public hearings. "We did not ask tough questions, nor did we get all of the information we needed to put on the public record." "It proved difficult, if not impossible, to raise hard questions about 9/11 in New York without it being perceived as criticism of the individual police and firefighters or of Mayor Giuliani."

When appointee Max Cleland resigned from the Commission, he called it "disgusting," "a scam" and "a national scandal," concluding "America is being cheated." He called the White House obstruction of the investigation through the withholding of needed information "Nixonian," and said that, "I, as a member of the commission, cannot look any American in the eye, especially family members of victims, and say the commission had full access. This investigation is now compromised." So much for the federal commission.

Both the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology investigative reports manifested the very same fatal flaws. They both created such a firestorm of controversy among experts in their related fields that they render impossible the prospect of reaching a public consensus as to their findings without further investigation and review.

The American public has been lied to about so many things since 2000. We've been lied to about the rational for invading Iraq, lied to about whether our government engages in warrantless wiretaps, lied to about engaging in torture, revealing the identity of a CIA agent, and whether anyone knew the levees in New Orleans would break. New Yorkers were lied to by our EPA saying the air was safe to breath. Therefore, it's hardly out of the question that we've been lied to about the events of 9/11.

In summary, many victim's families remain frustrated and without closure since 70% of their questions were left unanswered after being promised they would ALL be addressed. They are upset that nobody within our multi-trillion dollar defense, intelligence, and security operations has been held accountable. Instead, people with key responsibilities for ensuring that 9/11 wouldn't happen, got promotions regardless of the fact that it did occur.

Since there have been no governmental moves to re-investigate 9/11 and the major media hasn't adequately covered the compelling questions that exist, our only recourse is to create an independent investigation to impartially analyze all the evidence, get to the truth, and create the conditions where accountability and justice will take place.

How will a new investigation proceed?

This investigation will be non-partisan and independent of government control. A panel of Commissioners will conduct hearings to evaluate evidence provided by teams of researchers including new evidence since the termination of the Kean/Hamilton Commission. These teams will compile evidence on every possible category of investigation. They will question witnesses, experts, and issue subpoenas when necessary. The scientists, legal counsel, researchers and investigators who make up the commission are all committed to finding the truth, following the trail of evidence, wherever it may lead. Finally, the Commission will publish a one or more reports.

Does this investigation support a 'conspiracy theory?'

No. The 9/11 Ballot Initiative is committed to an independent, thorough, transparent, and non-partisan examination of the facts surrounding the events of September 11, 2001. The Commissioners will be mandated to search for the truth, wherever that search leads, without prejudice or preconception, and to recommend the best course, as they see it, to achieve justice for all those involved in, and affected by, the terror attacks upon the United States.

The quest for truth and justice is our sole agenda. We neither endorse nor espouse any a priori theories or conclusions other than those that will grow out of a responsible, thoughtful, judicious, and comprehensive examination of the facts. We welcome and encourage the support of all Americans, as well as concerned citizens throughout the world.

Why is it advisable to create a ballot initiative?

Simply voting in elections is not enough. Citizens can be pro-active in their own governance by creating a ballot initiative to be included during elections. This creates a bottom-up process which shapes our political reality, rather than a top-down process where wealthy and powerful corporate interests fund political campaigns and shape policy which effects our daily lives. It's all about returning government to the people.

Will a new investigation work to obtain justice and necessary benefits for 9/11 First Responders and others who were at the scene?

Yes. Up to 70% of First Responders and others afflicted have become ill or died, or will likely become ill in the future. There are also reports of birth defects in children of the afflicted workers. The illnesses that have been reported in workers include cancers of the lung, throat, tongue, testicles, breasts, bladder, kidney, colon, intestine, and rare blood cancers, as well as other cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma. The government has yet to allocate the necessary funds to deal with this health crisis, consistently refusing to acknowledge that any of these people are sick because of 9/11. Congress allocated $1 billion to a fund for First Responders and other injured parties, under the name World Trade Center Captive Insurance Company, but so far, none of the over 8,000 sick and injured workers claims filed toward this fund have been granted. To make matters worse, many have suffering terrible financial losses from medical expenses and inability to work.

Is a new investigation unpatriotic?

Not at all. Here’s what some important Americans in our history have said about questioning our government:

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."
- Mark Twain

"Dissent is the Highest Form of Patriotism."
-Thomas Jefferson

"To stand in silence when they should be protesting makes cowards out of men."
- Abraham Lincoln

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
- Thomas Jefferson

"All that is necessary for the forces of evil to prevail in the world is for enough good men to do nothing."
- Edmund Burke

"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people."
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it"
- Albert Einstein

Do I have to be a registered New York City voter to sign the petition?

Yes. If you are not, please register by clicking here, downloading the PDF file, filling it out and mailing it in to the Board of Elections. Then you can download our petition.

What if I don't live in New York City but still want to help?

If you know people who live in New York City you can send them to our web site. Also, anyone can help through donating money which is needed for a variety of expenses. For more please click on our “What You Can Do” link.

How can the initiative be placed on the ballot and when?

We'll have to collect a minimum of 30,000 petition signatures of NYC registered voters which will be submitted to the City Clerk. The Clerk then submits the ballot initiative to NYC City Council. City Council can accept the ballot initiative or reject it. If they reject it, we can return to the people of New York City for an additional 15,000 petition signatures which will then override the Council's decision. We've run out of time to get this Initiative on the Nov. 2008 ballot, but will proceed collecting signatures to strengthen our position for the next election. Now we'll have time to collect tens of thousands more signatures than is even required, which will show a mandate from the voters of NYC calling for a new 9/11 investigation.

Will this 9/11 investigation be paid for by tax-payer dollars?

No. This will be privately funded by interested individuals as well as supporters from the public.

Why is the petition so long?

Because we're required to have the precise text of the statute we're asking to have passed, in underlined or italicized text. We're required to provide details on what we propose to do and alternatives on how it will be financed.

Why are pages 2 and 3 underlined?

Because by law the text of a statute must either be underlined or italicized.

What will donations be used for?

Like any other civic effort, we must rely on the generous contributions of our supporters to pay the multitude of expenses involved in planning, initiating, and conducting a successful campaign. We must hire staff, create promotional materials, and advertise to reach our goal of collecting at least 100,000 petition signatures and educating millions of New Yorkers on the need for a new 9/11 investigation.

To top