This column, from the weekly opinion piece MATTER OF FACT, first appeared on BrooklynReporter.com, the Home Reporter and Spectator dated September 8, 2023
Monday, September 11 will mark 22 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center that forever changed our city and all of us who live here. Though it pales in comparison to the dark events that transpired that day, September 11, 2001 had already begun as an important day in the city at 6 A.M. when polls opened across all five boroughs for primary elections. The primary would be canceled within a few hours by then-governor Pataki, following the attacks.
The 2001 primary included all city council races, borough presidents, and citywide elected offices, including a wide-open mayor’s race with then-mayor Giuliani term-limited. Before that day, Giuliani was considered a controversial mayor who was garnering local media attention for his marital troubles. With his reputation seeing a total reversal after the attacks, fellow Republican Mike Bloomberg surged and ultimately won the general election two months later.
Giuliani initially sought to extend his term, despite being term-limited. Ultimately, his attempt to stay in power longer than legally allowed failed. Years later, when facing being term-limited himself after winning elections as mayor twice, Bloomberg would successfully change the term limit law when the city council agreed to allow a third term by a resolution vote a year before the next mayoral election.
In Southern Brooklyn, the late Joanne Seminara won a three-way Democratic primary that fall, setting up a general election contest with incumbent Republican councilman Marty Golden in November. Golden would go on to win reelection to the council, then shortly after announce his run for state senate, which he would win in 2022. With Golden vacating his council seat, a special election was then set for March 2003, which Democrat Vincent Gentile would win.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were intended to attack Americans, but also to attack America and its ideals. That includes our most fundamental principals, like our free elections and the right to vote. The 2001 primary was important. Thousands of New Yorkers had voted that morning before the election was canceled and those votes nullified. When the primary was held a few weeks later, turnout in most parts of the city was higher than it would be four years later in the next city primary. New Yorkers, even after being attacked, understand the importance of our elections.
The fact that 9/11 was primary day almost certainly saved some lives. The World Trade Center was not occupied to the extent it typically was on a September Tuesday, and there were definitely people who worked there who were coming in late due to stopping off to vote first that morning.
People often recall how everyone came together during that dark time. It is definitely true that most New Yorkers coalesced and forgot about the differences that seemed less important in light of what we had all experienced, but it also resulted in things like people turning a blind eye to the demonization of our Muslim communities.
The 9/11 attacks in our city included more than 300 foreign victims from more than 100 countries. That is more than 10 percent of those who were murdered that day. Today, we see stories daily about vitriol directed at asylum seekers who have been arriving to New York from other countries.
In the fall of 2001, all of us New Yorkers mourned together. Today, we sometimes see people using the memory of 9/11 as a way to try to divide us, contending that back then we all acted in unison, but if we are critical of aspects of our country today or not critical of people who challenge American societal problems, that we are disrespecting the memory of 9/11.
Nothing can be further from the truth. Challenging what we see as the shortcomings or failings of our country; speaking out against injustice; these are the ways we honor the ideals of our country and put them into practice, striving to become the more perfect nation that comes closer to fully realizing the ideals America was founded on, in principle.
This 9/11, I will join a local memorial here in Southern Brooklyn. I will remember that day. I will think back on my own personal experience of walking home miles from Manhattan. I will reflect on my fellow New Yorkers, many who I know, who lost so much. And I will remind myself that pushing back against what is wrong in our community, in our country, is how we best honor the day and exhibit the American ideals that terrorists tried to kill 22 years ago.
