What: September 11th victims, workers and residents, along
with the Beyond Ground Zero (BGZ) Network and the Rebuild with Spotlight
on the Poor Coalition, will hold a candle light vigil to denounce
FEMA for its inadequate distribution of disaster relief aid since
the attacks and the termination of its programs in the midst of a
continued recession and during the holiday season.
When: Monday, December 23 at 3:30 pm
Where: In front of the offices of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) located on 141 Worth Street.
Why: As New Yorkers prepare to celebrate the holidays and
bring in the New Year, thousands continue to suffer the economic
and health fall out of the events of September 11th, 2001. Instead
of receiving the needed support to help affected workers and residents
re-establish their lives and communities in the on-going ripple
effects of the disaster, this holiday season they are faced with
inadequate assistance, barriers to relief and termination of disaster
aid programs. Community members and coalitions are urgently calling
for FEMA to address the devastating health and economic impact of
the events of September 11th and the reopening of the Individual
and Family Grant (IFG) program to cover these critical medical and
health care expenses. Moreover, the coalitions call for reform of
the Mortgage and Rental Assistance (MRA) program and the removal
of barriers that are preventing individuals with need from accessing
assistance.
Who: The Beyond Ground Zero (BGZ)
Network, a coalition of community and legal organizations, seeks
to develop and coordinate collective strategies to ensure the critical
and immediate assistance for all low-income individuals impacted
by September 11th. In addition, the network promotes organizing
and advocacy efforts to demand adequate and fair policies and systems
to appropriately address the issues and meet the needs of low-income
and immigrant communities, particularly communities of color, in
the continued ripple effect of the World Trade Center tragedy.
This Rebuild with Spotlight on the Poor Coalition, comprised of
30 community based organizations, was formed to ensure that low-income
communities, particularly Chinatown and the Lower East Side, have
a voice in the rebuilding process.
Elected officials are invited and expected to attend.
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