9-1-1 World Trade Center Memory September 11, 2001

Please Read to the end I was discussing with some friends the events of September 11, 2001 known as 9-1-1 It has caused cancer in many including many bus Operators. We were discussing how the Transit Authority has handled archive records and the struggle it has been to get trip-sheets showing the runs and routes Bus Operators worked that day. As me and my friends continued to discuss the issues, I reminisced on the days leading up to that day. There was a depot pick which I saw a run and route I couldn’t previously pick, because of my seniority. However it was available so I picked it with Sun and Mon days off. Prior to that pick going into affect there was some dispute over the run I picked because of the way MaBstoa Pick rules work, however I ended up with my choice 22/M103 My first day on the run was September 11, 2001 which was a Tuesday. I made my first round trip then I was on an hour swing (lunch) In those days we took our meal at 126th Street Depot. We were all notified via the television that a plane struck the World Trade Center. As we were focused on the news I was thinking that the pilot was a dumb MF for not seeing the building. Then the second plane hit, we were like what, 2 dumb MF’s. Then the chaos began in the City. My story is based on true factual events!!!!! Because of the Chaos, Buses were coming up very late, but when my bus finally arrived, the dispatcher on duty instructed me to go around the corner to the FDNY and pick up the Fire Fighters and their equipment. I did as instructed. Once all the equipment and the Fire Fighters were in my bus we went down an empty FDR Drive to ground zero. The area looked dark like a war zone. The Fire Fighters got off my bus and ordered me to wait for them. (Remember this (order) because it’s important) My friends Olando Upsure Flatbush depot, Lawrence Bates Amsterdam Depot and Paul Rodrigues Station Supervisor Met me as we observed the wreckage. We took pictures and went to the city hall area where they were conducting eyewashes at the right aid. After me and my friends broke off from each other I went back to ground zero to see what was up with the Fire Department I took down. As I was surveying the area a Woman Police Officer asked what I was doing there being that I wasn’t an emergency personnel. I shrugged my shoulders and told the officer I was ordered by FDNY. As we stood together not believing our sights everyone started running for cover so I ran too. Building 7 a 50 something story building just collapsed. We were lucky I guess, because we were just in that building. They were using it as an emergency triage. Keep in mind that from the time the planes hit the towers I didn’t have contact with my family. All phones were down except for those of us who had NEXTEL’s. Around 3am I went back to where I parked my bus and started it up. I still had the fire department equipment on my bus, so I drove the bus to the 124 street FDNY where I rang the bell and was invited up to eat pasta and sauce. The FDNY got their equipment and I went to Manhattanville depot as I was the missing bus that wasn’t accounted for. I went home still shaken from the events of 9-1-1 where the only person who was awake and waiting was my Father. I was too broken to tell my Father what had happened, and didn’t really talk about it that much until now! I want to point out some things. 1. The Fire Department abandoned me as I didn’t abandon my post 2. TA managers didn’t use a cautious tongue, in fact they were quite rude to me anyway. 3. Many Bus Operators are Now starting to develop Cancers, some have died already 4. The Transit Authority is giving a very hard time getting copies of our proof that we were in fact working 9-1-1 on the day and the aftermath. Since I became a union representative I fought the boss. Some of the bosses really think I’m an ass whole, but that’s ok with me, because they don’t care about Transit workers and they have proven that time and time again. Thank you James, because of our discussion I am telling my story