New York City’s September 11th records

On September 8, 2026, the City of New York opened the September 11th Document Portal under a stipulation and order of settlement with 9/11 Health Watch, in two Article 78 proceedings before Justice James G. Clynes Stipulation and Order. A Department of Investigation inquiry ordered by the City Council runs alongside the release and reports in July 2027.

Purpose

Read the City’s record on Lower Manhattan air after September 11, 2001, and set officials’ public statements beside it. Find what the archive files under a building. Track the City’s release commitments and the dates ahead. The official directory lists proof-of-presence records for care and compensation.

• September 18, 2001, EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman: their air is safe to breath EPA release, 2001-09-18 (as published)
• August 21, 2003, EPA’s Office of Inspector General, on that statement: the Agency did not have sufficient data and analyses to make the statement EPA OIG report 2003-P-00012
• October 2001, memo to Deputy Mayor Robert Harding, among the potential lawsuits it lists: Health advisories caused individuals either to return to the area too soon NYC-WTC_000138296 · p.1
• February 28, 2002, memo from Special Advisor Ester Fuchs, on the real health risks in lower Manhattan NYC-WTC_000147320 · p.2
• As of June 30, 2026, 145,275 members were enrolled in the WTC Health Program CDC quarterly summary, 2026-06-30, p.5
• As of the same date, lifetime cancer certifications in the Program totaled 57,044 CDC quarterly summary, 2026-06-30, p.23

City commitments

Settlement and order · September 2026

• the City intends to launch the September 11th Public Records Portal with the goal of making publicly available Stipulation and Order, p.3
• the records sought under FOIL and as many other records of public interest and importance Stipulation and Order, p.3
• Monthly meetings: the City's Law Department agrees to meet monthly with Petitioner and his attorneys Stipulation and Order
• A privilege log, which log shall also be posted on the portal Stipulation and Order
• The Harding memo under a tab entitled "Documents of Interest" Stipulation and Order
• Personnel: designating personnel at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services Stipulation and Order, p.3
• The DOI inquiry: honoring the independence of the DOI’s inquiry under Resolution 560-A, cooperating with it fully and transparently Stipulation and Order, p.3
• After twelve months the proceedings are dismissed with prejudice Stipulation and Order, p.5

Council Resolution 560-A, adopted July 14, 2025

• DOI is directed to ascertain the knowledge possessed by mayoral administrations on environmental toxins produced by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Res. 560-A
• The Council acted pursuant to section 803 of the New York City Charter Res. 560-A
• Written updates No later than June 30 and December 31 of each year Res. 560-A
• The report must include A timeline of when mayoral administrations became aware of these toxins Res. 560-A
• and An analysis of the contrast between the knowledge mayoral administrations possessed on these toxins and the information the administrations conveyed to the public Res. 560-A

The announcement of September 8, 2026

• Corporation Counsel Steven Banks: For too long, information about the aftermath of Sept. 11 has not been provided to the public. Transcript, 2026-09-08
• On the 68 boxes: New Yorkers have a right to know what is in those boxes Transcript, 2026-09-08
• On the rollout: documents rolling out over the course of the next 12 months Transcript, 2026-09-08
• For the agreed search terms the City will be posting what those terms are on the portal Transcript, 2026-09-08
• Mayor Zohran Mamdani: City Hall has made a more than $34 million commitment to create a new public portal Transcript, 2026-09-08
• On what is withheld: The only information omitted will be personally identifiable information and security evaluations of Lower Manhattan buildings Transcript, 2026-09-08
• Nothing else will be redacted. Transcript, 2026-09-08
• The Mayor’s Office release: The portal will be updated regularly as the Law Department reviews additional City records over the next 12 months Mayor’s Office release
• and the administration will appoint dedicated personnel at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) to coordinate the retrieval of records Mayor’s Office release

The Department of Investigation’s account

• December 31, 2025, DOI reported requesting a total of over $3 million over two fiscal years DOI letter, 2025-12-31, p.2
• and the request is not yet approved DOI letter, 2025-12-31, p.2
• June 29, 2026: DOI requested a total of $4 million over the course of two fiscal years to hire a third-party firm DOI letter, 2026-06-29, p.2
• OMB has not yet approved DOI’s request DOI letter, 2026-06-29, p.2
• DOI has selected a team consisting of two firms to assist in the Investigation DOI letter, 2026-06-29, p.2
• DOI’s investigation page: In June 2026, the City allocated $3.81 million over fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund this investigative firm DOI, 9/11 investigation page
• DOI is currently in the procurement process to hire that firm. DOI, 9/11 investigation page
• DOI will also produce a public report at the conclusion of its investigation. DOI, 9/11 investigation page

Announced commitments

Three separate announcements. The ledger tracks appropriation, contract, payment, and delivery.

Obligations

Requirements and dated public observations. The court retains jurisdiction through September 2027.

The rows are in scorecard.json, which the MCP serves as the doi_milestones tool.

Catalog changes

The portal’s Update History lists additions by agency portal, Update History. This watch compares saved catalog captures. A later omission is an observation, not proof of removal.

Written by the watchdog script (scripts/watchdog.py). A capture that shrinks unexpectedly, arrives malformed, or repeats a document ID is held for review instead of published, and the pointer keeps the last good record.

The toolkit

• MCP server. Read-only tools over the portal’s records: search the catalog, look up a building, read pages verbatim, check and format citations, and follow commitments and dates. A call reads local captures. The MCP ↗
• Examples. Demos built on the MCP. Each names the tools behind it, the command that reproduces it and the recorded response. Examples ↗
• Skills. Instructions an AI assistant can load to answer one kind of question using the MCP, from verifying a quote to tracing a funding commitment. Skills ↗
• Records. The documents located so far are listed with the quote and the Bates page for each. Records ↗
• Community support. Organizations serving the 9/11 community and families of fallen responders. Community support ↗