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NEW YORK -- As the five-year anniversary of Sept. 11 grows nearer, city, state and federal government officials are under increasing pressure to do more for the many New Yorkers who claim they're sick and dying because of their exposure to toxins at ground zero. However, a potential reprieve may be in sight. New York Gov. George Pataki told NewsChannel 4 on Wednesday that he's likely to sign a bill giving people who missed a deadline another chance to apply for workers compensation. The bill would affect people like city Construction Manager Mike Kenny, who said he's sick because of his work at ground zero, but missed the two-year deadline to apply for workers compensation benefits. "I worked down at the site for seven months," said Kenny. "We were right on the pile." Pataki told NewsChannel 4 he was leaning toward turning that bill into law. "I'm strongly inclined to sign it," said Pataki. If he does, tens of thousands of non-uniformed workers who missed the deadline would have one more year to register for workers compensation benefits. Such people might not have realized they were sick until the deadline passed. The bill would also give people who are not sick one year to register for benefits should they develop a Sept. 11-related illness in the future. Pataki said he was also inclined to sign into law another major change relating to retired rescue workers who die from Sept. 11-related illnesses years after exposure. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has strongly opposed such a measure. The bill would give widows and children essentially the same generous death benefits given to families of those who die in the line of duty: 100 percent of the worker's salary, tax-free for life. Currently, the pension system does not guarantee death benefits after a worker retires. Pataki said he did not agree with a letter from the Bloomberg administration raising objections that the bill would lead to unbudgeted costs, unmanageable precedents and countless technical deficiencies. Meanwhile, at a news conference at ground zero Wednesday morning, city and non-city employees gasped for air while criticizing Bloomberg for being on the wrong side of this issue. "If you talk to Albany, tell them we need screening and monitoring for our life expectancy --whatever that would be," said iron worker John Sferazo. Bloomberg's top lawyer points out that the attack on Sept. 11 was an attack on the United States, and the city has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars for health benefits for first responders. He said the federal government should be paying for these costs, not just New York residents. ,Hel
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