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Jonathan D. Woods / msnbc.com
Taxi driver Cliff Adler in New York on Friday, September 2, 2011.
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Cliff Adler was en route to a dealership to have the air conditioning fixed in his yellow cab. Like many taxi drivers that morning, he first heard about the attack on the World Trade Center on the radio. He could not imagine that anything larger than a hobbyist pilot’s airplane had crashed into the north tower at 8:46 a.m.
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But then he turned onto the West Side Highway, several lanes of north-to-south traffic from which drivers can see the end of Manhattan. “I could see a huge hole in the north tower,” he remembers. It was American Airlines Flight 11. “And while I was sitting in traffic, I saw a ball of flame shoot out of the south tower.” That was United Airlines Flight 175, which crashed at 9:03 a.m.
Adler felt compelled to help. He was born on an Air Force base in Germany, but his father’s family traces their roots to New York City back to 1890, when Adler’s grandfather emigrated from Romania as an infant. In his early 50s, Adler knew he didn’t have the physical energy to volunteer at ground zero. Instead, he decided to volunteer his cab.
In the hours after the attacks, Matthew Daus, head of the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission, put out a call asking for drivers to transport volunteers, emergency responders, blood donors and others involved in reacting to the attacks. Adler was one of the drivers who lined up on Lexington Avenue outside of the National Guard armory to shuttle passengers free of charge.
Soon he relocated to Pier 94, where families of victims went to receive assistance in applying for death certificates, as well as other social services. More than a dozen agencies set up at the pier, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
For about a month, when the pier was open 24 hours a day, Adler arrived every day at 7 a.m. and stayed until 11 p.m. He continued to take passengers when the pier switched to a 12-hour schedule. Free of charge, he drove victims’ family members, Red Cross volunteers, cops – anyone who needed a ride. He estimates he took a half-dozen paid fares over two months. “I was upset like a lot of people,” Adler says. “There were a lot of people who tried to help out and I was just one of many.”
One of Adler’s most vivid memories is of a woman in sweat pants, clutching a manila envelope against her chest, who left the pier looking stunned. Adler offered the woman a ride to her home downtown. “She was sitting there dead quiet,” remembers Adler. “I felt obliged to say something. I said, ‘You lost somebody.’ ” It took her a moment, but she responded that she had lost her husband, brother, brother-in-law and several friends. She had also watched the attacks from the window of her apartment. “We both broke down crying.”
Adler still has difficulty explaining why he worked such long hours at the pier. “I really don’t have an answer for it,” he says, “but I knew I couldn’t stop it.”
The altruism devastated him financially. Adler paid for the taxi’s gas without reimbursement. After missed payments, the credit union threatened to foreclose on the loan for his medallion, the aluminum plate affixed to every cab in the city that permits drivers to pick up street hails.
“I went nearly completely broke,” says Adler. “I probably didn’t need to stay that long ... but they would just call and say, ‘We’ve got family members coming out.’ They wanted someone they could trust.”
Adler soon returned to picking up paid fares, but the taxi industry had suffered a severe blow to business. The Sept. 11 attacks led to a 50 percent drop in yellow cab fares through at least October 2001, says Alann Fromberg, deputy commissioner of public affairs for the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The sharp decline partly had to do with the closure of the financial district during the clean-up effort. The annual number of tourists, 35 million, also remained flat until 2003. Tourist spending dropped from $21.3 billion in 2000 to $18.5 billion in 2001 – and stayed flat until 2004, when it reached pre-Sept. 11 levels and increased to $24.3 billion.
Ten years later, the city’s tourism industry has more than recovered from the attacks. In 2010, 49 million people visited New York City and spent $31.5 billion. Fromberg says the commission does not track how many tourists take taxis, but he knows the drivers of the city’s 13,000 yellow cabs are the face of New York for many visitors.
“You could not meet a group of people who are more in tune with their clientele and more in tune with where their role puts them,” Fromberg says. “They take it seriously. You can just tell they actually care.”
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Rebecca Ruiz is a senior editor at msnbc.com. Follow her on Twitter.
Leave a Comment:
Want to know the difference between 9/11 and a cow?
People know when to stop milking a cow.
Yeah, seriously. Can we at least wait until 9/11 to see this? East-coast bias. People can actually move on. News agencies cannot.
You must be a member of some terrorist group I guess? I'd like to see you say that to someone who lost a family member face to face.
Joe B-'moving on' doesn't mean 'forget'. It means learning to handle a difficult situation in life, learning to hold onto memories without feeling like we want to quit and give up. So yes, people should move on, hold onto the memories of loved ones lost and keep living. But you know how it is: if news agencies didn't recognize 9/11 every year, they'd get just as much grief.
If you don't like it, don't read it. I have to go out of my way to avoid all the entertanment "news" about celebrities and sports teams.
It's foolish for someone to say that the people of 9/11 need to move on. I'm the furthest you can get from the east coast (California) and I still cry every year when I see articles, news reports and personal accounts of this tragic day. I was just in 6th grade ten years ago but perhaps even I understood what this day meant for the people of New York and for those around the world.
The news still reports the events of this day because it is still very much alive in the minds and hearts of Americans; lest we forget that the war that we are still fighting in the Middle East today, where our soliders are dying today and the reason our families are still being effected today are because of September 11, 2001. Just because Roger has forgotten what the events of that day stood and still continue to stand for in America doesn't mean the rest of the world has. You should be ashamed.
I wish more men were like him - putting their finances on the line to help others. So many people are all about, "MY money, ME, ME, ME."
You don't take that money with you when you die. You take your deeds, though, no matter what faith you are.
Very well said. The rewards associated with giving are amazing and tangible.
Your comment reminded me of a quote by Albert Pike. "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."
Featured article? Why?
Because good deeds deserve to be recognized.
WHY? because its almost the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and we need to remember
if you don't want to read it, then DONT.
The routine propaganda to sell the official fable. They are going through the motions. Let them.
"The routine propaganda to sell the official fable. They are going through the motions. Let them."
Do you have a more plausible scenario that names specifics, or just a bunch of questions because you don't understand engineering principles like most conspiracy theorists? The scenario that unfolded as witnessed by millions on 9/11 is the one that happened, not some vast conspiracy. Otherwise, wouldn't we have a new government with the same guy pulling the strings?
Continuing to repeat this garbage is also a dis-service to the families of those that were actually killed on 9/11. Grow up.
1500 architects and engineers have gone through the evidence of demolition. Stop YOUR garbage saying that that's a dis service to the families of the victims since they themselves are the ones who are requesting an investigation and have questioned the 9/11 commission from day 1. (The Jersey Widows as seen in 9/11 press for truth where the story of Randy Glass was disclosed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZEvA8BCoBw&feature=share (Video from Architects and Engineers for 9/11 truth)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EUpKmZ_W7E&feature=share (Commercial of remember building 7 that has army officials and Bob Macalvane, the father of one of the victims)
It's over shill!! Grow up!! People don't buy into war anymore.
i believe he said-INSIDE JOB
the 10th anniversity will be a party for the government for 10 years of wars
hell the first responders are not even welcome.wakeup america
Obama - Osama = BS
Do the math it's all right in front of you.
Um.....if I do that math Obama - Obama = 0. What are you talking about?
Joe B --- I think you need to read the post you are commenting on again =)
Mourning is so important and what people have and are still going through is beyond words ...
What I have a problem with ... is ... if you try to talk about the whys of 9/11 ... you are called unpatriotic.
This is why the country was so easily lead into a unjustified war ... and will be lead again in the future!
The individual in the lead photograph was "O.K", some. I put a youngster in the back of his cab and paid the driver to drive said youngster around while the kid was sleeping. It worked once, then the driver copped attitude as is always happening to Agents...
I think what the cab drivers in New York did was very noble. They knew that were not getting paid for it, but to them it was a selfless act. Those people should be honored just as much as the first responders for their acts of kindness. But what happened when everything was done? They were forgotten.
This story goes to show that all New Yorkers aren't as rude and mean spirited as many comedians, the media and some tourists make them out to be and that when it's on the line you can count on their citizens to have a heart as big as the big apple itself.
I am so glad this will pass the 10 year mark. The last big milking of this stupidity. I am so sick about hearing about this BS. It' wouldn't bother me so bad if you idiots had actually learned something from it other than how to make money off of it... or kill people people cause of it. You are no better than them, but you are too dumb to figure it out.
I was there, I was driving people free in my black town car! NOT THE YELLOWS!! Free in yellow cab?!!! Your name Moohamed, or Huseyn "You can just tell they actually care."who are you kidding man!!! Forgeeeet about it, big BS!!! It's all lies! Trying to be a hero?...ffff
I was there, too, and I saw plenty of yellow cabs -- along with black cars, liveries and even limos -- on the long line of cars queued up to give free rides to victims' families and volunteers at the Family Assistance Center at Pier 94. All due respect, I appreciate the service you provided, but on this issue, you're just wrong.
1500 architects and engineers have gone through the evidence of demolition. The families of the victims have questioned the 9/11 commission from day 1. (The Jersey Widows as seen in 9/11 press for truth where the story of Randy Glass was disclosed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZEvA8BCoBw&feature=share (Video from Architects and Engineers for 9/11 truth)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EUpKmZ_W7E&feature=share (Commercial of remember building 7 that has army officials and Bob Macalvane, the father of one of the victims)
Amazed people still believe in the conspiracy. Let me ask you this. If there really was a conspiracy, do you know how many people would have to be in on it? Thousands of people. You think an event like this could A> be coordinated well enough and B> actually be kept secret by enough people?
Why thousands?
First, you would need upper management. After all, they would be the ones to gain something. Then you need middle management to handle underlings. You would need financers, who pays the bills. Then you need accountants to keep track of the books. Internal auditors of said financing. Bankers that are willing to hide humongous sums of money and transfers of said money. Payoffs of tons of people to look away at the right time. you would need an additional level of support to make sure management can disavoy anything if someone gets caught. Cmon, you telling me you don't understand bureaucracy? Even conspiracy people have their own red tape.
Ok, let's look from the demo side. You need management again. Their own money men. Expert architects. Expert demolitions. Planning committee. Transportation. Security. People to install said demolitions of a compound that doesn't even exist yet. Maintenance men. Ability to install something so large and not have anyone notice. How many people in the world do you think even have knowledge of how to do all this?
Now let's from the hijacking side. You would need hijackers. You need all the control towers. You need all the government control towers too. You need airport security.
And now for the tough part. You need all these people to be complicit in a lie and also be willing to die to protect it, while being underpaid. You ask people to not be sheep and think for themselves. I ask you to do the same. I do believe in conspiracies, but 9/11 is definitely not one of them.
you don't need thousands of people. You need few people in key management positions. The rest of people follow the leader because of peer pressure and/or indirect conflict of interest or fear. The media that has vested interest in wars, has tried to suppress the info but as you see bit by bit it has come out.
It doesn't matter how many are involved. The evidence of demolition is there and that cannot be contested.
Al, and that's why the conspiracy people will always be shot down on this one. All the demolition stuff has already been debunked over and over. The supposed superthermite explosives used doesn't even exist yet. And let's say it does, then you only have maybe a half dozen people in the world who know how to use and install it. Yet you claim your few people mysteriously also happen to be the same exact people? And also have the money and can make all the connections? Why is it the conspiracy guys can't debunk their debunkers? I've seen tons of videos on both sides.
Of course, it matters how many are involved. The larger the scale of a secret and money, the harder it is to hide it. You obviously haven't had a secret to coverup. And while it's true, media is ok with the wars to draw ratings, they don't suppress anything because the coverup would be the biggest rating draw in history. You know how much money the media stands to make on a real conspiracy? And cmon, peer pressure? You would never be able to apply that against your supposed blackops individuals. They are the ones specifically trained to resist torture and outside effects.
Recently on Discovery Channel, there has been a very moving series presented by Chevrolet called "RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO". Catch it if you can, it's really amazing what is being done with the memorial and the rest of the trade center site.
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/the-rising/
Oh yeah, you're not a corporate troll.
America loves to party. It's like the year 2000 was not the start of a new century but it's a nice, round number and we are ready now! Yeah, the memorials are fun but don't question the official story. You may not want to see another attack but some people won't mind seeing another memorial built. It's so inspirational.
How can the media be so complicit and evil? I can't understand it. Is it trillions of dollars worth it to sacrifice the truth and millions of human lives in the altar of war? Apparently yes.
It makes me nauseous, but I least I know there are people who have the judgement and intellect that can help build a future without war.
It's very unlikely for things to change. People stick to their beliefs and are very emotional and prone to manipulation. It's a sad fact.
Yeah, it's like every TV station has to do some heartfelt 9/11 moment featuring its anchors with emotional music playing. They certainly aren't going to do stories about physics and explosions and....
So many touching stories...
Hey George and Dick.How many successful terrorist attacks have happened on President Obamas watch ??
Wow.....there are still doubters. I work in DC, i saw the plane hit the Pentagon, have a close friend who was in NY walking to work when both planes hit. But there are still people out there that just don't get it. This is our generations Pearl Harbor. No one who experienced even a small bit of this event will ever forget it.
There will always be conspiracy theorists, no amount of proof can sway everyone. I mean there are still those out there that think the earth was created in 7 days. But don't sit here and try and degrade people who lost loved ones on that tragic day because you have nothing better to do. If you don't like the memorial, i wont shed a tear if you don't visit it. If you don't like the programming on the television about 9/11 then change the channel.
Well said Shawn!
Who gained after 911, Govt! 911 in my opinion was an inside job! It was a classic false flag stand down attack. Govt got much bigger and took more of our rights and survail us Americans greater then at any other time in history. People are sheep! 911 just scared most of the American back to govt to fix the problem it created in the first place! Problem, reaction solution! Wake up people! You are free! Free to pay your taxes, free to listen to the govt, free to go to jail, free to lose your wealth from the Fed printing fiat currency at every increasing rates! The only real choices you have are Coke or Pepsi, Starbucks or Duncan Donuts, Bud or Miller beer!Turn off your sports and dancing with the stars and hours of mineless entertainment! Research for yourself, don't take my word for it!
While people are sheep, this wasn't an inside job. Why do you think the conspiracy guys have no answers for the debunk videos? They can only say prove I'm wrong. It gets proved and they still say the proof was wrong, but without any evidence.
Let me ask you this. If there really was a conspiracy, do you know how many people would have to be in on it? Thousands of people. You think an event like this could A> be coordinated well enough and B> actually be kept secret by everyone?
Wow just wow! How can you live in the United States and compare 9/11 to milking a cow!! I live in the midwest and wasn't close to New York or Washington or Pennsylvania that day but I still think about it everyday. I read these stories anytime I see them. What those people went through and what they have had to endure since then is heart wrenching. So many hero's that day. My guess is you consider a hero a baseball player, eh? You don't like these stories, then don't read them!
tc2 The people that usually take all of this "in stride?" were usually too young to remember that day or were at the age of "all about me" Old enough to remember but young enough that if it didn't effect them personally, it was an inconvenience because it interrupted their favorite TV programs. What I remember most about this time in history is how much we all came together as one united country. No one, not even the ignorant can take that away from us.
A conspiracy? You people must be high! I can blame our government for alot of things but 9/11 isn't even remotely one of them. Some very unintelligent people commenting here today.
Why is there always a drug reference when it comes to conspiracy stuff? Perhaps you can watch the video of the towers and explain how the floors are "pancaking." Or how the top floors are crushing the lower floors. Really, the only people left who support the official story are those who work for the government or those who have to justify their new metal legs.
How did the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City collapse? The reason drugs always come up because a rational, sober person wouldn't think our own government would or could pull something like this off, nor would they want to. Therefore I naturally assume that someone who has such irrational thoughts has got to be on something.