dojA001693.xml

dojA001693.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-14

Friday, December 14, 2001 1:50 AM
Sept. 11 Compensation Fund

Special Master Kenneth R. Feinberg
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
U.S. Department of Justice

Dear Mr. Feinberg:

I am writing to ask you to carefully consider the way in which you
choose to administer the compensation to the families of all those who
died on September 11.
If you compensate based on lost wages, then the survivors of the
bond traders will receive millions, while the survivors of the janitors
will receive very little. But whose salary will be more sorely missed?
The bond trader probably had both the funds and the forethought to
insure him- or herself, while the janitor's family was probably living
paycheck to paycheck. I think it would be more fair to at least set a
minimum compensation level across the board, so that these glaring
inequities don't happen.
I also urge you to take into consideration that there will be
nontraditional families without a marriage license who nonetheless
deserve compensation for their loss. These include gay and lesbian
families who don't have the option of marriage, plus those who chose not
to formalize their relationships by legal means. The Red Cross and the
State of New York have chosen not to discriminate against these
families; I urge you at the Department of Justice to follow suit.
Thanks for listening. I look forward to seeing your actions in
handling this formidable responsibility.

Sincerely,

Individual Comment
Van Nuys, California

2001-12-14