dojA001565.xml

dojA001565.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-13

Thursday, December 13, 2001 3:01 PM
Distribution of the victims compensation funds

Special Master Kenneth R. Feinberg
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530

To Mr. Feinberg:

I am writing to urge you to ensure fair treatment for all surviving families
of the tragedy on September 11th, including the children and families of
low-wage workers and gay and lesbian families. As an attorney with offices
just five blocks from the WTC site, I have offered pro bono advice to some
of those who have lost loved ones in the terrorist attack. I hope that you
take my comments in the spirit in which they are offered.

Under traditional rules based on lost wages, the survivors of a bond trader
earning millions of dollars per year might receive thousands of times as
much compensation as the survivors of a dishwasher in one of the restaurants
destroyed. Justice requires looking far beyond the last paycheck to the
inherent worth of all those killed, so that a high minimum compensation
level is set to lessen the disparities. It would be a double blow to the
survivors to first lose their loved one and then watch as most of the
taxpayer money went to those who were already better off in the first place.

The second major issue has to do with recognizing the legitimacy of gay and
lesbian relationships and families. Gay and lesbian families are specially
vulnerable when one partner is killed. Because the option of arriage is
unavailable, these families may find themselves in the traumatic predicament
of having to prove that their union is legitimate. Fortunately, both the Red
Cross and the State of New York have already announced that they will not
discriminate against gay and lesbian families. The Department of Justice
should do the same.

Thank you for considering my comments. I look forward to hearing how you
will act on these very important issues.

Sincerely,
Individual Comment

2001-12-13