Letter from Will Rivera
9/11 Has Lasting Health Impacts
In 2015, while serving survivors of violence in Otsego County and caring for my newborn daughter, I was diagnosed with a 9/11-related cancer. I grew up just blocks from Ground Zero, and years after the attacks, the toxic air we breathed caught up with me. What I thought was a routine emergency room visit turned into a fight for my life: three years of chemotherapy, radiation and a stem-cell transplant.
What carried me through was my family and Oneonta. Neighbors brought food, checked on us, raised funds for medical costs and gave my family strength when we felt most alone. Their support taught me what community really means and reminded me that none of us makes it through hard times without one another.
As we reflect on the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, I hold in my heart the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day, along with the nearly 48,600 first responders and survivors now living with 9/11-related cancers. This represents a staggering 143 percent increase in cases over the last five years.
These individuals could be neighbors or family members of neighbors, all still carrying the weight of that day. Some rushed into dangerous situations to save lives, while others were simply living near Ground Zero and are now facing lifelong health struggles.
Honoring them requires more than remembrance. It means committing to care for those who continue to bear the weight of that day. It means ensuring that the necessary resources and funding are available for survivors who need them.
That experience changed me. It showed me how precious our time is and how much stronger we are when we stand together. It’s why I’ve devoted nearly two decades to supporting survivors, working families and communities too often ignored by people in power. It’s also why I’m running for town supervisor: to bring that same spirit of care, transparency and accountability to our local government.
Oneonta has given me a home, a community, and a second chance at life. I want to return that gift by making sure every neighbor feels seen, supported and valued.
Will Rivera
Oneonta
