Public Advocate Bill de Blasio slammed the Bloomberg administration for obstructing efforts to gather and give out findings on the rate of cancer among cops who worked at Ground Zero, The Post has learned.
De Blasio, a Democrat eyeing a run for mayor in 2013, sent Mayor Bloomberg a scathing letter yesterday ripping his administration for stonewalling efforts by Mount Sinai School of Medicine to gather statistics on cancer-stricken cops for an ongoing study.
“I cannot understand your reluctance to address this pressing health crisis,” de Blasio said.
“It is our moral responsibility as a city to repay their sacrifice by providing the best possible medical treatment to anyone who sustained injuries or health problems.”
Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch added, “It is time to stop the obstruction and provide funds for treating cancers.”
The feds will determine by March 2 whether to include cancer in a list of ailments covered under the Zadroga Act for 9/11 first responders. The act was named for cop James Zadroga, who died after becoming sick working at Ground Zero.
Bloomberg spokeswoman Samantha Levine said the city has made “the health of 9/11 responders a priority.”
“The city published the first study on 9/11 and cancer and we are completing a second, which includes thousands of NYC police officers,” Levine said.