Breathing masks, long commutes – back to work in Manhattan's financial district

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK – From brokerages to bodegas, lower Manhattan returned to work Monday, or at least tried to. Some of the sights and sounds in and around downtown:

Smoke still rose from the rubble, but church bells pealed. From loudspeakers in a bank building, the national anthem blared. Storefronts remained caked with ash. Army troops in camouflage fatigues patrolled the streets of downtown. Police officers wore rubber breathing masks.

Red Cross volunteers distributed fliers telling what to expect in this time of uncertainty: flashbacks; feelings of guilt and helplessness; weeping; temper tantrums.

"Whenever possible, remember that you are still free and that there is still beauty in the world," the flier said. "It's OK to smile."

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Richard Sweeney and James Gallagher, executives with the Dresdner, Kleinwort, Wasserstein brokerage, stood outside waiting for the stock exchange to open.

"I told my people to wear jeans because I didn't know what the streets would be like," Gallagher said.

Sweeney, wearing dungarees and a sports jacket, said he usually makes it to work in 25 minutes on an express bus from the Upper East Side. On Monday, it took two hours – via two buses, a subway train and a blocks-long walk.

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Chief Administrative Judge Jacqueline Silberman addressed workers assembled in the rotunda of a state courthouse.

"The justice system will be up and functioning," she said. "I want you to give each other a big hug."

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Arthur Stern, who works for a property management firm at 60 Broad Street, stopped to watch the passing parade of brokers, lawyers, traders and financial analysts.

"Isn't it impressive to see people trying to get their lives back?" he said.

Gerard Joseph, a messenger for the brokerage of Purcell, Graham Inc., reported for work only to find his office was closed because of power outages in the area. Joseph needs his job; he hasn't been able to pay the rent on his Brooklyn home.

"I've got to go back to work," he said. "I have to pick up my check from last Thursday."

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Arab-American Ashraf Yacoub reopened his restaurant in the financial district for the first time since last week's attacks. The morning rush was 18 people, far below the usual 100.

Asked if he had been harassed because of his ethnicity, Yacoub replied: "All my neighbors, all the people on Wall Street, are smart enough to know that not all people of Middle Eastern descent are hateful and vicious toward the U.S."

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A vacationing Derek Murray, 43, of Newfoundland, Canada, joined five family members to watch recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site.

His 9-year-old niece stood on a fire hydrant and watched the scene through binoculars as the others – wearing breathing masks – put their arms around each another.

"Seeing is believing," Murray said. "The images will entice me to fight more for America because they are our protectors."

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