WTC first responders react to revised settlement

Glen Klein, 51, Centereach

Occupation at the time: NYPD, Emergency Services Unit. Now on disability.

How long at Ground Zero: He said he spent 700 to 800 hours there, from the day of the attack until June 2002.

Ailments: Respiratory, gastrointestinal, post-traumatic stress disorder. Klein lost 14 friends from the ESU unit and two others that day. He said he is getting treatment at the Long Island World Trade Center Monitoring and Treatment Program in Islandia.

What he thinks of the revised settlement: "Looks like the only ones that will benefit are those who are severely ill right now. Someone who needs a lung transplant, for instance. But what happens if you take the settlement now and you become progressively worse, and at the time you didn't get such a big settlement? I want to make sure my family will be taken care of."

- STACEY ALTHERR

Peter Ioveno, 63, Cutchogue

Occupation at the time: FDNY lieutenant, Engine Co. 231. Retired on disability.

How long at Ground Zero: Ioveno was among the first responders to the World Trade Center attack and stayed there until Sept. 13, searching sinkholes for survivors.

Ailments: Ioveno said he tore the rotator cuff muscle in his shoulder while searching for survivors but did not know it at the time and continued the search with that damaged muscle. He has been receiving physical therapy treatment at North Fork Physical Therapy in Cutchogue.

What he thinks of revised settlement: Ioveno said he can't decide if he supports the revised settlement because he wants to see what's in the proposal. "There are people who have respiratory problems that probably need that money more than anyone else," he said, and added later, "I don't want people to forget people who haven't been diagnosed yet."

- LUIS GRONDA

Keith Delmar, 35, Farmingville

Occupation at the time: FDNY firefighter, Engine Co. 63. Now on disability.

How long at Ground Zero: He said he responded to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 and was at Ground Zero for four months, plus another month at the Fresh Kills landfill.

Ailments: He retired because of a range of ailments, he said, including respiratory problems such as asthma and acid reflux. He is getting treatment at The World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program.

What he thinks of the proposed settlement: "This latest settlement is still not enough; it's almost like a sham. The city is trying to wash their hands of all of this. Mayor Bloomberg comes out and says it's a fair deal, but he doesn't care - he's got billions."

- DAVE MARCUS

Kenny Specht, 41, Levittown

Occupation at the time: FDNY firefighter, Engine Co. 289. Now on disability.

How long at Ground Zero: He said he arrived on the afternoon of Sept. 11 and spent most days there for several weeks.

Ailments: In 2007, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He said his private insurance covers the treatment for his cancer and asthma. He is being treated at Winthrop-University Hospital.

What he thinks of the proposed settlement: "This is just another settlement that works in the favor of the lawyers. It's a shell game. They're trying to trick us with used-car-dealer facts here. Congress has a bill that caps lawyers' payments at 10 percent, but this one would put it at 25 percent - and that's less than the current rate, which is just over 33 percent."

- DAVE MARCUS