A quarter-century later, New Yorkers say the 9/11 attacks changed them forever.
They now look back with more sorrow than anger.
More than 3 in 4 registered voters in a new Suffolk University survey, 77%, say they still feel the impact on their life and attitudes from the clear, crisp day in 2001 that saw the worst terror attack in U.S. history. Even a 51% majority of those now 18 to 34 years old say it has affected them permanently, though the oldest of them were just 9 then and the youngest hadn't been born yet.
“A quarter-century later, the scar left on New York City hasn't faded into the background,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “The data shows that for an overwhelming majority of residents,
the emotional and psychological gravity of that day continues to shape their everyday attitudes and outlook on life.”
The poll of 500 registered voters in the five boroughs finds the memory fresh in their minds.
Americans across the country remember that day, of course. A national online poll taken in August by You/Gov found 75% of those surveyed − including 90% of those 30 and older − remembered where they were when they heard about the attacks. Close to two-thirds said the attacks changed the United States "completely."
The poignant power of the city where it happened
But the impact on the place where it happened − on the city whose firefighters and police officers were on the front line of first responders, and where solemn commemorations have been held ever since − has been particularly powerful and poignant.
Close to 3 in 10 of the New Yorkers say they think about the 9/11 attacks often or even every day. Fewer than 1 in 5 say they think about them "almost never."
The poll, taken by landline and cell phone Sept. 1-3, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
An overwhelming 7 in 10 said they felt mostly "sorrow" when they thought about the attacks. An additional 20% felt anger.
On that, there was a partisan divide. Republicans were more than twice as likely to say they felt "anger" than Democrats were, 38%-15%.
When it comes to the ceremony at Ground Zero on Friday's anniversary, an issue that has stirred some controversy, New Yorkers have definite views on what should happen.
Mamdani there? Yes. Trump speak? No.
Thousands of people, including some relatives of 9/11 victims, have signed an online petition to bar Mayor Zohran Mamdanifrom the commemoration, citing what they call his political associations and policy positions. But by 74%-20%, the New Yorkers surveyed said he should attend.
Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, says he will be there to "proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific attack by standing alongside them."
And while President Donald Trump reportedly wanted to speak at the ceremony, by 74%-20% those surveyed said the tradition of inviting elected officials but not having them speak should continue.
Former Presidents Joe Biden, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are expected to attend, but Trump is sending Vice President JD Vance to the New York ceremony while he'll attend one at the Pentagon, which was also struck on that day.
New Yorkers are inclined to feel that living and working in the city is safer now compared with previous years; 46% say it's gotten safer and 28% less safe, while 18% say it's about the same.
Even so, there is significant fear of another major attack over the next decade.
By 50% to 42%, they predict there will be one over the next decade.
Susan Page, the Washington Bureau chief of USA TODAY, was on a plane to New York from Washington when she heard the Twin Towers had been hit.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Look back in sorrow: NYers say 9/11 changed them forever − Poll
