Syosset Residents React to Bin Laden's Death

Syosset residents called the news of Osama bin Laden’s death on Sunday long overdue, though they also struggle with loose ends in official reports and fears of retaliation after the announcement. 

Alex Kogen, a commuter at the Syosset LIRR station, was in high school during the attacks and remembers the police coming to his neighbor’s house right after 9/11 to tell the kids that their father had died. Now a city commuter himself, Kogen said that the fear of another attack is always there and today was just another reminder. 

“It’s great that we finally got him but I’m obviously a little nervous about retaliation," Kogen said. "Though I definitely feel like there’s closure, especially being in New York my entire life."

Cab driver and 35-year Syosset resident Sam Weis lost friends in the 9/11 attacks and echoed Kogen’s opinion.

“I’m very happy it happened but I’m very scared now because God knows what’s going to happen next; are they going to retaliate?" Weis said. "I’m from Israel so I understand the whole situation very well, but I’m afraid.”

Many residents are also uncomfortable with the loose ends left in bin Laden’s official death story and the 10 years it took to get there. 

Outside of the Syosset , a resident named Steve, who declined to give his last name, said he was suspicious of the government's swift disposal of the body.

“I really don’t think they would have a reason to lie about that, I just find it hard to believe that they took the body," he said. "Are they going to disclose any pictures or DNA evidence? You don’t think that it’s possible that he may still be alive and that the government is taking him to some undisclosed area where they may be attempting to pump him for information?” 

The story doesn’t sit well with Joanne Cimino of Syosset, either. In Cimino, who lost her cousin in the 9/11 attacks, explained that she is very happy to hear of bin Laden’s death but also feels it’s long overdue.

“There’s a part of me that feels like it could have been done earlier but for political reasons it wasn’t; so I’m skeptical about why they waited until now," Cimino said. "I think that Obama could’ve done it sooner but wanted to wait until closer to the election because he was losing his popularity and now this is going to boost it.”    

Regina Nichols of Laurel Hollow was also unsettled by the circumstances of bin Laden’s death. 

“I heard on the news that they disposed the body in the sea and I was very disturbed by that because the body should be available for people who have suspicions about whether the story is true," Nichols said. "The world should see him and make sure it’s him and not that we’re sweeping something under the rug."

La Bottega owner Anthony St. George said his iPhone woke him up last night with a news alert of bin Laden’s death. 

“I was very excited this morning," St. George said. "It’s just a little closure on the whole situation but I know we have a long way to go.”