After the tragedy, New Yorkers are more united than ever in their vision, as well as in appreciation what living in freedom means - and that if we stand together, we can accomplish anything.

In this statement Pataki frames a “tragedy” as a civic turning point: shock and loss are presented as producing renewed solidarity among New Yorkers. The emphasis on “living in freedom” links local resilience to a broader American political ideal, implying that the community’s unity is not only emotional but principled. The closing claim—“if we stand together, we can accomplish anything”—is a familiar rhetorical move in crisis leadership, meant to convert grief into resolve and collective action. Read this way, the quote functions less as a factual report than as morale-building language that encourages perseverance, mutual support, and confidence in recovery.