Pelham Residents say bin Laden’s Death is ‘Bittersweet’

While Pelham residents said they felt bolstered by news that Osama bin Laden had been killed, many admitted that they don’t feel any safer because of it.

Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden—who orchestrated the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and four commercial airplanes—was killed in Pakistan in a firefight with U.S. troops, President Barack Obama announced late Sunday night. Although locals here were heartened by the news, they said they still feel just as concerned about potential attacks.

“I think for the families, there’s some closure. But I think it’s bittersweet,” said Michelle Baylock whose daughter lives in Pelham. “It stops the person who created that havoc on September 11, but it keeps us aware that these problems still exist.”

Firefighters here agree that the news is not cause for breathing easy just yet.

“It’s good news, but terrorism is always a threat,” remarked Lt. Julian Kaiser of the Pelham Fire Department. “In a way, I don’t see much changing.

Kaiser’s force was directly impacted by the 9/11 attacks when it lost one of its own members—Lt. Joseph Leavey.

Though terrorism is still a major concern for Pelhamites and local law enforcement officials, some agree that justice has somewhat been served now that Bin Laden is dead.

“I think it’s great. It’s about time they finally got him,” said Pelham resident Ted Kaiser. Kaiser was an elementary school student when the September 11 attacks took place and a number of his friends lost their parents that day. “For some of those families…I know that they were just ecstatic, it’s almost a relief that he’s gone.”