The point was that he didn't. He pointed out that despite the most horrific terrorist attack on American soil NYers showed they were not victims. They got up and dealt with it with courage and dignity. A few of the liberal types tried to get big payouts; there are always a few losers to add a sour note.
NY pays its way. NY send lots more to the Feds in taxes than they get in benefits and there are whole swaths of the Nation where the reverse is the case.
And they got lots of payments. Congress bent all the way over.