City Lawmakers Want Feds To Reimburse Sandy-Devastated Homeowners
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Nearly six months after superstorm Sandy, some victims still haven't seen any of the funds promised to them.
Some New York lawmakers have now gotten involved on behalf of those residents they say have been shortchanged.
Elected officials are now calling on Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan to step in, hoping President Obama's appointments on Sandy recovery can get the city to use some federal funds to reimburse homeowners who've already paid for their repairs.
"Ask him to reject this portion of the Mayor's plan and include reimbursement for people who've laid out money," Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder told reporters including WCBS 880's Jim Smith.
City Lawmakers Want Feds To Reimburse Sandy-Devastated Homeowners
State Sen. James Sanders said the state already is including those reimbursements in its plans, creating some disparities for among victims.
"If you were right over an imaginary line called Nassau County or Jersey, for that matter, you'd have your money," Sanders said. "The people of Long Beach will be overseen by the state and the people of the Rockaways will be overseen by the city."
City Councilman Donovan Richards has also urged the city to change course.
"Reimburse homeowners, it is the right thing to do," Richards told Smith.
HUD and the mayor's offices did not return calls, but a Bloomberg spokeswoman previously told the New York Times the city's immediate focus is on those who have not been able to do the necessary work.
Please offer your comments below...
