U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, center; Mayor Bill de Blasio, second from right; City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and others, announce at the Seaside Library in Rockaway on Saturday changes to the city’s Hurricane Sandy aid programs. Photo courtesy NYC Mayor’s Office
Following a promise from Mayor de Blasio and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Saturday that the city’s newly appointed Hurricane Sandy recovery team would oversee a sweeping overhaul of the rebuilding process, Queens residents had one thing to say: Put your money where your mouth is.
“I hope we all get help – I really hope we all get help, but I don’t think they’re going to do what they say they’re going to do,” said Ed Phillips, who still has not been able to rebuild his Broad Channel home that was wiped out during Hurricane Sandy more than 17 months ago. “…There are so many empty houses here in Broad Channel. People are walking away; people are selling their houses. Some people are doing what I’m doing – holding onto a little bit of hope that help will come.”
That frustration – mixed with the tiniest seed of optimism – is widespread throughout South Queens and Rockaway, not to mention much of South Brooklyn and Staten Island, where residents said they have been strangled by countless amounts of bureaucratic red tape that have prevented them from moving back in their homes destroyed in Sandy – and for which they are still paying mortgages.
De Blasio, Schumer and a number of other officials vowed at a press conference held Saturday at Rockaway’s Seaside Library that the city will reallocate $100 million to fund the rebuilding of all homes destroyed during Sandy. Currently, many homeowners have been told by the city’s Build It Back program – set up by Mayor Bloomberg to help Sandy victims rebuild – that they make too much money to qualify as a priority for receiving aid from the program. Such a pronouncement has left many working- and middle-class families financially reeling after they have had to do everything from take out large loans to dip into retirement and college savings accounts to fund their rebuilding efforts. Others yet have not been able to rebuild at all, such as Phillips, and have been left to live with friends and family – or in a rented apartment or house, adding onto ever-growing bills for those who often feel as though they’re hemorrhaging money.
“Since day one, my administration has prioritized the fast and efficient deliver or relief to affected families, and now we begin to see results,” de Blasio said. “Construction has started, the first checks are on the way, and we are making immediate policy and staff changes to further expedite and streamline the process – so that New Yorkers get the help they need now.”
After a number of high-profile leaders of the city’s Sandy aid effort left in recent months, de Blasio announced Saturday he has appointed a new slate of individuals to lead the recovery and rebuilding process: Bill Goldstein will serve as senior advisor for Recovery, Resiliency, and Infrastructure; Amy Peterson has been tapped to be the director of the Housing Recovery Office; and Daniel Zarrilli was appointed director of the new Office of Recovery and Resiliency.
The three take over at a time when those impacted by Sandy have said they have essentially lost all faith that the city will ever help them.
“I could talk about all of this for days,” Phillips, who grew up in Broad Channel, said in reference to the problems he and his family have faced since Sandy. “This has been an ongoing nightmare.”
In addition to reallocating $100 million for rebuilding, de Blasio said he will boost Housing Recovery Office staff by 35 percent – to about 105 staff members – to allow residents to more quickly move through the rebuilding process. The mayor also promised to eliminate permit and procedural bottlenecks that have slowed repairs and rebuilding – for example, he said outstanding Department of Buildings permits that have prevented individuals from moving forward will be cleared.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), who attended Saturday’s event, praised the mayor for his efforts.
“The most important step was to acknowledge that the Build It Back program was not working for most of my constituents throughout Howard Beach, Hamilton Beach, Broad Channel, Rockaway, and Breezy Point, and that changes were necessary,” Addabbo said.
Ed Phillips stands in front of the site where his house once stood in Broad Channel. He and his family have been unable to move back into their home in part because they said they are being strangled by bureaucratic red tape from the city. Photo courtesy Ed Phillips
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