Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. Statement on Mayor Deblasio and Senator Schumer Build It Back Announcement

I WANT TO THANK MAYOR DEBLASIO AND SENATOR SCHUMER FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND INTENTIONS TO ASSIST MY CONSTITUENTS STILL RECOVERING FROM THE AFTERMATH AND DEVASTATION OF SUPERSTORM SANDY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR INVITING ME TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING CHANGES TO THE BUILD IT BACK PROGRAM.

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.

THE MAJOR AMENDMENTS TO THE BUILD IT BACK PROGRAM MADE WERE:

-AN IMPROVED, SIMPLIFIED PROCESS, SO THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CAN BE RECEIVED BY THE VICTIMS OF SANDY QUICKER.

-A NEW ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT THOSE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE WILL GET IT.

-ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HELP PRIORITY 1, 2 AND 3 HOMEOWNERS.

WHEN ADDRESSING THE ISSUES RELATED TO SANDY AND SEEKING TO ASSIST THOSE STILL SUFFERING FROM THE STORM, THE CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST SHOW THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT THAT POLITICS IS TO BE SET ASIDE AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESTORE THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES.