Mayor Bloomberg Discusses Progress Made in Hurricane Sandy Recovery in Weekly Radio Address

October 13, 2013

The following is the text of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, October 13, 2013.

“Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

“It’s been nearly 12 months since Hurricane Sandy hit New York City – and during that time, we’ve helped New Yorkers make enormous recovery progress. We’ve completed or begun more than $1 billion in City reconstruction projects, including at schools, hospitals and public housing damaged by Sandy. Our innovative Rapid Repairs program got the lights and heat back on for 54,000 New Yorkers, so they could get back in their homes as quickly as possible. Along with private partners, we’ve provided recovery loans and grants to more than 650 businesses. We got all our beaches open in time for summer – and we’re continuing to rebuild damaged boardwalks, and, along with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, replenish beaches that the storm eroded.

“Now our “NYC Build It Back” program is also helping New Yorkers whose homes Sandy damaged or destroyed. Since the initiative began during the summer, nearly 24,000 people have signed up with NYC Build It Back – and our “housing recovery specialists” are working to help those New Yorkers return to safe and sustainable homes. In most cases, that will mean assistance with repairing or rebuilding their homes, or with recovering out-of-pocket repair expenses they’re eligible to claim. And in some cases, depending on a range of factors, the City may acquire damaged properties, with the idea of redeveloping them in a more resilient way, or selling them.

“Last week, in fact, we acquired the first such property, in Staten Island’s Tottenville community. Tragically, its owner lost her husband and daughter, as well as her home, to Sandy’s storm surge. Now, with help from NYC Build It Back, she plans to buy a new Staten Island home. It’s enormously satisfying to join neighbors and friends who’ve stood by her for the past year, and help her as well – in a way that also meets our commitment to making New York more resilient, now and in the future.

“If you’re a homeowner or renter whose primary residence in our city was damaged by Hurricane Sandy – or if you’re a landlord whose property was damaged by the storm – you have until October 31st to register for NYC Build It Back help. For more information, including the location of the six NYC Build It Back centers around the city, call 311. Or go to nyc.gov and link to “NYC Build It Back.”

“NYC Build It Back is funded with Federal Sandy recovery money that Congress approved earlier this year. As I warned last week, an extended Federal government shutdown could severely slow our ability to get that help to all the people who need it. Unfortunately, there are thousands of New Yorkers affected by Sandy who are still struggling to get their lives back on track. We’re doing all we possibly can to assist them – and it would really help if Washington continued to do its part, too.

“This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks for listening.”

Contact:

Marc La Vorgna (212) 788-2958