Good Jobs New York logo
With a high volume of media coverage in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Good Jobs New York is keeping the spotlight on how government money is proposed to be spent in the rebuilding process. For more information on transparency and opportunities for community involvement, follow us on Twitter @GoodJobsNewYork #EyeOnSandyMoney. Also, let us know how we can adjust this alert to make it better 

 

Keeping an Eye on Hurricane Sandy Recovery Money 

Weekly News Round-up: May 1-8

 
In This Issue

 
Transparency Tip 
 
New York City submits quarterly reports to HUD on the actual spending of Community Development Block Grants in the five boroughs. See the Q1 2014 report here.

 

Like our weekly round-up? Please forward to a friend.
Join Our Mailing List
 
Have you heard?
 
Good Jobs New York launched a new Eye on Hurricane Sandy Money database to help boost transparency about how much and which government agencies have allocated Hurricane Sandy funds in New York City. 
 
Check it out - and tell us what you think!
Action Item
In response to recommendations from the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, the Small Business Administration is proposing an amendment to its disaster loan program regulations for disasters declared on or after April 25, 2014. Comments must be received by June 23, 2014. Find more information to submit comments, 
This Week's News
Disaster Relief

Many small business owners vented frustrations at yesterday's New York City Council joint oversight hearing on disaster relief business programs. Only 10 businesses have been approved to receive $2.76 million in aid through New York City's Hurricane Sandy Small Business Loan and Grant Program. Capital New York and Staten Island Advance 

  

ALSO: New York City Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer testified that part of the reason so few businesses have received relief aid is because the assistance is meant to be a last resort, after they have exhausted other sources. New York Daily News 

 

Less than a quarter of Sandy aid has been distributed in New Jersey, according to the state's most recent quarterly report to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Star-Ledger  

  

Gov. Cuomo is requesting approximately $37 million from the US Department of Agriculture Emergency Watershed Protection Program for the state's purchase of 77 properties in Staten Island to enhance the Staten Island Bluebelt wetland restoration adding to wetland area, returning the properties to natural wetland use. Staten Island Advance 

  

ALSO: Senator Schumer (D-NY) is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide additional funding to expand that Staten Island Bluebelt, a sustainable stormwater management system for a third of Staten Island.  

    

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began the second of two major beach replenishment projects on Rockaway Beach in Queens, as part of a $26 million contract paid for through Sandy disaster aid. Dredging Today  
Rebuilding Infrastructure and Resiliency
Aging transit tunnels under the Hudson river are an increasing concern since Sandy and since Gov. Christie decided to scrap the large-scale transit access publics works project known as ARC. Business Insider

ALSO: A new report from the Regional Plan Association details the effects of climate change on New York City's subway in light of the MTA's reliance on early-20th century technology. 

 

A federally mandated study on the effects of climate change in the U.S. found among many other things that the Eastern half of the U.S. is experiencing a dramatic increase in torrential rains, up 71 percent in the past 50 years. The New York Times 

  

A new proposal being considered by New York's Public Service Commission would decentralize electricity production, rely more on microgrids and small-scale renewable sources, and would provide back-up coverage during hurricanes or other black-out events. The New York Times 

  

Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced strategic gasoline reserves, one in New England and one in New York harbor, have been created, in response to the widespread gas shortages experienced in the aftermath of Sandy. Business Week 

  

Fuel Cell technology companies are gaining momentum with investors as growing number of corporations including hospitals, utilities and other institutions seek ways to supplement electricity during large storms. CNN Money 

  

Some construction experts in New Jersey are concerned that there may be discrepancies between federal and state guidelines for rebuilding homes in a flood plain, causing confusion for builders and homeowners. NJ Spotlight 

 

In addition to contaminated ground water, Long Island has numerous other environmental issues that were compounded by Sandy. Gov. Cuomo will be holding public meetings in the coming month to obtain input on improving Long Island's water management infrastructure. Huffington Post 

  

Can cities be held liable for failing to harden infrastructure from the effects of climate change? Particularly, for example, when the city has laid out plans for resiliency that it doesn't implement? University of Pennsylvania's RegBlog 

  

Anticipating that future flooding will cost the City of New York $174 million a year, a new report from the University of Amsterdam recommends adding a $10 surcharge to tourists to pay for flooding protection measures.  Forbes 
Housing

Though it pledges to prioritize sustainability, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's recent housing plan includes building and preserving affordable housing units located in a floodplain. The Gotham Gazette  

  

Mayor de Blasio announced intentions to launch a consumer education campaign to help New Yorkers understand the rising costs of flood insurance. Staten Island Advance  

 

ALSO: As part of the consumer education program, the City will launch two studies to understand the impact of the rising cost of insurance on New Yorkers and the the expanded floodplain as determined by revised FEMA maps.Black Star News 

 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development on reviewing New Jersey's Action Plan for use of federal CDBG funds, issued a series of recommendations for the state to follow to extend the reach of housing recovery programs. The Star-Ledger  

  

Recent flooding in homes and basements in Howard Beach and Lindenwood, Queens neighborhoods may have been exacerbated by residual sludge and debris left from Hurricane Sandy. ABC Local  and Inhabitat

 

ALSO: Long-Term Recovery Organizations in Staten Island are active in helping families, already burdened by damage to homes from Sandy, now seek assistance after recent flooding. Damage should be reported to the New York City Office of Emergency Management which may then qualify for federal disaster assistance. Staten Island Advance 
Events
List your upcoming event here! Email elizabeth@goodjobsfirst.org

  

Deadline extended

A six month extension has been approved to file a Standard Flood Insurance Policy Proof of Loss claim for the National Flood Insurance Program due to Sandy. With the extension, claims may now be filed up to 24 months after the date of loss. See the memo from FEMA.

 

Upcoming Deadlines

New York small businesses affected by recent excessive rain and related flooding have until Monday, June 2 to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans up to $2 million. See Small Business Administration press release

Tuesday, June 3: CDBG-DR Affordability Study on Multifamily Flood Insurance Request for Proposals is due to NYCEDC.  

  

Regional Events

Ongoing, citywide: New York Free Disaster Assistance Legal Clinics.

   

Thursday, May 15, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Superstorm Sandy Free Legal Clinic from the Volunteer Lawyers for Justice. Recovery Information Center, Moonachie Presbyterian Church, 221 Moonachie Road, Moonachie, NJ 07074.   
 
Friday, May 23, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. - Flood Resilient Code. Part of the Enterprise Community Partners 2014 Resiliency Speakers Series of panel presentations exploring long-term recovery challenges and opportunities for the multifamily affordable housing infrastructure in New York City and the surrounding region in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.  

  

Brooklyn

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10:00-3:00: Jubilee Legal Clinic, Coney Island Gospel Assembly, 2828 Neptune Avenue. Visit website for additional hours and information including income requirements.

  

Queens

Tuesday, May 20, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer holds a  Sandy Oversight Hearing, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 348 Beach 71st Street, Averne, NY 11692

  

Staten Island

Wednesday, May 28, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer holds a Sandy Oversight Hearing, Saint Margaret Mary Olympia Activity Center, 1126 Olympia Blvd., Staten Island, 10306 United States

Advocacy Reports
New York League of Conservation Voters Three Point Action Plan to address New York City's most pressing environmental and resiliency challenges
 
Natural Resources Defense Council: Preparing for Climate Change: Lessons Learned for Coastal Cities from Hurricane Sandy. This report analyzes FEMA flood maps to reveal that the maps did not account for 65% of the area that was actually inundated by Sandy.  
 
New York City Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters: The 2014 Rebuild Environment: NYC Voluntary Rebuild Capacity Assessment report; a comprehensive assessment of the NYC voluntary sector's rebuild capacity in response to Superstorm Sandy. 

  

 
 
Future-Proofing Cities: A report from the U.K. Department for International Development and University College London looking at the risks and opportunities for inclusive urban growth in developing countries. 129 cities, 5 urban types and over 100 practical solutions, statistics and analysis.  
 
Field Guide Set & Trainings For Engaging Faith Communities from the National Disaster Interfaiths Network
 
The International Economic Development Council released Case Studies in Small Business Finance Following a Disaster, a report of six case studies of effective long-term economic recovery efforts of disaster-affected communities. 
 
 
  
 
Ceres report: Cool Response: The SEC & Corporate Climate Change Reporting: SEC Climate Guidance & S&P 500 Reporting - 2010 to 2013.
 
Brooklyn Communities Speak: An Action Guide for Local Decision-Makers Post Sandy. This report from the Brooklyn Community Fund and coalition partners analyzes conditions in six coastal Brooklyn neighborhoods post-Sandy, with recommendations for government agencies on how to address persistent recovery challenges while building resiliency in partnership with local communities. 

  

  

Superstorm Research Lab: A Tale of Two Sandys. This whitepaper, based on interviews with a broad range of Sandy-impacted individuals and aid organizations in New York City, sheds light on the inequalities entwined with Sandy's aftermath and recommendations for addressing inequality.

New York City VOAD Volunteer and Construction Committee Resource Guide: This list includes voluntary organizations providing rebuild services in New York City.

New report from the Municipal Art Society: All hands on deck: Mobilizing New Yorkers for a Livable and Resilient New York  

  

New Jersey's Fair Share Housing Center documents its concerns that African Americans and Latinos are being rejected from Sandy relief at higher rates than Caucasians. Fair Share Housing Center Blog

  

Parsons Brinckerhoff produces The Sandy Disaster Awareness Report, a summary of key developments and funding priorities in the region affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Day Labor, Worker Centers & Disaster Relief Work in the Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. This report discusses the challenges that workers faced during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the role that worker centers played to protect the health and safety of workers in New York and New Jersey.
 
Hurricane Sandy Fall 2013 Update: FEMA Assistance Analysis. Enterprise Community Partners examines the level of need and the response efforts in New York and New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy. This brief includes data related to FEMA inspections of those who registered for assistance and the amount that had been awarded to those with assessed damage. 

Hurricane Sandy: Housing Needs One Year Later. Enterprise Community Partners provides a summary of early findings from a survey of storm victims to measure the ongoing impact of Hurricane Sandy, one year after the storm.
 
For more advocacy resources, visit Good Jobs New York's Keeping an Eye on Hurricane Sandy Recovery Money

  

Federal, State & Local Resources
 
One City, Rebuilding Together: A Report on the City of New York's Response to Hurricane Sandy and the Path Forward. 
 
The Program Management Office of the Hurricane Sandy Task Force released its monthly report [pdf] on how 19 federal agencies have so far spent funding from the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013.

 

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides an assessment of state and local health emergency preparedness, including an evaluation of the response to Hurricane Sandy.

 

Online briefings from World Care Centers on disaster volunteer training for communities.
 
Information on New York City's Community Emergency Response Teams [pdf], along with an application for their 10-week training program.  
 

The Brooklyn Recovery Fund has compiled this guide to navigating the public comment process for city and state CDBG action plans. 


Crowdsourcing ideas for FEMA - Help FEMA plan for disasters. Join and submit your ideas to their crowd-sourced feedback community and vote on others' ideas.  

  

New York Rising Year End Report. Includes accounting of mass transit investment, reform of Long Island Power Authority, and projected storm recovery and rebuilding costs.   

 

The US Army Corps of Engineers released its Hurricane Sandy Coastal Projects Evaluation Study

 

A helpful visual guide to the agencies and key decision-makers distributing federal disaster relief funds.  

  

New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program Community Mapping project has posted interactive online maps for six New York Rising communities in New York City. The public is encouraged to provide feedback on their community's plan.  Final Community Reconstruction Plans are due by March 31, 2014. 

  

FEMA has released its preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs); see also FEMA's guide of Frequently Asked Questions on the new maps.

  

The New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs Hurricane Sandy Immigrant Outreach Initiative Report on efforts to address the needs of immigrant New Yorkers impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

    

The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City (a private 501-c3) released an update of how the funds it raised for Sandy aid has been allocated.  

 

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce released a Disaster Preparedness Checklist for small businesses.
 
Next City, a weekly urban affairs publication, is launching a new the Resilient Cities series, which will focus on preparation and resiliency planning for disasters in urban areas around the world.

  

FEMA's Hurricane Sandy: One Year Later provides updates on recovery efforts, a timeline and other resources.

  

  

ALSO: Good Jobs New York provides a critique of the federal Task Force recommendations in a three-part blog series. 

  

Hurricane Sandy: An Assessment of Impacted Commercial Corridors and Recommendations for Revitalization [pdf]. This report by the New York City Department of Small Business Services and the New York City Economic Development Corporation provides an assessment of commercial corridors in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, and Queens.  
 
For more resources, visit Good Jobs New York's 
We'd love to hear from you!
Check out our resources on Hurricane Sandy money at our website. Or follow us on Twitter: @GoodJobsNewYork #EyeOnSandyMoney. Please forward your suggestions on how we can make this round-up more useful to you in your work.
Contact us
Good Jobs New York
11 Park Place, #701
New York, New York 10007
212-721-7996
www.goodjobsny.org


Copyright © 20XX. All Rights Reserved.