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Fair Residents feel shortchanged by NY Rising
City asks for added funding for homeowners
Long Beach officials are working on behalf of residents who are fighting for money from NY Rising, the state agency tasked with distributing federal grants for Hurricane Sandy victims.
The agency has been plagued with problems since it was formed almost a year ago. While residents continue to voice their frustration with the complexity of the program, its seemingly unaccountable bureaucracy and the small grant awards, NY Rising officials say they are working to improve the program and provide residents the resources they need to get back into their homes.
City Manager Jack Schnirman wrote a letter to John Kaiman, special advisor to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for storm recovery on Long Island, on Feb. 7, asking him to consider adding money to residents’ awards, specifically for unexpected costs. Schnirman wrote that, because of problems with the soil in Long Beach after the storm, a soil boring is now required before a home is elevated or any new foundation is built. Depending on the results, helical piles, which are designed to stabilize a foundation on unstable soil, may be necessary.
Schnirman said that NY Rising is currently not including the cost of the test or the piles in its estimates. The soil test costs about $1,000, he said, and residents who need helical piles say that contractor have estimated their cost at about $1,000 each, with many homes needing more than 20. “Our residents deserve to live in safe new homes without being burdened by these additional costs,” Schnirman said.
Kaiman said that NY Rising has taken steps to help cover such unforeseen costs. For homeowners who are demolishing and rebuilding their homes, an additional $25,000 to cover site conditions will be added to their award upfront. If they need more money, Kaiman said, homeowners will have to have design professional make the case for additional funding.
For homeowners who are repairing and elevating existing structures, Kaiman said, the agency will have to figure out how that money would be added to their award.
