Homeless to be counted on Weds Jan 24

photo courtesy of Minister Steven Brigham

A team of trained volunteers and Monmouth County employees will be in Asbury Park, Freehold, Keansburg and Red Bank on Wednesday, January 24 to conduct the County’s NJ Counts 2018 survey of citizens without a permanent residence and those at risk for becoming homeless.  The point in time survey is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual effort to get an accurate snapshot of the homeless in America.

The surveys will be conducted at the following locations:

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Congressman Chris Smith’s Bill Would Allow Sandy SBA Loans To Be Paid Off By HUD Grants

Congressman Chris Smith and Monmouth County Shaun Golden prepare to survey Hurricane Sandy damage. November, 2012

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ4) introduced legislation yesterday that, if enacted, would allow Superstorm Sandy victims who borrowed from the Small Business Administration to fund the rebuilding to their homes and businesses to repay those loans with the proceeds of grants from the federal department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Equity for Disaster Victims Act, co-sponsored by Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY),  would correct a con perpetrated by the government on Sandy victims in the aftermath of the strom and reform the federal government’s disaster relief programs to ensure fairness and flexibility.

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Is Christie or Obama to blame for N.J. getting so little Sandy aid?

WASHINGTON — New Jersey’s U.S. House delegation split along party lines in questioning whether Gov. Chris Christie or the Obama administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development was at fault for the state getting just $15 million of a $1 billion program carved out of funds originally earmarked for Hurricane Sandy aid. The six Democratic lawmakers… Read the rest of this entry »

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N.J. delegation wants to know why state got so little Sandy aid

WASHINGTON — Members of the New Jersey delegation want to ask U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro why their state got just $15 million in disaster preparedness funds under a program funded in the Hurricane Sandy aid bill. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.), who arranged a meeting last March with Federal Emergency Management… Read the rest of this entry »

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Why did N.J. miss out on $300M in federal Hurricane Sandy aid?

WASHINGTON — New Jersey got only $15 million of the $326 million requested in disaster relief under a program funded in the Hurricane Sandy aid package in part because the state submitted “a weaker application,” a top federal official said Thursday. The award, announced Thursday by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro at an event… Read the rest of this entry »

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Why New Jersey Got Billions Less Than New York in FEMA Disaster Aid After Sandy

In the two-and-a-half years since Superstorm Sandy, while the Garden State has struggled to recover, many people have puzzled over the question of why New Jersey has received substantially less federal aid than New York, even though both states suffered roughly the same amount of damage — close to $37 billion. Much of the focus has… Read the rest of this entry »

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$6.2M solution for persistent flooding in Belmar on the way

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Federal Flood Insurance Reformer Quits

Brad J. Kieserman, the federal official assigned to reform the National Flood Insurance Plan and to re-open thousands of Superstorm Sandy related claims amid allegations that thousands of homeowners were short changed, has resigned his post in order to take a job at the Red Cross, according to a report on Newsday.

A 28 year employee of the federal government, Kieserman took on the reform of NFIP only 3 months ago in February. FEMA annouced four months ago that it would settle every disputed case but only about a dozen checks have been issued.

Appearing in Hoboken last week with U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, as well as Highlands residents Kerry and Jamie Gowan who where representing the 70,000 New Jersey residents with claims to be reviewed by FEMA, Kieserman pledged that the government would do better in the tasks of “people caring for people.”

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Christie coming to Belmar Friday, May 29 to announce flood mitigation grant

Mayor Matt Doherty and Governor Chris Christie walk the Belmar boardwalk in August 2011. Photo Credit: Tim Larson, Governor’s Office

Governor Chris Christie will be in Belmar tomorrow, May 29, to announce the award of a $6.185 million flood mitigation grant and to “kick off the summer in Belmar baby,” Mayor Matt Doherty told MMM.

The Community Development Block Grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is being awarded through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection after a competitive application process,  according to Doherty.   The funds will be used for an outflow pipe in Lake Cuomo which will provide flood mitigation for residents of Belmar, Spring Lake and the Borough of Lake Cuomo.

Christie is scheduled to arrive in Belmar at 2:15 p.m.  The event will take place on Ocean Avenue at 20th Street.

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N.J.’s Sandy spending dipped in first quarter of 2015, report shows

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