Letter to the Honorable Shaun Donovan, Secretary United States Department of Housing and Urban Development - Call on HUD Secretary Donovan to Keep Sandy Aid in New Jersey

Letter

Dear Secretary Donovan,

We write today regarding the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) plans for allocation of the third tranche of Community Development Block Grant -- Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. Recent press reports have cited sources within HUD who have stated that there are plans to hold a national resiliency competition that could divert to other regions of the country more than $1 billion in funds meant for Sandy victims.

We strongly urge you to reject this misguided proposal. The communities we represent are still struggling to recover from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy and until our needs are met it is inappropriate and cruel to discuss redirecting recovery dollars meant for Sandy victims to other parts of the country. Thousands of New Jersey homeowners remain waitlisted for grants to lift their homes, while small businesses in our communities are shutting their doors and struggling to rebuild.

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. has called on HUD to reject this plan for a national resiliency competition and -- as local elected officials representing those struggling to rebuild --we join his call for this critical recovery aid to remain in the Sandy-affected region. The State of New Jersey's recently amended CDBG-DR Action Plan cites $1.6 billion in unmet housing needs, $17 billion in unmet infrastructure needs, and $241 million in unmet economic development needs. These are not just numbers to us. They represent the local citizens who we serve and are still displaced from their homes, struggling to pay a mortgage on a home they cannot live in or afford to repair. We all recognize the importance of preparing for the next storm; however, we cannot move on from Sandy and leave so many New Jersey families without assistance.

Sincerely,

Mayor Fred Tagliarini

Aberdeen

Mayor David McLaughlin

Allenhurst

Mayor Myra Campbell

Asbury Park

Mayor Frederick Rast

Atlantic Highlands

Mayor Daniel Reiman

Carteret

Mayor Thomas Lankey

Edison

Mayor James DiNardo

Hazlet

Mayor Frank Nolan

Highlands

Mayor Arthur Boden

Keansburg

Mayor Harry Aumack

Keyport

Mayor Paul Fernicola

Loch Arbour

Mayor Adam Schneider

Long Branch

Mayor Jon Hornick

Marlboro

Mayor Paul Buccellato

Matawan

Mayor Stephanie Murray

Middletown

Mayor Susan Howard

Monmouth Beach

Mayor James Cahill

New Brunswick

Mayor Michael Mahon

Oceanport

Mayor Wilda Diaz

Perth Amboy

Mayor Brian Wahler

Piscataway

Mayor Kennedy O'Brien

Sayreville

Mayor Dina Long

Sea Bright

Mayor Fred Henry

South Amboy

Mayor Matthew Anesh

South Plainfield

Mayor Paul Smith

Union Beach

Mayor John McCormac

Woodbridge

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