Sandy Bill of Rights At Stake
Staci Berger, Pres. & CEO Housing & Community Development Network of NJ
PERTH AMBOY – On Wednesday 2/19/14, there was a press conference held at Perth Amboy City Hall. This conference was attended by Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Congressman Frank Pallone and Assemblyman John Wisniewski along with others who were there to talk about the Sandy Bill of Rights. Perth Amboy was chosen as a kickoff tour to explain this bill to the public.
This Bill is a result of helping residents who have been having problems getting needed funds to help rebuilding residences or finding permanent housing.
It has been 18 months since these residents were displaced from their homes and they were at a standstill.
This Bill has in place a provision to help minorities. Some minorities reportedly were turned down for programs at a higher rate than others even though they were equally qualified.
The major bullet points of this Bill will help a quarter million NJ residents affected by the storm. The list includes individuals, businesses, and whole communities that suffered major damage.
Mayor Wilda Diaz, Asm. John Wisniewski, Senate Pres. Stephen Sweeney, and Congressman Frank Pallone at Perth Amboy City Hall *Photos by Carolyn Maxwell
Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz made opening remarks. She spoke about the $10 million worth of damage inflicted by the storm and how it impacted the residents and businesses. She then introduced Senate President Stephen Sweeney.
Sweeney gave his explanation to why this bill is needed. “People are on a waiting list for assistance but have no idea of what number they are on the list. People were brought in from the outside who weren’t knowledgeable on what to do. You can’t blame the Federal Government for this. We got the money from them. A contractor was hired and then fired by the Christie Administration. This fired contractor was given $10 million to go away.” Sweeney thanked Pallone for getting Federal money.
Sweeney, Pallone, and Berger listen as Perth Amboy Resident George Bonilla speaks of the challenges he has encountered after Superstorm Sandy hit.
“The problem is that the programs set up with this money has been mishandled by the Christie Administration. After all this time people are still on a waiting list for funds.”
Sweeney said, “About the contractors that were fired and given that $10 million. They would have to sue me to get that money.”
Congressman Frank Pallone said, “Union Beach was hit very hard. Some people are getting money from non- profit groups because they are not getting it from the government. The money that the Christie Administration has been giving out has been mismanaged. We don’t know why that contractor was fired and who replaced them.”
Mike McNeill, Chair NAACP State Housing Committee
Assemblyman Wisniewski acknowledged how quickly Mayor Diaz and Congressman Pallone took immediate action after the storm hit. “It’s been 18 months and the devastation is still there. This Administration (Christie) has not been able to give answers, but we have learned a lesson on what not to do.”
Others who were there to support the bill included: Mike McNeill (Chair of the NAACP State Housing Committee) and Staci Berger, President and CEO Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey.
Some of the speakers relayed some of the complaints told to them by people applying for assistance. This included being told that they were disqualified for certain programs because they didn’t have proper documentations.
In another case, someone reported that they felt that they was being treated like a criminal when they applied to the state for assistance.
The greatest impression was from the speakers who spoke from their personal experiences.
Perth Amboy resident George Bonilla who lived on Front Street (one of the most devastated areas in Perth Amboy) for over 30 years has been out of that home for 18 months.
Riverkeeper Bill Schultz speaks to Senate President Stephen Sweeny *Photo by Carolyn Maxwell
Bonilla told his of experience when he went to apply for different programs, “A lot of times they told me that I earned too much money. Fortunately, the long term recovery group was able to give me money to pay for a rental. We’re always giving money to other countries. But what about us? This should not be happening in America. I’m still paying on a house that I can’t live in. The insurance companies want their money regardless.”
There was a question and answer period.
Sweeney was asked if Christie were to blame. Sweeney said, “I don’t blame Governor Christie personally, but I blame his Administration. They used outside contractors instead of inside contractors and inside non-profits. He should have sued the contractors instead of giving them $10 million after firing them. Funds were brought in, but are sitting on the sidelines.”
Congressman Pallone interjected, “It is the Governor who is responsible for how his Administration is running these programs.”
Sweeney also said that, “Integrity monitors were put in place with this bill, which is something that we asked for a while ago. We have to get the money we have sitting here now to the people.”
Staci Berger said, “People who are renters and homeowners are vying for the same units.”
A question was asked about the money used for the commercials featuring Governor Christie with his family (Stronger than the Storm).
Staci Berger said, “We can’t recover any of the CDBG funds used for those commercials but we need money to help people get back into their homes.”
Sweeney also said, “We passed bills that the Governor vetoed but I’m pretty sure that the Governor will pass this Sandy Bill of Rights intact.”
Another problem was that literature printed in Spanish had inadequate information and misinformation.
This Bill would also impose fines on anyone who violates any clauses in the Bill.
The Amboy Guardian was given a draft of the Sandy Bill of Rights by Staci Berger. The Bill can be found at: ftp://www. njleg.state.nj.us/20142015/ A1000/818_I1.PDF
