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December 5 - December 12, 2012
TALK TO US! This is the fifth issue of NYC Reconnects. It is being published weekly as an insert in NYC Community Media’s other newspapers (Downtown Express, The Villager, The East Villager, and Chelsea Now). We would like to hear from you. Send us your comments about this publication and ask questions related to Sandy. We’ll try to get answers. Letters to the Editor are always welcome. Send email to Terese@nycreconnects.com. You can view NYC Reconnects online at www.NYCReconnects.com
Squadron on Sandy and what’s next
Terese Loeb Kreuzer Associate Editor, NYC Reconnects
BY TERESE LOEB KREUZER
LOWER MANHATTAN:
BACK TO BUSINESS The Downtown Alliance recently announced a new grant program to support small retailers, restaurants, service SURYLGHUV DQG QRW IRU SURÀWV DIIHFWHG E\ +XUULFDQH 6DQG\ 7KH SURJUDP RIIHUV JUDQWV RI XS WR WR HOLJLEOH HQWLWLHV ORFDWHG LQ )ORRG =RQH $ VRXWK RI &KDPEHUV 6WUHHW *UDQW DSSOLFDWLRQV ZLOO EH DYDLODEOH RQ RU DERXW November 30, 2012. &RPSOHWHG DSSOLFDWLRQV ZLOO EH SURFHVVHG E\ DSSRLQWPHQW RQ D ÀUVW FRPH ÀUVW VHUYHG EDVLV To register and to receive information please visit www.downtownny.com/backtobusiness %URDGZD\ 6XLWH New York, NY 10271 www.DowntownNY.com
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New York State Senator Daniel Squadron, who represents the 25th Senate District encompassing Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, has been trying to help Sandy victims connect with recovery information but has also been combing through the wreckage for ideas about what to do next. “The programs that we need today to fully recover do not exist,� he said. “It’s something that we’ve experienced before in this community. Part of the process is figuring out the need.� He said that it would be necessary to target City, State and federal programs around those needs taking into account the lessons learned from 9/11, from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and from tropical storm Irene that toppled parts of New York City last year. “There is no way that you go into a crisis like this with all the tools you’re going to need coming out of it,� he observed. While Sandy victims await further government action, he suggested that businesses and nonprofit organizations take advantage of the resources currently available such as the City’s Emergency Loan Fund. It requires no payments for the first six months and then offers a 1 percent interest rate for the following 24 months with no fees for participating in the program. Loans of up to $25,000 are available to be used to replace or repair equipment and facilities or as working capital. (For more information, go to www.nyc.gov/nycbusiness). Squadron believes that, “The broader problem is making sure that the cost of recovery is borne appropriately. It’s a piece
PUBLISHER Jennifer Goodstein
SR. V.P. OF SALES AND MARKETING Francesco Regini
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
RETAIL ADVERTISING MANAGER Colin Gregory
Terese Loeb Kreuzer ARTS EDITOR Scott Stiffler BUSINESS MANAGER/ CONTROLLER Vera Musa
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Allison Greaker Julius Harrison Alex Morris Julio Tumbaco ART / PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Troy Masters
of what we still need to act on. When something like this happens, you have to make sure that insurance companies are taking their fair portion of the cost of recovery and not trying to shirk that responsibility, leaving the victims without hope or the government holding the bag.� On Sunday, Dec. 9, Squadron is hosting what he calls a “Resource Fair and Community Conversation� to address the questions and concerns of his constituents. He will be joined by representatives from City, State, and federal agencies, utility companies, and other organizations that can help with disaster assistance. Many programs have Dec. 31, 2012 deadlines, he noted. “We’ll also discuss opportunities to help out in Sandy’s aftermath, as well as how New York can prepare for future emergencies and recovery,� he said. He asserted that Lower Manhattan “absolutely must rebuild, and will, just as it has in the past. But it needs to rebuild understanding the risks. One of the things we saw was the surge was very destructive but the consequences were different depending on a number of factors that are in our control — how the buildings were built, what the immediate preparations were. There’s a lot we can do as we rebuild to protect ourselves and improve our position.� The Brooklyn session of Squadron’s Resource Fair will take place on Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main St. in DUMBO. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Manhattan session will be held at Murry Bergtraum H.S., 411 Pearl St. To attend, email squadron.nysenate.gov or call (212) 298-5565.
SENIOR DESIGNER Michael Shirey
CIRCULATION SALES MNGR. Marvin Rock
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Arnold Rozon PHOTOGRAPHERS
CONTRIBUTORS Ira Blutreich Jefferson Siegel Jerry Tallmer
Tequila Minsky Jefferson Siegel Clayton Patterson
WEBMASTER Arturo Jimenez