The US Attorney may have a focus no one can even imagination. The subpoenas issued two days after the New Jersey Panel request could be a method to simply check the accuracy of the NJ Committee's finding. No one really knows, what is being conducted.
...After talking to local and state officials today, (click here) MMM understands that the federal money for Sandy Relief isflowing dripping
through four sources; FEMA, the New Jersey Department of Community
Affairs (DCA) which administers relief for homeowners, the New Jersey
Economic Development Agency(EDA) and County Governments which are
administering Hazard Mitigation Grants. The Hazard Mitigation Grants
are funded by FEMA and distributed to the counties by the State Office
of Emergency Management.
Hoboken’s clean up and repair money would not have been administered by the Christie Administration. That money comes directly from FEMA. Hoboken was approved for almost $6 million from FEMA last May, according to a report in HobokenPatch. The $127 million in requests that Zimmer referred to on Up with Steve Kornacki is for Hazard Mitigation, that would be administered through the Hudson County Executive and Board of Freeholders, and new projects that would be considered by EDA.
FEMA reimburses municipalities directly for clean up and repairs. While a great deal of the clean up and repair expenses have been approved by FEMA, most of that money has not been paid to the municipalities yet. Highlands Mayor Frank Nolan said that his borough has only received about 40% of its approved FEMA reimbursements so far. Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty said his borough’s iconic boardwalk rebuilding has not yet been reimbursed by FEMA. Both mayors said their projects have been approved and they anticipate the money, but it is a slow bureaucratic process. Another municipal elected official who asked not to be quoted said that Highlands’ 40% reimbursement from FEMA sounds very high compared to what other towns are seeing, and that Highlands must be further along in the process than most.
Middletown Township Committeeman Tony Fiore, who was mayor during Sandy and the first year of recovery said, “There has never been any quid pro quo suggested from anyone in the state with regard to Sandy money. Middletown has received some of its clean-up money and we’ve been approved for a $375 thousand planning study, but haven’t seen that money. Other than that, the only money Middletown has seen is $1.5 million in SHRAP grants, which is federal money we received from the County to help residents pay their bills.”
“It’s taking way too long for Sandy money to flow,” Fiore said, “but that’s because of federal and state bureaucracy.”
Doherty said Belmar has an application worth about $3 million with EDA that has been in process for months, but that he does not expect an answer until late April....
The entire premise that the Christi Administration was conducting quid pro quo relies on a Mayor that does not have the respect of other New Jersey mayors facing similar problems post Sandy.
In most circles I am aware of, that is called peer review.
In regard to the hiring of Mr. Sampson by the Rockefeller Group is a strategic decision simply because of all the other projects attempted in NJ they were turned away. There were several, Hoboken is not the only one. The Rockefeller Group was not having much luck in any development project in New Jersey. Mr. Sampson is their lawyer. He was advocating for a development project to move forward. Should Mr. Sampson have recused himself? I don't know. That is more or less about trials, not letter writing.
...After talking to local and state officials today, (click here) MMM understands that the federal money for Sandy Relief is
Hoboken’s clean up and repair money would not have been administered by the Christie Administration. That money comes directly from FEMA. Hoboken was approved for almost $6 million from FEMA last May, according to a report in HobokenPatch. The $127 million in requests that Zimmer referred to on Up with Steve Kornacki is for Hazard Mitigation, that would be administered through the Hudson County Executive and Board of Freeholders, and new projects that would be considered by EDA.
FEMA reimburses municipalities directly for clean up and repairs. While a great deal of the clean up and repair expenses have been approved by FEMA, most of that money has not been paid to the municipalities yet. Highlands Mayor Frank Nolan said that his borough has only received about 40% of its approved FEMA reimbursements so far. Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty said his borough’s iconic boardwalk rebuilding has not yet been reimbursed by FEMA. Both mayors said their projects have been approved and they anticipate the money, but it is a slow bureaucratic process. Another municipal elected official who asked not to be quoted said that Highlands’ 40% reimbursement from FEMA sounds very high compared to what other towns are seeing, and that Highlands must be further along in the process than most.
Middletown Township Committeeman Tony Fiore, who was mayor during Sandy and the first year of recovery said, “There has never been any quid pro quo suggested from anyone in the state with regard to Sandy money. Middletown has received some of its clean-up money and we’ve been approved for a $375 thousand planning study, but haven’t seen that money. Other than that, the only money Middletown has seen is $1.5 million in SHRAP grants, which is federal money we received from the County to help residents pay their bills.”
“It’s taking way too long for Sandy money to flow,” Fiore said, “but that’s because of federal and state bureaucracy.”
Doherty said Belmar has an application worth about $3 million with EDA that has been in process for months, but that he does not expect an answer until late April....
The entire premise that the Christi Administration was conducting quid pro quo relies on a Mayor that does not have the respect of other New Jersey mayors facing similar problems post Sandy.
In most circles I am aware of, that is called peer review.
In regard to the hiring of Mr. Sampson by the Rockefeller Group is a strategic decision simply because of all the other projects attempted in NJ they were turned away. There were several, Hoboken is not the only one. The Rockefeller Group was not having much luck in any development project in New Jersey. Mr. Sampson is their lawyer. He was advocating for a development project to move forward. Should Mr. Sampson have recused himself? I don't know. That is more or less about trials, not letter writing.
