NYC Mayor Pushes for Sandy Relief Funds in Washington - East Idaho News
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NYC Mayor Pushes for Sandy Relief Funds in Washington

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Getty 112812 MayorBloomberg?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1354149359063Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic(WASHINGTON) — Trying to inject some urgency into getting new federal aid for victims of Hurricane Sandy, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg met with several lawmakers in Washington Wednesday.

“Our reception was very good. Everyone I met with understands the severity of the damage and the importance of helping,” Bloomberg said after meeting with members of Congress.

New York State officials think Hurricane Sandy inflicted $42 billion worth of damage in the state, with nearly half of that in New York City.  Mayor Bloomberg hopes others will spring into action to help New York recover as they have in the past.

“America’s come to New York’s assistance before and I think New York has an admirable record in trying to come to assistance of other people around this country. We’re all Americans. This is not a partisan thing,” he said.

But one lawmaker calls it a “hard sell,” especially since Congress is wrestling with the nation’s budget. New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer says the appropriations requests should be substantial.

“We want the first to be as large as it can be, as large as the damage we know we already have…and that number will grow,” Schumer said.

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