On October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy struck New York City, causing damage to 85% of households in Goldfeder’s district, including his own family home. [1]. In the days following the storm, Goldfeder lived out of the NYPD 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway while helping to coordinate recovery efforts and assist in delivering aid supplies to affected neighborhoods. [2] [3]As the initial emergency response transitioned into long-term recovery efforts, area residents began to express frustrations over the pace of rebuilding. In response, Goldfeder held multiple town hall meetings to provide residents and business owners with the opportunity to discuss their concerns with a broad range of agencies helping with relief efforts following Sandy. [4]
Goldfeder also worked on multiple legislative initiatives in response to many of the issues affecting Sandy victims.
He sponsored legislation to provide property tax relief to those who's homes had been destructed during the hurricane on a sliding scale based on the damage to the house, which was the Sandy Assessment Relief Act. [5] The Sandy Assessment Relief Act was passed in the NY State Assembly to provide property tax relief to individuals who's property had lost 50% or more of their previously assessed property value. [6]
Months after Hurricane Sandy destroyed much of Rockaway and Southern Queens, many citizens of the areas continued to lose majority of their savings due to reconstructing and rebuilding their homes. Assemblyman Goldfeder pushed for the appropriation of federal relief money given to the city to be used to reimburse homeowners who had already spent personal savings to rebuild after Sandy.[7]
In 2013, the Breezy Point Bill was signed into law and then later extended. Breezy Point was one of the cities that suffered the most from Hurricane Sandy, so the bill was to help the recovery of Breezy Point with Goldfeder supporting it. Arthur Lighthall, general manager of the Breezy Point Cooperative stated that “extension of the bill to eliminate the need to file with the BSA will be valuable in assisting the hundreds of homeowners in our Breezy Point communities who are still working to rebuild their homes." [8]
Many people of Rockaway and South Queens went with out power for up to fourteen days following Sandy. LIPA was intended to provide reliable service to Rockaway families and businesses, but instead was extremely incompetent. Assemblyman Goldfeder removed LIPA as the electric and power provider, and introduced the PSEG. Like Goldfeder predicted, PSEG has been committed to maintain a high standard and have put extra emphasis on community service and outreach for families and business in Rockaway and South Queens. [9]
Assemblyman Goldfeder has been the forefront of relief efforts following Hurricane Sandy, and continues to be an actor of recovery in the Rockaway and Southern Queens area.[10]
- ^ Assemblyman Goldfeder Bio
- ^ Rayman, Graham (October 31, 2012). "The Disaster District". The Village Voice Retrieved 1.14.2015.
- ^ Kobre, Eytan (October 22, 2013). "Any Port in the Storm". Mishpacha Retrieved 1.16.2015.
- ^ [1]
- ^ (December 12, 2012."Goldfeder Announces Hurricane Sandy Storm Assessment Relief Tax". Queens GazetteRetrieved 3.3.2015.
- ^ (February 8, 2013)."Passed: Sandy Assessment Relief Act". Wave of Long IslandRetrieve 3.3.2015.
- ^ Gustafson, Anna. (April 25, 2013). "Pols Urge Feds to Ignore Bloomberg Plan, Reimburse Sandy Victims". theforumRetrieved 3.3.2015.
- ^ Gustafson, Anna. (June 19, 2014). "State Pols Support Sandy Victims' Push to Rebuild, Extend Aid for Breezy Point Residents". theforumRetrieved 3.3.2015.
- ^ [2]
- ^ Assemblyman Goldfeder Bio