Push for more time for small-business aid

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) and other New York House members joined a top New York City official Friday in asking federal officials to extend the deadline for small businesses to seek aid to recover from superstorm Sandy.

"It's not going to be a happy New Year for a lot of people if FEMA [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] doesn't extend is Dec. 31 deadline for disaster loans," McCarthy said. "Folks are just starting to get their properties and paperwork back in order and they need more time to find out about and apply for these critical resources."

FEMA did not respond to a Newsday query about the officials' request.

McCarthy joined Democratic Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler and Yvette Clarke and Republican Michael Grimm, along with Commissioner Robert Walsh of the city's Department of Small Business Services, at a news conference Friday on the steps of New York City Hall.

Officials read from a joint letter they were sending to FEMA, which also was signed by Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) and Charles Rangel, Eliot Engel and Joseph Crowley, all Democratic House members from New York City.