Obama to view LI, NYC Sandy damage
President Barack Obama embraces Donna Vanzant during a tour of a neighborhood effected by superstorm Sandy in Brigantine, N.J. (Oct. 31, 2012) Credit: AP
The trip will include a helicopter flight along the city coastline and parts of Long Island, and a tour on foot of southern Staten Island, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Thursday.
The trip will be Obama's first outside Washington since being re-elected on Nov. 6, and he comes to New York as lawmakers from affected states are requesting tens of billions of dollars in additional federal disaster aid.
Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will accompany Obama during the half-day visit.
Cuomo has estimated the cost of cleanup, recovery and restructuring to prevent future damage at about $30 billion, though he has not produced a specific proposal.
Schumer, Gillibrand and 11 other senators sent a letter to Obama requesting he immediately submit a budget amendment to make $5 billion in existing disaster funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency available before year's end.
'If you don't address demand, you don't address the problem' Police are only addressing the supply, but demand is what fuels the illicit sex trade, experts say. Newsday political reporter Bahar Ostadan has the story.
'If you don't address demand, you don't address the problem' Police are only addressing the supply, but demand is what fuels the illicit sex trade, experts say. Newsday political reporter Bahar Ostadan has the story.
