Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, pictured here with the head of the city’s Build It Back program, Amy Peterson, said that a Build It Back case manager will begin working from his office to help residents this week. Photo courtesy NYS Assembly
South Queens and Rockaway residents who have been struggling to navigate the city’s Build It Back process will now be able to receive direct assistance from case managers at South Queens lawmakers’ offices beginning Thursday, legislators announced this week.
The case managers from the Build It Back program will be stationed at the offices of Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park) and state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) every Thursday beginning June 5.
“There is a lot of confusion surrounding the Build It Back program,” Goldfeder said. “I am proud to announce that residents can now stop by my office and speak directly with a representative from Build It Back.”
Originally launched by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg following Sandy, Build It Back was created with the intent of helping Sandy victims rebuild their homes that were destroyed during the hurricane at the end of October 2012. However, the program has since landed vehement criticism from elected officials, civic leaders, and residents, with individuals slamming it for failing to begin construction on any houses by the time Bloomberg left office as of Jan. 1.
Harsh words for the program have continued under Mayor Bill de Blasio, though city officials have stressed they are working overtime to try to address a myriad issues with the Build It Back program – from lost paperwork to city officials using incorrect data to determine for what kind of aid applicants are eligible.
“Time and time again my constituents come to me and say they either haven’t heard a word from Build It Back, or they are being given the runaround,” Addabbo said. “It’s time to bring the program’s representatives straight to the people, where they can be given the attention and face-to-face courtesy they deserve. I am thankful Build It Back has people in the Rockaways, but residents off the peninsula were affected as well, and they should be able to get help in their own neighborhood.”
After taking office, de Blasio announced that he was overhauling the city’s Sandy response program, including a vow to begin construction on at least 500 homes by the summer’s end and issue at least 500 reimbursement checks by the same time.
After a number of high-profile leaders of the city’s Sandy aid effort left in recent months, de Blasio announced at the end of March that he was appointing a new slate of individuals to lead the recovering and rebuilding process, including tapping Amy Peterson as the head of Build It Back – who Goldfeder praised for her efforts to help the residents throughout South Queens and Rockaway who are still struggling following Sandy.
“I commend Amy Peterson and the city housing recovery team for their dedicated service and working tirelessly to fix a broken system,” Goldfeder said.
Built It Back will provide the case manager in Goldfeder’s offices from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. The individual will alternate between Goldfeder’s two offices, which are located at 108-14 Cross Bay Blvd. in Ozone Park and 2-14 Beach 96th St. in Rockaway Beach.
This is a free service that is available to anyone.
Residents can call Goldfeder’s office at (718) 945-9550 to schedule an appointment.
Case managers will also be available at Addabbo’s Howard Beach office, located at 159-53, 102nd St. every Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. To make an appointment, residents can call Pat McCabe in the senator’s office at (718) 738-1111.
“The changes we are implementing at Build It Back focus on engaging the community and getting homeowners the support they need to get back into their homes,” Peterson said. “Thank you to Assemblyman Goldfeder for helping us connect directly with Queens residents.”About 7,000 households in Goldfeder’s district have applied for help through the Build It Back program – which accounts for more than 40 percent of the program’s total number of applicants citywide, Goldfeder noted.
“I will continue to work until every family receives the assistance they so desperately need and deserve to get back in their home and fully recover,” Goldfeder said.
by Anna Gustafson
