Staten Island Residents Furious Over Slow Sandy Response

Staten island residents say that they've been largely overlooked by those directing post-Sandy response efforts. Deborah Gembara reports.

Published

7 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

United States

People

Deborah Gembara, Michael Bloomberg, John Maitland, Richard Fox

Places

United States of America, New York City, Staten Island

Transcript

It's been days since Hurricane Sandy lashed the East Coast, and residents of Staten Island, one of the harder hit areas, say they've been forgotten in the recovery efforts. SOUNDBITE: Colleen Wood Staten Island resident saying: "Nobody came here. Nobody came. We called the insurance company, they said it's going to be days for anybody to come down. So FEMA is supposed to come and help, hopefully, just the house and see what the government can help. " Many in this neighborhood on the south shore are without power and water. Some have lost their homes. Most such as Richard Fox are dealing with massive damages. More galling is the other stuff they've had to handle with almost no help. SOUNDBITE:Staten Island resident Richard Fox saying: "I found two bodies here yesterday -- two senior citizens who live in Harbor Court Residence right here," "So, he was 89, she was 65. They couldn't make it out in time." Some in this area say New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ignored the primarily blue collar neighborhood directly across the harbor from Manhattan. SOUNDBITE: Staten Island resident John Maitland saying: "I know my mayor, who I voted for personally, who extended his term limits doesn't even have the fortitude to come down to Staten Island to cover it. To see what's going on and he's too worried about a marathon. A marathon while people are struggling to survive. We're finding people dead and this is the type of treatment that we receive as an island, as a community." At least 40 deaths have been attributed to Sandy, half of them on Staten Island.