Josh Lockwood
\nCEO
\nAmerican Red Cross Greater New York
\n520 West 49th Street
\nNew York, NY 10019<\/p>\n
Dear Mr. Lockwood:<\/p>\n
We are deeply disturbed by reports that the Red Cross has not spent $110 million of $303 million
\nin Sandy relief funds.<\/p>\n
On behalf of our constituents, we call upon your organization to immediately allocate these funds in the spirit of the Red Cross’ mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.<\/p>\n
Our communities have faced immeasurable hardships in the six months since the storm. New Yorkers expect The Red Cross to deliver emergency aid, and we cannot accept that these funds should be allocated at a later date to address long-term needs. Sitting on this unspent money is an insult to both the victims of Hurricane Sandy and the generous donors to the American Red Cross. <\/p>\n
This funding is urgently needed and could be used to fill in the gaps where government funding isn\u2019t available.<\/p>\n
For example, the Red Cross can begin by spending these funds to assist non-profits with the installation of generators to minimize the impact of future storms. Priority should be given to non-profits that house\/serve at-risk populations where emergency evacuations are difficult and hazardous.<\/p>\n
Owners of co-ops that find their common areas ineligible for funding but are in need of repair to allow residents to get to their homes can also be addressed with the remaining Red Cross funding. By filling this gap the co-op owners can avoid large assessments that may force them to leave their building<\/p>\n
Allocating these funds would be a long overdue step in the right direction. <\/p>\n
We look forward to your immediate attention to this matter.<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
Christine C. Quinn
\nSpeaker<\/p>\n
Donovan Richards
\nCouncil Member<\/p>\n
Eric A. Ulrich
\nCouncil Member<\/p>\n
Lewis A. Fidler
\nCouncil Member<\/p>\n
Margaret Chin
\nCouncil Member<\/p>\n
Sara M. Gonzalez
\nCouncil Member<\/p>\n
Domenic M. Reechia, Jr.
\nCouncil Member<\/p>\n
Vincent Ignizio
\nCouncil Member<\/p>\n
James S. Oddo
\nCouncil Member<\/p>\n
Rosie Mendez
\nCouncil Member<\/p>\n
Michael Nelson
\nCouncil Member<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Josh Lockwood
\nCEO
\nAmerican Red Cross Greater New York
\n520 West 49th Street
\nNew York, NY 10019<\/p>\n
Dear Mr. Lockwood:<\/p>\n
We are deeply disturbed by reports that the Red Cross has not spent $110 million of $303 million
\nin Sandy relief funds.<\/p>\n
On behalf of our constituents, we call upon your organization to immediately allocate these funds in the spirit of the Red Cross’<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n