Announcement comes after months of delays in distribution of Sandy rebuilding funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 27, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09) and Frank Pallone (NJ-06) released the following statement regarding reports that the State of New Jersey canceled its contract with Hammerman & Gainer Inc. (HGI), a Louisiana firm hired to manage that state’s nearly $1 billion Hurricane Sandy housing recovery programs:
“It’s simply unacceptable that it took seven weeks for us to learn that the contract with the firm handling the largest Sandy recovery program had been terminated. The manner in which this information has come to light is concerning and Governor Christie’s Administration must come forward and explain why HGI was terminated and put forth a plan to execute the RREM program moving forward.
“We fought alongside our colleagues in Congress to secure these Sandy recovery funds in the face of tremendous opposition from the Tea Party and we won’t stand for any more excuses as to why so many New Jerseyans are still waiting for much needed help. We have both heard numerous accounts from constituents that critical storm aid has been slow to come, and today’s news raises serious questions about the efficiency with which the Christie Administration has managed this important program. The people of New Jersey deserve a full explanation about the lack of transparency of the recovery grant programs and how this much needed funding has been distributed.”
