Council passes Treyger bill on Sandy church task force
The City Council has approved legislation proposed by Councilmember Mark Treyger that would provide more assistance to houses of worship and charitable organizations that help victims in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy types of natural disasters.
If the bill becomes law, it could lead to religious institutions receiving reimbursements from the government for helping victims in the wake of Sandy.
The centerpiece of the bill involves the creation of a special task force to review the role that houses of worship and charitable organizations played in the aftermath of Sandy and to examine ways for the government to reimburse these groups for expenses incurred while helping residents recover.
Treyger (D-Coney Island-Gravesend-Bensonhurst) said that while most of the post-Sandy recovery funds have gone to rebuilding homes and businesses, many charitable organizations and houses of worship in the affected areas and did not have access to recovery dollars.