Lack of support from elected officials and no media coverage

4/4 Hurricane Sandy experiences from Canarsie, Brooklyn

Married couple Gloria (pictured to the right in her backyard amongst soiled furniture and belongings) and Donald Alexander has lived on East 105th Street in Canarsie for 20 years. She runs a day care and desperately wants her home and neighborhood to get cleaned up. She feels that process would be expedited if more elected officials started talking about Canarsie.

“We vote for these politicians year after year and when election time comes they’re antagonizing you everyday but now we need their help and they’re nowhere to be found. It makes me angry. Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg are not saying anything about Canarsie.  I can only say something good about [Councilman Charles] Baron. He’s seems like he is the only one talking to the media and letting them know what happened to us. 

No one else is saying anything about Canarsie. If half of Canarsie was still White, there would be more news coverage. Maybe it’s our fault we don’t complain to anyone, we just talk about it amongst ourselves.”

“Also because they [local media and politicians] don’t see houses burned down, were not getting a lot of attention. But we are hurting too. We’re not homeless but we need some assistance over here, “ added Donald

“I need help now. I run a day care and the kids can’t come into a house looking like this. So now I don’t have any income coming in,” continued Ms. Alexander whose damages are close to $10,000 including a furnace for $1,500 that was recently purchased. 

Blogger's Note: State Senator John Sampson and State Senator Eric Adams did issue a Media Advisory on October 31, 2012, which can be read here.

Also, State Senator John Sampson will holding a meeting with FEMA on Monday November 5, 2012 at the Holy Family Church School auditorium on 9719 Flatlands Avenue (cor. E 98th Street)