Mayor Bill de Blasio is offering tax abatements, lower water bills and increased eligibility for benefit programs to speed the city’s response to victims of Superstorm Sandy who are still suffering 18 months later.
Only a handful of homes have begun construction under the city’s Build It Back program and very few homeowners have received reimbursement checks for repair work.
Sources briefed on the mayor’s plans say he will propose abatements for about 1,500 properties that will be getting higher property tax bills as a result of rebuilding and repairs after the storm.
He’ll be racing the clock to get a sign-off from Albany, which would have to approve the deal before the legislative session ends in six weeks.
The mayor also intends to offer relief to owners of vacant homes who still get water bills.
On another front, de Blasio will strip away income eligibility requirements to get help.
Specifically, homeowners with less than 50 percent damage to their property who have unreimbursed expenses will be eligible for reimbursement regardless of income level; those with more than 50 percent damage are eligible for the Acquisition for Redevelopment program, regardless of income.
The proposals are being rolled out by de Blasio Thursday during a visit to a Build It Back center in Midland Beach on Staten Island.
The mayor is also suggesting creating borough-based directors to oversee progress locally.