Metro

De Blasio fuzzy on Sandy fund use

Democratic mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio told residents of the Sandy-ravaged Rockaways Sunday that he’d use the billions of dollars in federal funds meant for rebuilding homes and businesses to “right greater wrongs.’’

De Blasio gave few specifics, but said he’d create affordable housing and community health centers in the city’s storm-ravaged areas.

He also promised to use the money to create jobs that pay a “living wage’’ of $10 an hour — well above the minimum hourly wage of $7.25.

Asked how he could use federal disaster funds to establish such well-paying positions, he replied, “I’m not a lawyer.

“It’s an aspirational path.’’

But he promised to figure it out and return to the neighborhood 60 days after being elected to talk about his plans.

De Blasio said he agreed with Mayor Bloomberg, who wants to use a big chunk of the federal money to shore up the coastline against future storms.

He didn’t say whether he believes there will be enough federal dollars to accomplish both goals.

The Alliance for a Just Rebuilding, a liberal coalition of community groups and labor unions that generally supported de Blasio, has indicated that it, too, wants to use the federal Sandy funds for social engineering as well as construction.