Today, Mayor de Blasio released the following statement after a phone call with FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor on the recent rule change to cut federal payments that protect frontline workers and sanitize public buildings:
“Today I spoke with FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor and made clear that these rule changes are unacceptable. This is not just some bureaucratic adjustment, this will fundamentally undermine New York City’s recovery and our fight against CoViD-19. There are no good answers or excuses for taking away support for our frontline workers, first responders, teachers, schoolchildren and so many more New Yorkers. We will fight this with everything we have, and we will continue to keep New Yorkers safe, especially in the face of continued recklessness from the White House.”
The City is working with Senator Chuck Schumer and the New York congressional delegation, as well as other cities and states across the country to fight back this rule. The possible damage to New York City is estimated to be between $350 million to over $1 billion.
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