Pols seek FEMA relief for Knickerbocker tenants

Local politicians have written to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, urging them to reverse a decision denying aid to some tenants of the Lower East Side’s Knickerbocker Village following Hurricane Sandy, the Lo Down blog reported. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, City Council member Margaret Chin and State Sen. Dan Squadron wrote the letter, which addressed reimbursement for hotel expenses, property damage and medical expenses, for which tenants were supposedly eligible.

“We believe that these residents are in fact eligible under the guidelines that FEMA laid out and we ask that you reevaluate all rejected claims from Knickerbocker Village,” the letter said.

The Lo Down did not include comment from FEMA.

As previously reported, Knickerbocker residents who did not have heat or running water in the two weeks following the storm were slated to get a rent refund. The complex sustained flood damage that ravaged the boiler and electrical system.

Knickerbocker has 1,600 units and is a subsidized rental property for middle-income tenants. [The Lo Down] —Zachary Kussin