HUD Secretary Donovan Meets With Hurricane Sandy Task Force Advisory Group

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan visited New York City on Friday, March 15 to meet with members of the Hurricane Sandy Task Force Advisory Group consisting of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Connecticut Governor Daniel Malloy, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, plus numerous county executives, mayors and supervisors from New York and New Jersey.

This was the first meeting of the Advisory Group called by the Secretary. On this occasion, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was present along with Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, the NYC City Council Speaker, plus various state and local representatives and elected officials. From New Jersey, the Bergen County Executive, plus the mayors from Hoboken, Sea Bright and Atlantic City were also present. The Advisory Group is tasked with the responsibility of advising the Task Force and ensuring that the rebuilding and recovery effort reflects the input of the most heavily impacted communities. The Advisory Group will advise the Task Force through regularly scheduled meetings, through working groups on particular policy questions, and joining Task Force members during on-site visits to impacted areas. Also present was Laurel Blatchford, Executive Director of the Task Force, and her senior staff.

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