By Lauren Wanko
NJ Today
“Our government is so dysfunctional, they can’t seem to manage to do anything. So this is just another episode in that long adventure,” said Eastern Lines Surf Shop owner Don Tarrant.
Belmar business owner Tarrant is talking about the possible government shutdown. Tarrant was approved for a $50,000 business recovery grant. He still hasn’t received the balance — about $20,000. But Tarrant isn’t concerned a shutdown would put the brakes on getting his check.
“I don’t believe that the government shutdown will last more than a day or so, so ultimately I don’t think it’ll affect what goes on as far as the grant money,” Tarrant said.
Sandy disaster funding is approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A HUD spokesperson says there’s more than $2 billion approved in the pipeline, so the government shutdown should have no effect on Sandy rebuilding efforts. But of the nearly 750 staffers, only 13 wouldn’t be furloughed. Once the disaster funding currently loaded in the system is spent, additional funds can’t be loaded until employees head back to work.
“This is extremely frustrating. We have enough stress in our rebuilding process that we don’t need this,” said Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty.
Sandy destroyed the entire 1.3-mile stretch of boardwalk in Belmar and the two pavilions. The boardwalk has already been rebuilt and FEMA already allocated the funding for the nearly $10 million project, but the two pavilions and underground infrastructure haven’t been rebuilt yet and Mayor Doherty is concerned that a possible shutdown could stall those projects.
Doherty planned on meeting with FEMA on Wednesday to discuss those rebuilding efforts.
“Those folks may be furloughed, they may not be able to give us clear answers, we may not have a direction to move into. If they’re not there to work with, the process will come to a grinding halt for all of us,” Doherty said.
Congressman Bill Pascrell sent a letter to the director of the Office of Management and Budget, urging all federal workers involved in Sandy recovery efforts be designated exempt “to prevent any disruptions in the distribution of disaster relief funding and the processing of aid applications. … A government shutdown could harm our Sandy recovery efforts.”
As for the Army Corps beach replenishment projects, that work would not be affected as contracts have already been awarded.