The Week Just Past: Making Divided Government Work

The Recovery Continues

Up and Running: Northern Jersey FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers

The Week Just Past: Making Divided Government Work

“The House and Senate have returned to Washington to take up a serious amount of unfinished business. 

“The President and the Speaker of the House have laid down their visions of what ‘compromise’ should look like. 

“For his part, the President is demanding $1.6 trillion in new taxes on certain individuals and businesses. 

“As we all know, the key issue in America today is economic growth and job creation.  Raising taxes will not create jobs.  Tax reform, however, will not only create jobs, but it can produce more revenues.

“Over the years, our tax code has become a complex maze that stifles economic growth and job creation. The code is filled with loopholes that narrow the tax base and lead to higher marginal tax rates for hard-working taxpayers to make up the lost revenue.

“As a wise person once said, our goal should not be to produce more taxes, but more taxpayers!  23 million Americans are either looking for work or looking for more work.  On their behalf, we should reform the tax code to make it fair, simple, and geared toward creating jobs and increasing economic growth.

“Now the question is: how do we reach bipartisan agreement?”

“Let’s face it, the American people voted for divided government last week.  Now it’s up to us – the Congress and the President - to find a way to make it work.  And soon."

Rodney Frelinghuysen

The Recovery Continues

Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are available for those whose jobs were impacted by the hurricane. That includes people not normally eligible for unemployment benefits, such as self-employed persons and farm workers.  Registration closes February 4, 2013; applicants should contact a state Reemployment Call Center.

Free Legal Aid now available to disaster survivors - FEMA is working with the New Jersey State Bar Association, and ABA Young Lawyers Division to provide free legal aid to storm survivors.  Disaster survivors may call toll-free at 888-541-1900 Monday through Friday from 9-5.  Callers may leave a message which will be returned the next day.  The hotline is open to residents who need legal help related to the disaster such as insurance-related claims, landlord-tenant matters, FEMA appeals and creditor-debtor matters.

U.S. Small Business Administration this week opened four more Business Recovery Centers for a total of ten BRCs in New Jersey.

SBA disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of any size and private, nonprofit organizations for their uncompensated disaster-damaged property. Filling out the SBA loan application is a necessary step for homeowners and renters to be considered for some other forms of disaster assistance.

Approved homeowners may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars, or appliances damaged or destroyed in the disaster, or up to $200,000 to repair/replace primary residences if not fully compensated by insurance or some other source.

If the SBA is unable to approve a loan, the applicant may be referred back to FEMA for some other type of disaster aid in the form of a grant to repair or replace destroyed personal items, such as clothing and vehicles.

For more information, visit a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center:

Up and Running: Northern Jersey FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers

In case you missed the announcement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) in northern New Jersey:

Morris County

Morris Plains Community Center

51 Jim Fear Drive

Morris Plains, NJ 07950

Essex County

Willing Heart Community Care Center

555 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

Newark, NJ 07103

Passaic County

Passaic County Department of Health

317 Pennsylvania Avenue

Paterson NJ 07503

Somerset County

27 Warren St

Somerville, NJ 08876

Sussex County

Sussex County Community College

1 College Hill Road

Newton, NJ 07860

Open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., a Disaster Recovery Center is a readily accessible facility or mobile office where applicants may go for information about FEMA or other disaster assistance programs, or for questions related to your case.

Some of the DRC services may include:

• Guidance regarding disaster recovery
• Clarification of any written correspondance recieved
• Housing Assistance and Rental Resource information
• Answers to questions, resolution to problems and referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance 
• Status of applications being processed by FEMA
• SBA program information if there is a SBA Representative at the Disaster Recovery Center site

Residents can register for assistance at a Disaster Recovery Center or you can register online or by calling 1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362).

The TTY number is 1 (800) 462-7585 for those who are speech- or hearing-impaired.