Bipartisan legislation to help Lake Ontario homeowners hit by flooding has been approved by the New York State Senate and is on its way to the Assembly.
The bill introduced by Senator Pam Helming and Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle taps into $2.5 billion Governor Cuomo put into the state budget for rebuilding public water systems. Morelle says some can be diverted, so homeowners who’ve had property damaged or destroyed by Lake Ontario cam apply for aid and get an answer within 48 hours instead of 128 days in current state law.
The law also applies to local governments. Both Irondequoit Supervisor Dave Seeley and Greece Supervisor Bill Reilich say they’re glad to hear about the bill. Both towns are spending lots of money that’s not budgeted for. Both say they’re doing what they have to.
Irondequoit has spent about $750,000 so far between the wind storm in March and the flooding from Lake Ontario. Greece has spent about $2 million on both crises and the cash register is still running on the flooding.