New York State Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle is introducing legislation he says would establish a $105 million grant program for flood recovery along the Lake Ontario shoreline and Saint Lawrence Seaway.
The Irondequoit Democrat says some of the money would help affected property and business owners, another portion would go to local governments and some funds would also be set aside to plan mitigation efforts against possible damage in future years.
The State Senate recently proposed similar legislation that totals about $55 million. Morelle is hoping the two houses can reconcile the bill and get it passed.
“Until I can get an agreement, there’s no success here, so we’re going to work hard with my colleagues in the Senate and see if we can’t reconcile it and see if we can’t get this to garner the support of the governor as well which we would need to pass the legislation into law.”
Morelle says money from his proposal would mainly come out of funds set aside for economic development.
He says some local Assembly Republicans also back the legislation.
