Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) lauded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) announcement of $1.8 billion for New York City communities struggling to pay for and complete repairs and construction following Hurricane Sandy, including a provision requested by Nadler to reimburse homeowners for repairs already performed.  However, Nadler criticized the Administration and City of New York for failing to heed his request for centralized coordination and oversight of mold remediation.  Currently, in areas that were flooded by Sandy, widespread mold and other contaminants pose a large-scale, dangerous and expensive problem for thousands of New York City property owners, tenants and workers.  Nadler repeatedly requested official oversight of mold remediation and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for mold cleanup.  As laid out in the City’s plan that has now been approved by HUD, there is no provision for comprehensive oversight of the cleanup effort.    Nadler issued the following statement:   “I’m very pleased that New Yorkers will receive this much-needed infusion of federal dollars for areas still suffering the effects of Sandy, but I remain extremely concerned by the lack of coordination and oversight to address mold and other environmental problems plaguing the city.  Environmental contamination is not a light matter and deserves a robust and centralized official response.  We are now staring down increased health risks, like asthma, allergic reactions, and compromised immune systems.  We must do more to stem a looming public health crisis.”    ###