To hasten the process of restoring city schools and hospitals to pre-Sandy conditions, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a $500 million emergency plan to repair buildings damaged during the storm.
The New York City Health and Hospital Corporation will receive $300 million while $200 million will be appropriated to the Department of Education.
More than $130 million has already been approved for emergency spending in disaster relief.
The announcement was made at P.S. 207 in Howard Beach, one of 23 school buildings that remain closed after Sandy.
“These school buildings and public hospitals are resources that hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers rely on every day — and we are not waiting for federal aid to begin the work of repairing and re-opening them. This emergency capital spending is vital investment in our recovery and future,” Bloomberg said.
Comptroller John Liu said the city’s finances can withstand the payment, but that he will work to recover the funds from FEMA.
The city council will vote on the plan tomorrow.
