New York Democrats challenge Trump's denial of storm aid

WASHINGTON — New York's quest for disaster relief for an expensive February blizzard has turned political, with state Democrats slamming President Donald Trump while the administration and its Republican allies fire back that the state's request didn't meet the requirements.

There was heated rhetoric in a Suffolk congressional race in which U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino’s Democratic challenger said Friday that the congressman is missing in action while Trump blocks Gov. Kathy Hochul’s request for disaster recovery aid — though Garbarino’s office said Hochul hasn't reached out for help.

Patrick Halpin, the former Suffolk County executive who is challenging Garbarino, said on Friday that the congressman is "nowhere to be found" and has shown "zero influence that matters," despite being chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, which has oversight of the agency that provides disaster aid.

Halpin  said Long Islanders and other New Yorkers are left with a question: "If Andrew Garbarino cannot or will not use the power of the chairmanship to protect New York from his own party's decisions, then whose interests is he actually representing?"

But Garbarino’s office  said he has, in fact, been "engaged" in talks with the administration. But the congressman's office said Hochul — who as governor is required to apply on behalf of the state — never reached out to him, and that the application she turned in on behalf of New York failed to meet the requirements.

"According to FEMA [the Federation Emergency Management Agency], more than 90% of Gov. Hochul’s request was for reimbursement of the State’s snow removal operations ... was for plowing, which is viewed to be a state and local government responsibility," Garbarino’s office said. 

After a natural disaster, state and local governments can request a federal declaration that could activate FEMA assistance. The decision rests with the president.

The Trump rebuff to New York has received national attention because it was one of four Democratic-led states that Trump denied disaster aid for last week — along with New Jersey, Massachuse tts and Rhode Island. Those denials came just two days after Trump ha d approved FEMA disaster aid for six Republican-led states.

But a FEMA spokesperson said in a statement to Newsday that partisan politics was not involved, and that, "FEMA worked closely with the State of New York to collect and analyze damage information."

New York’s two Democratic senators themselves got publicly involved in asking Trump to approve Hochul’s request in an April letter that explained why they believed the thresholds for federal assistance  were met.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand this week urged the Trump administration to reconsider its denial.

"In the wake of February's record-breaking blizzard, our local governments stepped up to protect residents and save lives. Our municipal partners shouldn't be penalized for doing the right thing," Gillibrand said. "The federal government must pay its fair share to support New York’s full recovery, and I urge the administration to reconsider this short-sighted decision."

The governor’s application for the disaster declaration included an estimate putting the damage to New York statewide at $79 million. Hochul had 30 days from the denial to appeal, and she is doing so, her office said.

Garbarino's office, meanwhile, while indicating the state does not have a case for a disaster declaration in this matter, said he remains committed to working with the administration on homeland security and disaster-support issues on behalf of Long Island and communities across New York.

But Halpin, in his statement Friday, echoed claims by Democrats in Congress that the administration has been withholding homeland security preparedness funding in an effort to make some states accede to his election-administration demands.

"This MAGA Congress and Administration have politicized even the most fundamental responsibilities of government," Halpin said. "Disaster relief has become political leverage."