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Rep. Michael Grimm, (R-NY), on relief effort in Staten Island after the hurricane and the decision to cancel the NYC Marathon.
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First Staten Island.
Which lies across New York Harbor from lower Manhattan is home to half a million people many blue collar workers whose families have lived there for generations.
And many who say.
They've been forgotten.
Including my next guest Republican congressman Michael Graham he represents the Borough of Staten Island congressman welcome back always good to see yield give us an update.
What kinds of recovery and rescue operations are you -- -- happier today than you were last night.
Yet no we we absolutely yard first let me -- -- just say this the the outpouring.
Of contributions from all over the country and from neighbors.
With with clothes and food has been incredible and we just -- -- say we thank you very much for all of you volunteers that have been contributing.
But I just left secretary to Paula title.
The the Red Cross.
They are in full gear now everyone is on the ground FEMA on the ground things are now starting to happen -- -- Extraordinary we're seeing here because last night you said you weren't happy with -- -- spots now I hear you saying.
Hey we're getting help now I'm I'm happy to see the response are getting.
-- right absolutely it's it's night and day in and literally.
It's been a big change from yesterday.
Today that the -- that the calvary has come it's what we've been asking for for days.
And now the calvary has -- -- You all they've been setting up tents in.
Getting out -- we've had FEMA going door to door which is exactly what we've been asking for we had a strategy meeting with the secretary.
Just hours ago literally talking about things that I felt.
And and a lot of the other elected officials felt before -- through the cracks things that were in the gaps like for example.
What about elderly people that are not in they the catastrophe -- but have no power and -- -- in their house before five days no one knows if they've gotten any food.
Those are the types of things they've been very concerned with and I know the other elected officials audio and have been asking about.
That we're now coordinating we're getting people to go out knocking on -- doors making sure they don't have food we get it if they don't have their medication we get things like that.
Are finally being coordinate is Red Cross on the same.
Red Cross is on the scene size of our fact -- national CEO came up to me today gave me -- -- You know she's here and they they've they've been coming in since last night.
I actually got them some a place to stay -- got them some hot.
-- -- last night.
And now and as many more from -- -- they've been in this you know in the defense.
You know we -- three days ago but a lot of them started driving from down south three days ago.
Where you'll -- we didn't understand what was taking so long but a lot of them would driving big rigs are from Mississippi Alabama and so on.
She got people on the scene there -- happy to see that -- -- a final question Korea.
I'm sure you've heard now that Michael mayor Michael Bloomberg -- canceled.
The -- New York City Marathon what do you make of that.
I was absolutely right -- I think them than the mayor.
Shouldn't have should have allowed to go forward but he showed a lot of leadership now -- hearing the cry of the people.
And and realizing that is it in its not about showing how resilient well we're New Yorkers everyone knows how resilient we are we've been through at all.
The truth is logistically it would have been a nightmare and shifting resources.
Away from the people that literally wished to death -- still going up in studio the crisis is still.
In full swing although the calvary is here I don't want I want being mistaken here.
We still need a lot it's just that now the reason -- -- -- they have to be allocated correctly then there -- -- hitting the streets but there's still a lot of people suffering.
And we need to -- week everything we can stop that suffering marathon would have helped that and I think he made the right call.
-- -- congressman you know.
The mayor made the cut the comparison -- 9/11 -- that we did the marathon after that.
That was six weeks this was less than six -- -- days.
This time around totally different kettle of fish.
Can you make it can you compare the -- it is different right.
No -- you can't -- to it's apples and oranges.
The reality is we're still in recovery mode by I have.
People I'm fearing that in basements that we haven't been to yet.
There's still going to be bodies to recover the people as I haven't even had a chance to start morning -- the people in shock.
This to people that haven't been fed we're -- the heart of a crisis here.
I agree.
-- thanks for coming on weren't tight set deadline here we have to go congressman Graham thank you.
