Jersey Shore Residents Demand Answers As Christie Appears At First Post-Sandy Town Hall
BELMAR, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Residents in storm ravaged areas along the Jersey Shore had their first chance to speak with Gov. Chris Christie at a town hall meeting on Thursday.
"All I have now is nothing," Walter Hangston said. "I don't want a handout, I just want help."
Hangston was one of the hundreds of people who came with questions about the relief effort for Christie. The crowd, many of whom have lost everything, demanded answers.
WCBS 880 reporter Jim Smith has more...
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"Part of the rebuilding is going to be dependent on the $60 billion request that the President has made," Christie said.
That answer was little comfort to Gaye Tashman, whose used car dealership was demolished during the storm.
"My family is going to be displaced because we can't pay our bills," she said.
The governor told residents at the meeting that he wants to pursue a grant program to get businesses back on their feet.
"Until all of our citizens who want to be back, their lives are back to normal, the job won't be done," Governor Christie said.
Even in the hardest of times some hurricane victims told CBS 2's Christine Sloan, that they are able to keep things in perspective.
"The poor people in Connecticut. I got it easy compared to them," Walter Hangston said.
Christie announced that a relief fund headed by his wife has raised $25.6-million. That money will be used to help people with gaps in their insurance coverage. It will be distributed over the next two weeks.
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