Regional Briefs – October 21, 2014

Cuomo: FAA Should Consider Ebola Travel Ban 

NEW YORK – Weeks after his Republican rival called for a flight ban from three Ebola-stricken nations to New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday the FAA “should seriously consider” the idea, The Associated Press reported. Cuomo has previously called bans unhelpful.

NYC Launching Ad Campaign Seeking Volunteers

NEW YORK – New York City wants more people to volunteer to tutor students, find poor residents who may be eligible for food stamps and give city tours, the Daily News reported. An ad campaign began Monday on subway cars and bus shelters to match potential volunteers with nonprofits.

NYC Paid $200K to Store Homeless Woman’s Belongings

NEW YORK – New York City taxpayers paid $200,000 to store the belongings of a homeless woman since 2006, when Andrea Logan lost her Manhattan apartment after a stroke, the New York Post reported. The city is required to cover homeless people’s storage expenses. Her possessions filled 11 storage units until last year, when she cut it down to three.

Contractor Sentenced for Scamming Sandy Victims

FREEHOLD, N.J. – A contractor who took deposits for work on Sandy-damaged homes but never did it was sentenced on Friday to five years in prison. John Martocci, 59, accepted more than $3,000 in deposits to repair heating and air conditioning but failed to do it or return the deposit.

9/11 Compensation Fund Pays Out $551 Million

NEW YORK – The 9/11 Fund paid out $551 million to 2,042 victims in the year that ended Sunday, the deadline to apply for compensation for those who developed cancer, special master Sheila Birnbaum said. That’s up sharply from 112 victims receiving $27 million in the previous year.

Trust in Christie at Record Low

NEWARK – New Jersey voters are increasingly suspicious of Gov. Chris Christie, a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll out Thursday claims. Just 22 percent say “trustworthy” describes the governor “very well,” while nearly 40 percent say the trait no longer applies. Fewer also rate Christie highly as a “strong leader,” “effective,” and “fair.”

This article appeared in print on page 7 of the October 21st, 2014 edition of Hamodia.