Another Chris Christie outrage: Data shows stark racial gap in Sandy aid distribution

[DonViejo]

"Neglect and callous indifference" for black and Latino Sandy victims, group charges

JOSH EIDELSON

Amid growing questions about lane closures on the George Washington Bridge and Sandy aid to Hoboken, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is facing an additional charge about his administration’s disbursement of relief aid. State data, obtained from the Christie administration through a lawsuit by the Fair Share Housing Center, reveal a dramatic racial gap in who received preliminary approval for funds from Sandy relief programs.

According to the data, decried by groups including the New Jersey NAACP, the Latino Action Network and the New York Times editorial board, the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation Program rejected 35.1 percent of African-American applicants, 18.1 percent of Latino applicants, and only 13.6 percent of Caucasian applicants. The Resettlement Program rejected 38.1 percent of African-Americans, 20.4 percent of Latinos and 13.6 percent of Caucasians.

Speaking to Salon late last week, FSHC staff attorney Adam Gordon urged the federal government to expand its investigation to include the racially disparate aid distribution, accused the Christie administration of trying to change the topic by attacking his organization, and charged “neglect and callous indifference in the needs of Latino and African-American communities impacted by Sandy.” A condensed version of our conversation follows.

Your assessment of this data shows that African-Americans were more than twice as likely as whites to get rejected by the RREM program and by the Resettlement program. What explains that disparity?

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http://www.salon.com/2014/01/22/new_chris_christie_outrage_data_shows_stark_racial_gap_in_sandy_aid_distribution/

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. They used ...

completely race/ethnicity neutral criteria to determine program eligibility/priority ... Oh, wait!

[Nancy Waterman]

2. Another chapter in Christie-Gate

Might as well give him his very own Gate!

[ailsagirl]

3. A real can of worms

Who knows what else lurks, waiting to be discovered?!!

That guy is scum.

[Stuart G]

4. Worse, I am glad this is all being exposed. more to come in my opinion..no text..

[ailsagirl]

5. Oh, I *know*

Tip of the iceberg, methinks

[flamingdem]

6. How amazing that justice might be done

in this case, since they still have funds to distribute.

[libdem4life]

7. I don't want to honor Gov. Christie with an anything-gate. Looking more like a Black Hole.

He deserves something special, but we won't know much until the subpoenas or the fearful staffers start to fear prison more than protect Christie.

[SDjack]

8. Need to look at GOP v. other split. It might be sharper. nt