May 8, 2017
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, New York 12224
Dear Governor Cuomo:
I am writing to respectfully request that you apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the current Lake Ontario water level conditions to be designated as a qualifying disaster under the SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program.
As you are aware, if the SBA declares the currently elevated lake level as a disaster, homeowners and businesses along the south shore of Lake Ontario may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans to aid them in repairing any property damage not covered under an existing insurance policy. I know that you have personally visited the Town of Greece to see first-hand the devastation that the continually rising lake levels have caused, and I thank you for that. As you could see during your visit, our local residents and businesses are suffering and they will most certainly need any assistance available to repair the severe property damage that this disaster continues to cause on a daily basis. It is my hope that you will be as proactive as possible in seeking the appropriate SBA declaration so that our local homeowners and businesses will have access to the low-interest disaster loan program.
Thank you for your anticipated attention to this urgent matter. Please know that I have also contacted Senator Chuck Schumer to request any assistance he may be able to provide in this effort. Should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (585) 225-2000.
Very truly yours,
William D. Reilich
Supervisor