Staten Island Declared A Major Disaster for December 2010 Snow Storm

My home town of Staten Island, (Richmond) was one of several New York counties that was declared a major disaster yesterday by the President for the December 26 - 27, 2010 snow storm.

The New York City Mayor Bloomberg welcomed the declaration saying it will give the city the need funds to help pay for the clean up.But he also stated that he felt the other City Boroughs also warrented the same declaration.

Even though the city did not exactly do the best job cleaning up the mess, thanks to an alleged work slow down by the sanitation department.

Whether it was intentional or not, New York City has handled bigger storms in the past much better than the storm that left this mess. However, Staten Island usually takes longer to clean up after such a storm, and it takes several days before they start clearing the side streets there.

You can read the announcement and declaration on FEMA's website at the press release titled:

President Declares Major Disaster For New York

Man From Staten Island Goes To Prison For Helping Terror Group

A man from Staten Island, NY (my home town) has been sentenced to 69 months in prison after helping people get broadcasts from Hezbollah's television station which also showed recruitment ads for anti-Israeli suicide bombers and propaganda.

Javed Iqbal -- a Pakistani national, was sentenced after admitting he provided material aid to a terrorist organization.