Stringer Plans to Monitor Sandy Relief Aid

As part of his campaign to become New York City's next comptroller, Scott Stringer is planning to establish a measure that would monitor Superstorm Sandy relief aid. The Manhattan Borough President says he would set up a dedicated unit in the city's audit bureau, called The Sandy Tracker, to make sure relief funds are going to the right places.

"Nine months after Sandy, the winds have subsided but we still have to confront the challenge of protecting our shoreline communities from the next great storm, and making sure that every tax dollar devoted to returning families to their homes and getting businesses on their feet is spent wisely and efficiently," Stringer said in a statement.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) has stood in support of the plan. He says arguing for federal relief is not easy, but believes this plan may make it a little easier going forward.

"One of the arguments against [federal funding] was, 'Well, in New York the money will be frittered away -- they'll lose it on fraud and waste.' And this is a very good idea to make sure that doesn't happen even to a small extent," Nadler said.

A spokesman for Eliot Spitzer, Stringer's chief competition in the comptroller race, called the plan an example of "redundant, 'blue ribbon' commissions."

"It's great that Mr. Stringer wants to use the comptroller's office to conduct audits," said Hari Sevugan, a spokesman for Spitzer. "What's perplexing is that he would want to outsource the basic functions of the office he wants to hold to yet another special commission."

New York City is expected to receive billions of dollars in storm relief over the next few years.