Southern Brooklyn Assembly Members Advocate For Vehicle Cost Relief

Three Southern Brooklyn Assembly members joined a bipartisan group of colleagues during a press conference yesterday to demand that Governor Andrew Cuomo waive registration fees and up to $1,000 worth of state sales tax on vehicles purchased by those whose previous vehicle was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Nicole Malliotakis, William Colton and Alec Brook-Krasny — also joined by Staten Island Assembly members Michael Cusick, Joe Borelli, Matthew Titone, Joseph Saladino and Brian Curran — are also pushing for rebates on sales tax already paid on such purchases.

Malliotakis, whose district covers both Bay Ridge and a swath of Staten Island that was devastated by Sandy, said that, “The victims of Hurricane Sandy have been left in personal and financial ruin. We must do all we can to ease the long rebuilding process.” The Transportation Committee member went on to explain that: “By eliminating registration fees and up to $1,000 worth of state sales tax for vehicle purchasers whose car was destroyed by the storm, we are extending a helping hand to those who need it most. We are creating incentives for consumers to shop in-state, helping dealerships that were also impacted by the storm and avoiding any state budget shortfalls as this revenue could not have been anticipated prior to the storm. Helping our neighbors rebuild is the right thing to do, and this measure will ease the crushing burden that so many of our families are feeling.”

Her partners in government concurred.

Borelli explained that “the rebuilding process is one that will not happen over night” and that “Anything we can do to help make the rebuilding process easier must be done,” while Lopez pointed out that “These storms have united upstate and downstate with a common understanding of how fragile our communities are.” He has urged for movement on the issue, “to provide the same benefit to those devastated by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.”

Much of Brook-Krasny’s Southwest Brooklyn district, which covers parts of Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Sea Gate and Bay Ridge was also heavily affected by the October superstorm.

To see Malliotakis’ comments during the press conference, click here.