Here are three recent articles about how slowly the recovery is proceeding in NYC.  And of course NJ is having its own set of problems rebuilding.  Here are two takes on the NYC situation:

(1) City is slacking on Hurricane Sandy aid for homeowners: report

Of the 19,920 people who applied for the Build It Back program, none have seen construction work start and only 110 had signed a deal on aid as of last month, according to data analyzed by the Alliance for a Just Rebuilding.

(2) Build It Back Has ‘to Do Better’ at Releasing Sandy Funds, Mayor Says

And here is an account of the problems in NJ:

Gov. Christie Blames Slow Sandy Recovery on Federal Governmentg