Melissa Harris-Perry: Following the Sandy money trail

theGRIO REPORT - In the wake of New Jersey's 'Bridgegate' scandal, many are questioning what happened to the remaining Hurricane Sandy relief funds.

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In the wake of New Jersey’s ‘Bridgegate’ scandal, many are questioning what happened to the remaining Hurricane Sandy relief funds.

NJ initially received $1.8 billion in federal funds following the storm and is expected to receive another $1.4 billion.

While searching for the funds that have been MIA, attention has been drawn to the few NJ projects that did receive Sandy relief money.

Melissa Harris-Perry, joined by Tara Dowdell, Mark Alexander, Heather Haddon and Staci Berger, discussed a New Brunswick apartment building and Belleville senior citizen home, who are among the few that were offered Sandy funds.

The North Jersey apartment complex received $4.8 million in Sandy aid and was built under the pretense that it would offer affordable housing for those effected by Hurricane Sandy.

However, New Brunswick is 188th on the Post Sandy Community Hardship Index, a list of NJ towns most affected by the storm. Belleville is listed at 254, where Governor Christie helped a senior center receive $6 million.

Gov. Christie can anticipate higher scrutiny on which projects are selected to get Sandy aid moving forward.

Watch the full MHP segment below.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals. 

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