Astoria Lawmakers Appeal To High Ranking Officials To Aid Greece
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Valllone Lawmakers whose districts include Astoria and its large Greek-American population reached out to federal, state and local officials last week, imploring them to extend aid to the people of Greece who have suffered through the worst fires their country has ever seen.

Lawmakers whose districts include Astoria and its large Greek-American population reached out to federal, state and local officials last week, imploring them to extend aid to the people of Greece who have suffered through the worst fires their country has ever seen.

City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. appealed to President George W. Bush and other federal officials, Assemblymember Michael Gianaris called on Governor Eliot Spitzer and Mayor Michael Bloomberg to send disaster aid to the embattled Greek nation and Congressmember Carolyn Maloney implored members of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, which she co-chairs, to reach out to their constituents throughout the United States.

The raging fires have resulted in estimated casualties of some 63 victims and burned to the ground more than 400,000 acres of the Greek countryside.

Maloney

Vallone, New York Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton and Congressmembers Maloney and Joseph Crowley pleaded for "support and aid to Greece in this troubled time, not only to help a valued national ally, but also to ease the concern among the proud Greek- Americans" here in the United States.

Vallone noted: "The deadly fires that raged across Greece over the past week will leave an enduring physical scar on the country itself, but the emotional and economic damage these conflagrations caused will reverberate far beyond its borders."

He said that in his district, which boasts the largest urban Greek population outside Greece, "the worry and sympathy is palpable [and] visible in the faces of store and restaurant owners in my neighborhood."

The lawmaker declared: "These infernos are the worst the country has suffered in 100 years, leaving dozens dead, thousands destitute and an area the size of Rhode Island scorched to the ground. Early estimates put the casualties at 64, with 1,500 houses destroyed and 4,000 people left homeless."

Gianaris

These figures are likely to increase, Vallone said, but already economic damages have been assessed at roughly $1.6 billion, equal to almost one percent of the country's gross domestic product.

Pointing out the huge burden facing the Greek government to aid its survivors, Vallone said, "I feel a responsibility to lend as much assistance as we can, not only to extinguish the fires, but also to salve the many burns- both physical and metaphorical- that this disaster has left."

He concluded, "I hope with the long history our two countries have shared, and with the large number of Greeks that reside within our own country, we can find it in our hearts to help this country in its time of need. I implore the executive and legislative branches to formulate a bipartisan plan to ease the suffering in Greece."

Gianaris, the first Greek- American elected to the state legislature, made a similar appeal to Spitzer and Bloomberg. He stat- ed: "We are all touched by the suffering of our friends in Greece. When New York was in a time of great need, countries around the world selflessly offered crucial assistance. This is our chance to return the care and support shown to us."

Gianaris, the son of immigrants from the Peloponnesian region of Greece, noted that the rampaging fires had caused severe damage and death in that region as well as most other sections of the country.

He requested that the governor and mayor send firefighting specialists and equipment and any other disaster relief that might be useful to Greece's efforts to quell the inferno.

"New Yorkers of Greek heritage contribute invaluably to the ongoing success of our city and state," Gianaris added. "At a time when their families and friends are suffering, we must help in any way we can."

In his letters to the governor and Mayor Bloomberg, Gianaris also wrote: "Over the past week, I joined with many New Yorkers and Greek-Americans in expressing shock, horror and sadness at the news reports of fires ravaging our friends and allies in Greece."

He pointed out, "[P]rovid[ing] necessary support to Greece during this unprecedented crisis. firefighting specialists and equipment, as well as experts specifically trained in disaster management and post-disaster recovery, are some of the ways we may be helpful."

Maloney stated: "My thoughts and prayers are with the Greek people during this difficult time, and with all of the brave men and women who have devoted themselves to the firefighting effort. As co-chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, I will be doing all that I can to ensure that the people of Greece get the assistance they need to fight these devastating fires and rebuild their lives."

Among other caucus members, Congressmember John Sarbanes (D- Maryland) stated, "I am working with my colleagues in the Congress to encourage the United States government to assist where needed our ally, which has stood by us time and time again."

And Congressmember Zack Space (D- Ohio) said, "The tragedy unfolding in Greece touches all of us on both a humanitarian and an historical level." Besides being concerned about the tragedy facing the Greek people, Space said he was also concerned about the archeological sites that are in danger of being destroyed.