Astorino again knocks Cuomo for using federal money for Sandy ads

On the two-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino is continuing to knock Gov. Andrew Cuomo for using some federal aid for the cleanup on television ads.

Gannett's Albany Bureau reported in July that New York spent $161 million out of a $237.5 million pot on an "Open for Business" ad campaign. Empire State Development said it got federal approval to use $37.5 million from storm-recovery efforts in the New York City area to promote tourism and provide details about aid available to victims.

"There are homeless Hurricane Sandy Victims today still wondering how Andrew Cuomo hijacked money intended for them," Astorino said in a statement.

"They remain homeless, while Andrew Cuomo uses the money to try to boost his poll numbers. This is one of the most egregious examples of a government official gaming the system to his own advantage and to the tremendous harm of New Yorkers in need."

Astorino put out two videos from Sandy victims saying they are still waiting for government help. Astorino charged that Cuomo lobbied the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the agency Cuomo used to head, to get the waiver to use the money for ads.