Paterson is the third largest city in the state of New Jersey, and one of the largest cities in NYC's Metro area. Paterson is home to approximately 147,000 people. 80% of the city is Hispanic and Black Americans being of middle class or poor. Paterson has been affected by a troubled economy though it neighbors "upscale" towns like Paramus and Wayne NJ. Most recently Hurricane Irene hit, and Paterson was at the forefront of the devastation. Hurricane Irene has done so much damage to the city that it is very much comparable to the affects of Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans. However, the city of Paterson is not getting the national attention nor the financial aide to aide the residents and prevent this from happening ever again. Local newspapers have printed stories that suggest that the government officials were the ones who opened the dam causing the Passaic River to flood the local streets of Paterson. In my opinion this is only the beginning of GENTRIFICATION or weeding out the middle and poor class citizens to then restore and rebuild an upscale community. One that mirrors its neighboring towns and provides homes for people whom work in the "big apple". What about the people whom live there? Homeowners like my grandmother and aunts whose homes can no longer be salvaged. The families that are bunked up with other families?...the families that had no place to go other then "make shift" shelters? What happens to them? I need 5,000 signatures so that my family and friends can begin getting the help they need. 5,000 signature will open correspondence between them and the White House. President Obama visiting Paterson is not enough! They need help getting funding to create water barriers that will permanently stop flooding. Money to rebuild a city! Money to save the local residents from becoming exterminated. We need your help. One signature at a time. Pass this info along and sign.