ECONOMIC BOOST

Bloomberg Aids Sandy-Hit Businesses

As LIPA charges residents normal power bills.

On the post-Thanksgiving "Small-Business Saturday," New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg announced a new grant program to help small businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy. The program offers $5.5 million in matching funds to help small ventures recover after days without power and damages from the storm. "Small businesses account for 98 percent of all businesses," Bloomberg said. "They employ 50 percent of the people in this city ... they really are the job creators of New York City." Meanwhile, New Yorkers are furious that the Long Island Power Authority has issued estimated normal bills for residents and businesses in areas that spent weeks without electricity.