The Deadline To Comment On The Army Corps Storm Resiliency Plan Is Near, But Could Get Extended
The deadline to give input to the Army Corps of Engineers is November 17, but local politicians are pushing for it to be extended until the end of the year.
Assemblymember Steven Cymbrowitz and other pols penned a letter to Colonel David A. Caldwell, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New York District Commander, stating the November 17 deadline is insufficient time for residents and civic groups to fully grasp the major project and provide insightful thoughts.
The project in question is the Jamaica Bay/Rockaway Draft Reformulation Plan, and its objective is to enhance storm resiliency efforts on the shorefront areas that were blasted by Superstorm Sandy.
“Hurricane Sandy is still a recent memory for our community and the recovery process is still ongoing,” said Cymbrowitz. “The storm mitigation and preparedness measures that the Army Corps seeks to implement will have a far-reaching impact on our shorefront and will potentially save entire communities from tragedy and devastation in the future.”Cymbrowitz wrote and sent the letter around, and it was signed by local electeds such as Assemblymembers Helene Weinstein, Pamela Harris, and Jaime Williams; City Councilmember Alan Maisel; and State Senators Diane Savino and Roxanne Persaud.“The scale and scope of such a project necessitates public input,” read the letter. “And we feel that the current November 17, 2016, deadline for commentary does not provide enough time for adequate review by civic groups, community stakeholders, and residents.”“A plan of this magnitude deserves a careful and well thought out response as well as preliminary discussion among residents and stakeholders,” said Cymbrowitz. “Rushing the process will only hurt our communities.”
They ask that the deadline be changed to no earlier than December 31, according to the letter.
The plan includes a number of high-impact projects on shorefront neighborhoods such as barriers, sub-gates, and residual risk features such as a hurricane barrier at the mouth of Jamaica Bay.