A Plea For Unity, Patience And Action At Sandy Memorial
Neighbors, community leaders and faith leaders gathered on the second anniversary of Superstorm Sandy to honor the lives lost in the storm, and from the service came pleas for unity, patience and action from several speakers.
The annual “Light up the shore” event sees communities along the northeast coast light candles along the shoreline, a regional vigil for those affected by the storm. About 70 people turned out to the local event at the Knights of Columbus – Baron DeKalb (3000 Emmons Avenue) for the event, organized by Bay Improvement Group.
Perhaps the strongest words of the evening came from Bay Improvement Group President Steve Barrison, who urged the community to come together and fight development along the coastline.
“We in the waterfront communities have not heard from our government about our continuing message that is shared by all of our leaders and what we know. And that is no more increasing development or density anywhere in the Sandy impact areas of New York City. Enough is enough. Sandy has in fact changed everything. Sandy was a game changer,” said Barrison. “It’s time for our leaders in government to take action, protect and plan for the future and not support and encourage short term developer greed.”
Several elected officials were in attendance, including Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, State Senator Marty Golden, Assembly members Helene Weinstein and Steven Cymbrowitz, and Councilman Chaim Deutsch. None remarked on Barrison’s plea for action during their remarks, but often focused on their battles to get relief for constituents after the storm.
“I’ve been embarrassed as an elected official that the city government wasn’t there for our community,” said Weinstein, who talked about how she turned to volunteers and non-profit organizations to find help for neighbors where government failed. “It is really so many of the people in this room, who I saw day after day helping their neighbor, that I really want to thank. I’m sorry our government wasn’t there.”
Golden said he is pushing for a smaller, localized system of flood gates rather than a larger project that will be mired in red tape.
“We need flood gates. Flood gates in Manhattan Beach, flood gates in Gerritsen Beach, flood gates in Coney Island Creek, flood gates in Howard Beach. And if you think this bridge that they’re going to build, this flood gate from Brooklyn to Queens, your children’s children will have children before that is built,” said Golden. “We need to do that now and it wouldn’t cost us as much money.”
He also made a bold promise to have all residents back in their home by next year.
“I don’t want to be here a third year and have you not back in your homes and all of this money not dispersed and given to you. I promise you I will not let that happen at the state level. We will fight and work together to make sure we don’t have to do this,” said Golden.
Working together was exactly the message shared by Missy Haggerty, a Plumb Beach bungalow resident long displaced by the storm. She was chosen to speak on the experience of all residents, and urged the neighborhood to keep the unity that came from suffering.
“This is so important for us to stay together like this to get things done in our community,” said Haggerty. “There’s still so much to be done, whether it’s a wall that has to go up or a fence. One voice, two voices, they won’t listen. So we have to stick together as a community … to get things done. Don’t give up.”
After the speakers, local faith leaders said prayers before the group went to the Baron’s pier. There, they tossed a wreath into the water in honor of those who lost their lives, and lit electric candles before dispersing.