Residents call on state to release $25M for Long Beach after severe flooding

City ‘aggressively’ pursuing NY Rising funds allocated for post-Sandy infrastructure projects

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Two members of Long Beach’s New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program Planning Committee called for the release of millions of dollars in funding at the July 15 City Council meeting for much-needed infrastructure projects in the aftermath of severe flooding last week, while city officials say they are advocating “aggressively” for the funds.

On Monday, July 14, a heavy downpour caused significant flooding in parts of the city. City Manager Jack Schnirman, speaking at the July 15 City Council meeting during another nasty thunderstorm, said that city workers were out that Monday and Tuesday clearing storm drains and opening manhole covers to alleviate tidal flooding.

“We experienced heavy rains last night at exactly the moment of high-tide, which is never a situation you want to be in,” Schnirman said. “It’s a stark reminder of our vulnerabilities — it’s a reminder that the projects that we are planning, germinated from our community reconstruction program and our capital plan, are not just in a vacuum, on a drawing board. And until we see these projects move forward, and until we see the funding come that we need in order to bring them to fruition, we remain vulnerable.”

Two members of the local CRP committee, John Bendo and Crystal Lake, called for the release of state funding that was allocated for major infrastructure projects in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, saying the projects would have minimized last week’s flooding.

Governor Cuomo established the Community Reconstruction Program in April 2013 to assist communities damaged by Sandy, and Tropical Storms Irene and Lee. It is funded almost entirely by more than $600 million in federal funds through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program. Long Beach is eligible for the maximum $25 million.

The 12-member Long Beach committee was chosen last year, and includes representatives from the West End, the Canals, North Park and other neighborhoods. Over an eight month-period, committees comprising local officials, civic leaders, and experts, developed rebuilding plans.

In May, the Herald reported that the state approved the committee’s spending plan for the $25 million it was allocated. The priority projects include installing new bulkheading along the north side of the island, improving storm water drainage, and protecting sewer pump and lift stations, among many other initiatives. However, while the state has approved the 205-page plan, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development must approve each project before funds start to flow.

Bendo said last week’s flooding exposed the city’s “inadequate” infrastructure.

“We’re in the midst of hurricane season,” Bendo said. “The volunteer members of the NY Rising community reconstruction zone committee put in a huge number of hours developing a report on how to best spend the $25 million allocated to Long Beach for, among other things, mitigation programs. That report was submitted in March, and we have heard nothing from the state about the funds we were allocated. The plan contains projects that would mitigate the effects of storms like last night and tonight. These projects need to commence sooner rather than later, and we need the council’s support to try and expedite the process of getting the funds and starting the work.”

Lake, meanwhile, asked about the status of an additional $13 million that Cuomo announced last November to fund the installation of both a seawall and a “Dutch dam” system to protect Long Beach’s industrial district. She also said that the North Park has historically been prone to severe flooding like last week's.

“The need for protection is urgent, and I know this administration is doing a wonderful job,” said Lake. “However, the North Park area, from Long Beach Road to past the sewage treatment plant, we need protection yesterday. It’s at the point that it’s horrendous and … it appears to be that there is not enough concern.”

Schnirman, however, said that the city has been communicating with the state about the urgent need to begin the projects. Additionally, Schnirman said that he and a co-chair of the committee sent a letter to NY Rising on July 15 to remind the agency that funding is “critical.” A spokeswoman for NY Rising told the Herald on Friday that it would provide information on the status of the funding early next week.

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