Open Letter: City Island Rising’s Comments for the NY & NJ Harbor & Tributaries Focus Area Feasibility Study

Read our letter below, and leave your own comment for the study before 3/31:

https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Projects-in-New-York/New-York-New-Jersey-Harbor-Tributaries-Focus-Area-Feasibility-Study/

 

Mr. Bryce W. Wisemiller, Project Manager
Ms. Cheryl R. Alkemeyer, NEPA Lead
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District Jacob K. Javits Federal Building
26 Federal Plaza, Room 17-302
New York, NY 10278-0090

 

Dear Mr. Wisemiller and Ms. Alkemeyer,

On behalf of the City Island community of approximately 4,500 residents in the Bronx, New York, we are writing to you and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with deep concern regarding the New York/New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries (NYNJHAT) Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study. While we appreciate federal efforts to address New York City’s vulnerability to climate change, the current proposals before you do nothing to address rising tides in our area or to protect the coastal communities of the Bronx, New York.
By creating storm barriers only for areas of lower Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, USACE is essentially turning our borough and neighborhood into sacrificial lambs in the case of a natural emergency. Our area is already suffering from increased flooding and severe storms, issues that will only worsen in the coming years according to climate projections. Our community in particular is vulnerable as City Island has only one way on/off and the evacuation route goes through areas of Pelham Bay Park that flood regularly from normal rainfall and lack adequate drainage or natural irrigation. Several City Island roadways, from Minnieford Avenue to Ditmars and Tier Streets, suffer from nuisance flooding regularly. These issues will be exacerbated if we are left unprotected while other communities are fortified to withstand the elements.
Furthermore, from what we have seen and read from other community-based organizations, there is a need to fully review this entire plan to incorporate nature-based solutions, environmental justice principles, and take into consideration existing plans at the City and State level that are currently in motion. At the very least, we demand a proposal that would protect the at-risk communities of the Bronx that is built in collaboration with our residents and stakeholders.

Thank you for your time. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about this request and willing to meet with your agency to discuss this issue at greater length. Please reach out to John Doyle at (646) 469-8339 or via email at doylejc1@gmail.com. We look forward to working with you.

 

Respectfully Submitted,
City Island Rising

 

CC: Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, State Assembly Member Michael Benedetto, Council Member Marjorie Velazquez, Bronx Community Board #10