Sen. Gounardes Holds Climate Town Hall

State Senator Andrew Gounardes held a Climate and Resiliency Town Hall on Monday night, October 21, to hold an open dialogue with southern Brooklynites on resiliency, preparedness and how climate change affects our coastal communities. Gounardes also discussed the landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act passed by the State Legislature this year and how it makes New York a leader on climate issues. 

He was joined by panelists John A. Miller from FEMA, Eric H. Wilson of The Mayor’s Office of Resiliency, Catie Ferrara Iannitto of NYC Planning, Andrew Olsen of Build it Back, and Elizabeth Malone of NHS Brooklyn, who shared information on storm resiliency, flood insurance, and storm preparation after Sandy. More than 60 people attended to hear from the Senator and the agencies, and get their questions answered.

“New York passed the historic Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and established itself as a leader on climate this session. At this Town Hall on resiliency and climate, we discussed what that means for New Yorkers as well as the environmental threats facing our coastal communities. Here in southern Brooklyn, we know that we can’t afford another Superstorm Sandy, and we have to be prepared. People came to get their questions answered from the City, State and Federal government. I am glad we were able to hold a community Town Hall on this important topic,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes.

“We appreciate the opportunity to continue to engage with waterfront neighborhoods to plan for a stronger, more resilient future. Together with our sister agencies, we are pursuing a multi-faceted effort to protect homes and businesses by addressing vulnerabilities in the face of climate change and advancing resiliency goals here and throughout the city,” said Michael Marrella, Director of Waterfront and Open Space for the Department of City Planning.

“New Yorkers face unprecedented climate hazards in coming years, from chronic tidal flooding to more frequent and intensive heat waves. Adapting to these threats requires action at multiple levels, from the individual household to the entire region. Community groups and local elected officials will continue to be indispensable allies in the effort to build a more resilient and more vibrant NYC for all,” said Eric Wilson, Deputy Director for Land Use + Buildings at the Mayor’s Office of Resiliency.

“As the City completes the Build it Back Program, it is important that we continue to discuss climate change and lessons learned and focus on how we can improve the recovery process.  By working with electeds, community groups and residents, we can help the City and these communities be more prepared and informed to recover from future storms,” said Amy Peterson, Director of the Mayor’s Housing Recovery Office.

“Climate change is a major challenge to both the financial and physical stability of our waterfront communities. In NYC, and across NY State, we need to re-think, redesign and rebuild in ways that are equitable as well as resilient,” said Elizabeth Malone, NHS Brooklyn Program Manager for Resiliency and Insurance Services.