City Is. is waiting for protection from future storms
BY JASON COHEN
While billions are being
spent to make Manhattan
resilient from future super
storms, where is the money for
the Bronx and City Island?
In October 2019 the city approved
the $1.45 billion East
Side Coastal Resiliency Project,
which will raise East
River Park to 8 to 10 feet above
sea level from Montgomery
Street to East 25th Street with
landfi ll to protect the borough
against future fl oods.
Phil Ortiz deputy diretor
for External Affairs at NYC
Mayor’s Offi ce of Resiliency
explained that the city’s climate
adaptation strategy focuses
on establishing multiple
lines of defense to protect New
Yorkers.
Ortiz explained that across
the city Con Edison has invested
over $1 billion on improvements
such as reconfi guring
underground electric
networks, securing tunnels
carrying steam and gas mains
and high-voltage electric feeders
to protect them from fl ooding,
and installing new, stormproof
doors.
“From strengthening our
A fl ooded road in City Island. Photo Courtesy John Doyle
building codes to fl ood-proofing
the electric grid, the city
has taken many important actions
to protect coastal neighborhoods
like City Island,”
Ortiz said. “We are committed
to working closely with communities
to plan for the impacts
are continually identifying
new opportunities to increase
resiliency across all fi ve boroughs.”
and activist John Doyle wonders
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,14 FEBRUARY 7-13, 2020 BTR
of climate change and
But City Island resident
where the help is for his
neighborhood.
Doyle explained that City
Island is in Flood Zone 1;
meaning if there was an emergency
it would be the fi rst to
be evacuated.
“Seven years after Sandy
what resiliency measures
have taken place in the coastal
Bronx” Doyle said.
“I think it’s not even City
Island, it’s the whole Bronx.”
Doyle explained there are
basically two issues at work
here, one, the need for greater
resiliency improvements
along the shoreline and two,
better drainage and irrigation
that’s needed throughout the
neighborhood, including Pelham
Bay Park.
“Overall we’re a front
line community to storm
surgence,” Doyle said. “You
would anticipate that given
that designation and given
that we are surrounded by water
on City Island that there
would be protection measures
in place. If we don’t deal with
this issue now, when there is
a real emergency how will we
get out?”
Doyle said the city needs
to bring in the correct people
and then maybe things might
change.
In fact, in May 2019 roads
including Shore Road, Park
Drive, Orchard Beach Road
and City Island Road at various
locations saw pooling water
remaining after spring
rains, sometimes creating
hazardous conditions for motorists,
cyclists and pedestrians.
City Island businnessman
Joe Mandarino who owns the
Lobster House at 691 Bridge
Street, which had its iconic
lobster sign ripped from the
building during Hurricane
Sandy, doesn’t feel any type of
storm prevention will benefi t
the island.
He stressed that there
isn’t much that can be done to
avoid the devastating effects
of a storm because islands
are more vulnerable than the
mainland.
Instead, he suggested the
city should invest money to
improve the Bronx’ overall infrastructure.
“What can they do for City
Island,” he said. “I’m a realist.
I can’t even get the city to pave
the streets.”
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