NY Assemblyman George Latimer Introduces Flood Fund Bill

by Judy Silberstein

(December 13, 2007) Months after the flood water receded from large parts of his district, NY Assemblyman George Latimer is trying a new approach to funnel resources to his impacted communities: a NY State Flood Mitigation Fund. With the help of fellow Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, he has introduced a bill to create the fund and disburse as much as $30 million over the next three years for flood prevention projects.

This is Mr. Latimer’s second approach. Following this year’s April flooding, he requested $10 million for local projects as a discretionary item in the 2007-2008 budget. However, the Legislature and the governor are at an impasse, so the capital budget has not yet been allocated. Mr. Latimer said he hasn’t given up hope of getting something from the request, but rather than fume over the delay, he’s trying something new.

Brookside Drive in the Town of Mamaroneck was inundated during the April storm. Photo by Abby Katz. (See: Nor'Easter Slams Larchmont & Mamaroneck.)

Getting the bill passed won’t be easy, he admitted. “But the fact that I have 16 co-sponsors already is a pretty good sign – that’s 10% of the Assembly,” he told the Gazette. “I think it will have some legs.” Also, there is a diverse group of legislators signed on – from Suffolk County, New York City and upstate. “That’s a good sign.”

Basically, the bill would create a separate Flood Mitigation Fund within the Department of Environmental Conservation. Communities would apply for projects to reduce flooding in their specific areas. “It would be a decision made by the professionals of the DEC and not by the politicians – it would be based on the merit of the project,” explained Mr. Latimer.

It would be a statewide fund – and it’s modestly funded over the first three years, Mr. Latimer said. In the first year, there would be $5 million in grants; in the second, $10 million and for the following years until 2019, there would be $15 million per year.

He estimates the size and scope of flood mitigation efforts just for Westchester being as great as $100 million. In his own district, “Rye City is working on an expanded water-retention system on Bowman Avenue in Rye Brook; Larchmont Village is considering an enlarged pipe to carry more water away from Pine Brook homes; Mamaroneck's Flood Action Committee is nearing completion on some specific steps. These are the kinds of projects that this state fund could help support," said Mr. Latimer. (See: $4M Pipe Proposed to Reduce Pine Brook Flooding.)

The new fund would be just one component of the resources needed. “It’s not a lot of dough, but it’s a start,” he said. He expects federal, county and local governments to pitch in,. “but the State needs to do its share as well,” he stressed.

"I think that's a very good idea," said Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Valerie O'Keeffe, contacted for comment. "We have to spread the risk out over the state and federal government. The larger the pot of potential donors, the more protection state residents will have from acts of God."

"We were hit so badly here that there is no way that the Village of Mamaroneck, for example, can avoid the same sort of consquences if there is another extraordinarily bad storm," added the supervisor.

So when might this get going?

“The people all want the projects to start yesterday – but you’re dealing with government reality,” said Mr. Latimer. He noted the multi-year study by the US Army Corps of Engineers, undertaken at the behest of US Congresswoman Nita Lowey. The study could - eventually - lead to federal funding for mitigation projects, but not for many years.

A New York flood fund might be able to operate more nimbly.

“My hope is the bill will pass in the 2008 session and the funding will be available in the 2008-2009 fiscal year,” said Mr. Latimer. He’s looking to get some movement on the bill early in the year.

If all goes well with his bill – and he recognizes that much could go wrong – funds could be available as early as 2009.

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