Hurricane Sandy's destruction was spread across a number of governmental jurisdictions in the New York area. And each one seems to be coming up with different ideas on how to respond. New York governor Andrew Cuomo is promoting a bold plan to spend up to $400 million to buy up homes damaged and destroyed by the hurricane. The houses would be cleared out and the areas, mostly along the shore, would be allowed to revert to dunes and wetlands. The governor's program would also offer incentives to people in at-risk zones to sell, even if their homes were not damaged.
Meanwhile, New York City seems to be acting in direct opposition to the governor's plan. Michael Powell, in a recent New York Times article, quotes Brad Gair, director of the mayor's housing recovery operations, as saying that "[o]ur first priority to to build back." Powell seems to agree.
He mentions Arverne by the Sea, a middle income development in the Rockaway's that, when it was built around 2000, took account of higher sea levels. The Arverne approach, Powell implies, could be the way to protect rebuilt communities along the coast. But where does the money come from? Who pays to raise the land and protect utilities? It won't be individual homeowners. Powell doesn't say it, but leaves the impression that state and federal funds should be available. They have been in the past, he says.
Thus, the contest over land use policies for coastal areas takes shape -- remove settlement from coastland vs. rebuild with protections. It looks like a lot of money is going to be spent no matter what. It would be nice if it were spent wisely.
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