CRAIN'S NEW YORK
New York City is at a crossroads; the decisions we make now will determine the city’s livability in a climate-changed world. The city faces growing climate threats that are exacerbating outdated infrastructure, and an affordable housing crisis that already affects about half of the city’s households.
In many cases, our homes and communities were built over wetlands
Photo Above: Flooding near the foundation of a building
(Kingsbridge, Bronx)
and streams, stripping natural capacity to reduce flood water in addition to putting homes and infrastructure directly in harm’s way. Our neighborhoods have also been subject to decades of redlining, racist land use and housing policies, and present-day NIMBYism when efforts are made to increase density.
This has made certain communities — especially Black, Latino and low-income households — disproportionately at risk of climate threats like flooding and extreme heat, and less able to secure safer housing. Additionally, with sky-high housing prices and vacancies at an all-time low, moving out of vulnerable communities or homes can be out of reach for most New Yorkers.
It doesn’t have to be this way. New York City is making progress, but there are several ways the approach can be improved and expedited so communities can thrive despite climate threats...
Read the full article above to learn about Kate Boicourt's policy recommendations. Boicourt is a subject matter expert, former member of the City Club's Waterfront Committee, and continues to offer insight as our organization advocates for thoughtful long-term planning to meet the needs of New Yorkers.