From the Daily News:Queens' easily overwhelmed sewer system - blamed for devastating floods in 2007 - may be revamped with New York's expected $24.1 billion in federal stimulus funds, a state official says.
At a forum Thursday at York College in Jamaica, a regional director of the state Department of Environmental Conservation twice described local sewers as "a serious problem" that could soon be solved with stimulus cash.
"I wouldn't rule that out," said Suzanne Mattei, whose region covers New York City. "There may be a couple of different places [in the stimulus package] where something like that could fall."
Pressed by Queens News after the forum, Mattei cautioned that the sewers' overdue overhaul rests largely in Mayor Bloomberg's hands. But she seemed heartened that Borough President Helen Marshall supports such a move.
"We've got a very strong ally there," Mattei said. "We support that as an important priority."
Earlier, Marshall noted how "whole basements are destroyed" when the sewers fail - as they infamously did in the summer of 2007, submerging areas like Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows and Woodside.
19 comments:
Good news. Government (hopefully) about to do things right.
You would expect every politically connected vendor would get the private word to get in line weeks before it became public.
Tons of monies contracted!
Buckets of monies spent!
(Oh, did someone say something about sewers working?
No? Time for a photo op and a study)
Yes Maspethian, its called a 'win win' situation.
described local sewers as "a serious problem" that could soon be solved with stimulus cash.
If stimulus cash is being doled out then we should grab it and deploy it. The problem in NYS or NYC is that despite the need to correct the sewer problem and having money on hand to remedy the sewer problem, are we going to see a deployment of construction 10 years from now or next week? The stimulus money is designed to be spent now just as a homeowner is praying for the rain Gods to hold off until the sewers are fixed so that the homeowner does not lose his basement to water flooding again. If money is available - deploy it. Don't argue about it.
While we're waiting for these pennies from heaven, let's stop cementing every yard in Queens. Also, avoiding building in the worst areas wouldn't hurt either.
I'm amazed that old maps show buildings sitting in ancient stream beds, yet people are shocked when they are flooded. You can't fool Mother Nature.
Now lets see if Willets Point gets
their fair share of Washington D.C. $$$$$$$ to fix up their sewer problems...ha, ha,!
If they ever uncover their buried manholes they might want to dump that crooked old bag Shulman down one!
hey do you think middle village will finally get the problems corrected over on elliot ave and 75, not if the community board has anything to say about it. we get screwed all the time in maspeth and middle village. vote for new board memebers. time for change.
"avoiding building in the worst areas wouldn't hurt either."
In my neighborhood (Broadway-Flushing), we have a high water table, but we also have a combined sewer system. So it's not just Mother Nature. There need to be separate pipes for waste and for storm run-off.
You would expect every politically connected vendor would get the private word to get in line weeks before it became public.
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"Honest Graft"
I see my opportunities and I take 'em.
Guys, they have been pouring money into this gold mine project for decades.
Face it.
With this crowd in charge, it will never change.
Good news. Government (hopefully) about to do things right.
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Hopefully? WTF is hopefully?
You a typical Queens doormat?
DEMAND that it gets solved or INSIST they step down.
Do it publically. Make sure the press is present.
Say if frequently to their face.
Make them agree.
They have been fighting this problem for 100 years.
Pouring millions it just never gets solved.
Funny, eh?
Even funnier is next year at this time you will be talking about this again.
So why doesn't Queens Civic congress say ok, no developement until schools, sewers, etc have caught up?
cause, like the typical queens leader, they have no balls.
even the pols do what the clubhouse tells them.
It does not matter how much money they pour into repairing the sewer system, if the Building Department continues to approve ill designed projects such as the St. Johns University Henley Road Dormitory we will have flooded streets and ruined basements. Aging sewer systems are incapable of addressing the needs of multifamily dwellings including dorms that are far larger than the homes they replaced. The stimulus money, the Rockefeller Foundation funds are well intended attempts to address these concerns but if we keep making the same mistake half of Queens will remain flooded. Let’s change our approach and the decision makers at the DEP and the DOE that approve these projects. Let save our communities while we still can.
Nature is very powerful. Properly siting buildings, maintaining yards and gardens instead of concrete slabs and engineering good drainage are all important.
When you look at a property pay attention to the surrounding vegetatation. There are some plants such as willows that will only grow with their roots in water. When you see such things, beware.
The problem
rests with the community boards.
From #1 ("hell board") on through #7
("Wellington's stooges") and upwards....they keep on rubber stamping over development until the pipes burst!
Aging sewer systems are incapable of addressing the needs of multifamily dwellings including dorms that are far larger than the homes they replaced.
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How about the aging electric grid in Astoria and the illegally converted multifamily absentee landlord blight that caused it.
Two portions of the same problem.
Good point.
One problem with one cause.
"What are you going to do about it?" Boss Tweed
I have screamed and hollered at community boards, politicians for years. 5 mayors 4 borough presidents. Its one excuse after another. The city will not fix the sewer system. They will not mitigate the flooding problem. My father died in the flood of 1984. He died in my basement when my flooded sunken driveway door gave way. A metal trash can hit his head he was knocked unconscience and drowned. You can give me all the low cost loans. Declare it a disaster. It wont bring my father back. It wont undo the damage done to my foundation. This city is evil. They do not care. Good job Helen Marshall at passing the buck. She said the EPA is going to do a study-- it will take about oh 10-15 years and we have to be patient little children. Meanwhile EVERY YEAR my neighborhood is flooded. Last year a pedestrian was killed when he had the unfortunate timing of crossing by a sewer manhole that exploded with water that went 50 feet in the air. Here is my fathers corpse-there is your study.
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