Latimer Introduces Flood Fund Bill

State Assemblyman George Latimer says he will work to revive a $30 million flood mitigation project bill he first introduced in 2007.

The bill proposes the creation of a State Flood Mitigation Fund that would distribute $10 million per year to supplement county and local level public works projects.

"Westchester County has previously committed to an annual allocation for flood mitigation - but the State needs to do its share," Latimer siad in a released statement.

Latimer wants the fund to operate from the State Department of Environmental Conservation "to provide direct grants to communities that identify specific projects to reduce flooding."

"Every affected community is working on projects, but no city, town or village alone can undertake the kind of public works projects that are needed: water-retention systems, pipes to carry more water away from homes, dredging narrow stream beds, raising low bridges. These are the kinds of projects that this state fund must help support", the Assemblyman stated.

The City of Rye and Village of Rye Brook have negotiated an inter-municipal agreement to share costs on a project to mitigate flooding at the Bowman Avenue dam. The sluice gate project may cost as much as $2.2 million and has been in planning for several years.

That project may not have had a significant impact on the two rounds of recent flooding due to Blind Brook overflow.

"When I walked through Rye's Indian Village, along Howard and Lester in Mamaroneck Village, or through New Rochelle's Halcyon Park, I heard and saw many people who were angry about what had happened - angry with government they felt did nothing in advance to avoid their disaster. Many of these were the same people who suffered four years ago," Assemblyman Latimer noted. "It is very hard to discuss specific government programs in those moments; people don't want to hear words, they want to see action." 

Latimer concedes several factors- lack of urgency, other fiscal pressures and long timelines- have been a frustration for residents who want relief from flooding. He hopes the fund would hasten response to future situations. 

Latimer says he currently has more than 30 assemblymen signed onto the bill and is looking for Senate sponsorship to move the bill forward.