Speaker Christine C. Quinn:
“I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg for presenting recommendations to protect our neighborhoods and infrastructure from future climate events. Today’s proposals were informed by the work of the Panel on Climate Change and the Climate Adaptation Task Force, which were created in partnership between the Administration and the City Council.”

“As I’ve said before, strengthening our City against future climate risks, such as the devastation we experienced after Sandy, is this is the single most important infrastructure challenge of our time. As we continue to better understand climate change and its consequences, the need for action cannot be ignored. The neighborhoods hit by Sandy each have their own unique needs, that’s why it is so important that the Mayor’s report addresses these specific issues. We have seen the terrible consequences storm driven flooding can bring to too many parts of our city. It’s one of the reasons I have advocated so strongly for strengthening our coastal defenses, and I’m glad to see the Mayor facing this challenge head on.”

“Later this week, the Council will release our Building Resiliency Task Force report which will provide our city with clear directions on future building and infrastructure. The Council looks forward reviewing the findings and recommendations of ‘A Stronger, More Resilient New York’ in detail at our Sandy oversight hearing later this month.”

Council Member James F. Gennaro:
“Today’s announcement on how to build a Stronger, More Resilient New York is the latest great step forward for the city in preparing for a changing climate.”

“I salute Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn for their outstanding leadership and collaboration on developing climate change adaptation strategies for the city. This collaboration goes back several years, with the creation by the Administration of a Climate Change Adaptation Panel and an operational task force to implement needed protections to critical city infrastructure. The Council followed with the passage of Local Law 42 in August of 2012, which institutionalized the Panel and Task Force and expanded their scope beyond critical city infrastructure to include protections for vulnerable communities, public utilities and the city’s economy.”

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