Q&A
Council Member Marmorato questions DEP Commissioner on storm water flooding prevention funding
1:14:33
·
3 min
Council Member Kristy Marmorato engages in a heated discussion with DEP Commissioner Rohit T Aggarwala about funding for storm water flooding prevention in New York City. Marmorato expresses concern about the discrepancy between reported budget figures and the actual funds available for addressing flooding issues in her district.
- Marmorato questions the accuracy of a reported $20 billion budget for storm water flooding prevention over the next 10 years.
- Aggarwala clarifies that the actual budget is likely lower, around $9.7 billion for water and sewer in the 10-year capital plan.
- The discussion highlights the tension between proposed development (City of Yes) and existing infrastructure problems in flood-prone areas.
Kristy Marmorato
1:14:33
Thank you so much, Sherry.
1:14:34
So it seems like a lot of great legislation is presented here today, and The unfortunate thing is it seems like a lot of them are getting the kibosh because of budgeting and lack of funding from DEP.
1:14:46
And I just wanna kinda go over something just to kinda get in on record.
James F. Gennaro
1:14:52
Counsel, could you pull your microphone a little quick?
Kristy Marmorato
1:14:53
Sure.
1:14:54
Sure.
1:14:54
Is it safe to say that DEP provides most of the city's storm water flooding prevention?
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:15:01
Yes.
Kristy Marmorato
1:15:02
Yes.
1:15:02
Okay.
1:15:03
When we discussed the city of yes with chair of Goranik, he had mentioned that over the last year, the city invested $1,200,000,000 in storm water flooding.
1:15:13
Does that sound about right?
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:15:15
I don't have it in front of me, but it sounds about right
Kristy Marmorato
1:15:18
And over the next 10 years, there's gonna be 20,000,000,000 for storm water flooding.
1:15:23
Does that sound great?
1:15:24
Does that sound like kind of correct?
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:15:27
I would have said hold on just a minute.
1:15:31
20 sounds a little high?
Kristy Marmorato
1:15:33
It does sound high.
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:15:34
Our water and sewer budget in the 10 year capital plan is I think 9.7, but that doesn't include all the green infrastructure.
1:15:42
So it's it's certainly more than 9 I'm not sure it's 20.
Kristy Marmorato
1:15:46
And I asked him if there was other grants, federal, or state.
1:15:49
He was not aware of any of it that it would be funding for you.
1:15:52
And I was just curious as to where this $20,000,000,000 was coming from.
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:15:57
I will I will find out But we are, you know, we are very aggressively seeking federal money.
1:16:04
There was a
Kristy Marmorato
1:16:05
But it's not there right now, as of now.
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:16:07
Well, no.
1:16:08
In fairness, we've gotten a a lot of federal grants we've been very successful at programs that are directly administered in Washington.
Alia Soomro
1:16:17
Right.
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:16:18
We've gotten
Kristy Marmorato
1:16:20
But not what we've gotten, what what there is now for the next the 20,000,000,000 over to 10 years.
1:16:25
There's nothing in place right now.
1:16:27
Is that correct?
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:16:28
Well, no.
1:16:29
Some of the some of what we are going to be spending is awards we have received that we will be spending over the next couple of years, including I think it's over over a 100,000,000 in in Thank you.
1:16:45
$230,000,000 in federal money for cloud versus programs.
Kristy Marmorato
1:16:49
Okay.
1:16:50
I'm talking about the 20,000,000,000 that they
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:16:53
Well, that that would be that would be rolling into
Kristy Marmorato
1:16:56
200,000,000 and 20,000,000
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:16:58
are Understood.
1:16:59
That's a difference.
James F. Gennaro
1:17:00
I mean
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:17:01
I I'd I'd need to get back to you on what the I would
Kristy Marmorato
1:17:05
like I would like to have that information because that's really concerning, considering my district floods all the time from small little rainstorms, and we're gonna create this city of yes, and put a lot more stress over my infrastructure.
1:17:17
And I just wanna know where the money's coming from, how we're gonna get it because we can't build, if we can't fix the problem before
James F. Gennaro
1:17:23
it.
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:17:24
Council member, if I could, though, is as I have testified here before, I think we have to be careful to con to not to conflate 2 separate issues.
1:17:33
The city of yes, proposals.
Kristy Marmorato
1:17:35
This is not 2 separate issues.
1:17:36
This is my district floods.
1:17:38
And you wanna build more in a low density district that already cannot handle the infrastructure.
1:17:44
And I don't think it's a DEP issue.
1:17:45
I just wanna know where the funding's coming from.
1:17:48
I can't honestly, in good faith vote on something to create more infrastructure issues in my community if we're already struggling.
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:17:57
Alright.
1:17:58
Well, council member, as as I
Kristy Marmorato
1:17:59
And there's no nothing in place.
1:18:01
No plan to fix it as of now.
Rohit T Aggarwala
1:18:03
Well, council member, I I just We're going a little far
James F. Gennaro
1:18:06
afield into City of Yes.
Kristy Marmorato
1:18:08
Okay.
1:18:09
That's fine.
1:18:09
I just want to know where that 20 I mean, I'll give
James F. Gennaro
1:18:11
a little attitude, but there's a limit.
Kristy Marmorato
1:18:14
Yeah.
1:18:14
No.
1:18:14
I'm fine.
1:18:15
That's all I wanted.
1:18:15
I just wanted that on record.
1:18:17
Thanks, Jared.
James F. Gennaro
1:18:17
Appreciate it.
1:18:18
Oh, you bet.
1:18:19
Of course.
