PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by William Scarborough, President of Addisleigh Park Civic Organization and Southeast Queens Residents Environmental Justice Coalition
2:42:14
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127 sec
William Scarborough, representing Addisleigh Park Civic Organization and Southeast Queens Residents Environmental Justice Coalition, testified in support of Intro 1067-A to address groundwater flooding issues in Southeast Queens. He explained the history of the problem, its impact on residents, and the city's responsibility to address it.
- The flooding issue began when NYC DEP purchased Jamaica Water Supply Company in the 1990s and stopped pumping groundwater, causing water levels to rise.
- Residents and institutions like York College have been dealing with constant flooding, some running pumps continuously.
- Intro 1067-A would require DEP to report on efforts to address groundwater flooding and create a framework to help affected property owners access resources for flood protection.
William Scarborough
2:42:14
Thank you, Jim and De Niro.
2:42:16
Good afternoon, Jim and De Niro, counsel member of Williams.
2:42:19
My name is William Scarborough, and I'm the president of the Astley Park Civic Organization and Jamaica Queen.
James F. Gennaro
2:42:25
Vicky, just waving goodbye.
William Scarborough
2:42:27
And the president in Southeast Queen's residence environmental justice coalition and a former state assembly member is good to see you again, Chairman.
2:42:35
Yep.
2:42:35
Here today in support of intro 1067 a, the legislation by council member Williams to address flooding issues in Southeast Queens and the city of New York.
2:42:45
Our area of Queens has suffered from groundwater flooding for over 30 years into a large agreed.
2:42:49
This has been a direct result of the action that the New York City And the Department of Environmental Protection.
2:42:54
When DEP purchased the former Jamaican water supply company in the 19 nineties, the city stopped pumping groundwater from the 69 wells in Southeast Queens that removed 6 3,000,000 gallons of water per day.
2:43:06
Although this switch improved the quality of water received by our residents, it allowed the groundwater level to rise precipitously.
2:43:12
DEP knew from the outset that this would happen and documents at the time showed the DDP officials promised to take steps to mitigate the rising water level.
2:43:22
The rising ground water level, which has risen by 35 feet between 1996 2000 and is still rising, has created flooding conditions in our institutions such as York College And Deposons Optus Subway, which must pump water daily as well as our residents, some of whom run electric pipes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2:43:41
In an effort that revisionist history, DEP is now telling our elected officials that groundwater of flooding mitigation is not the city's responsibility, but the responsibility of homeowners.
2:43:51
This is unacceptable.
2:43:52
It's groundwater of flooding in Southeast Queen.
2:43:54
This is a direct result of New York City actions and inactions.
2:43:57
Intro 1067 a addresses key components of the groundwater flooding problem.
2:44:02
It would require the DDP annually report to the mayor and the council on its efforts to address groundwater flooding.
2:44:07
The bill also creates a framework identify property owners impacted by flooding on an ongoing basis and to connect those property owners with available federal, state, and city resources to protect their properties from flooding such as retrofitting.
