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Issues with storm runoff and paving over green spaces
0:34:19
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123 sec
Council Member Holden expresses concerns about storm runoff, sewer backups, and the practice of paving over green spaces in his district. He highlights the challenges of managing water during severe weather events and the impact on local waterways like Newtown Creek.
- Holden criticizes residents who pave over their yards and the difficulties in enforcing regulations against this practice.
- He raises concerns about utility companies (National Grid and Con Edison) paving over green strips during their work, which he sees as counterproductive to the city's green infrastructure efforts.
- The council member emphasizes the need for better coordination and planning to preserve green spaces during infrastructure projects.
Robert F. Holden
0:34:19
that.
0:34:19
See, we have to measure outcomes.
0:34:23
So, for instance, if you know, in my district, we have a lot of storm runoff, some water runoff going into the Newtown Creek, which is further polluting the creek.
0:34:32
You know that.
0:34:33
It's a vicious cycle.
0:34:34
As we get bigger storms, there's more runoff, more sewer backups.
0:34:39
We've invested a lot into sewer systems that still can't like you mentioned, in a cloudburst or it doesn't the sewers weren't made to handle the amount of water.
0:34:53
And then, I'm always battling residents in my district that pave over their yards and then have a constant problem with the Department of Buildings going over and not finding anything wrong with that.
0:35:07
And then I had to send them back, and I said, yes, you know, there's a law.
0:35:11
Did you know this?
0:35:12
And, no.
0:35:13
Sometimes buildings, it doesn't trickle down.
0:35:16
But here's the biggest problem.
0:35:17
I mentioned this to the commissioner.
0:35:19
I have a lot of National Grid work being done in my district.
0:35:25
I have a lot of Con Ed work.
0:35:27
They're they're installing new electric lines, both above and below ground.
0:35:31
And, in Con Ed, I mean, in National Grid, they're installing gas lines.
0:35:37
A lot of tearing up the road beds, a lot of tearing up the sidewalks.
0:35:43
Yet, I discovered on all these projects, they're paving over the green strip at the curb, which is so counterproductive.
0:35:53
We're putting in bioswales all over the place, yet the bigger picture, we're not we're paving over green space.
0:36:01
And just based on no particular plan, there's no particular coordination.
0:36:07
I mentioned this to the commissioner a number of times, yet I just had a project near my office doing the same exact thing.
0:36:15
They're actually we have more concrete than before the project.
0:36:21
Why is that?