$100 million missing from Red Hook IFPS funding, by George Fiala

On January 7, 2014, Vice President Joe Biden came to Albany to announce-together with Governor Andrew Cuomo – a $16.7 billion federally funded package of programs to strengthen New York’s infrastructure against future storms. The money was part of the $50.5 billion in emergency money that congress granted to New York and New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy, with $200 million coming to Red Hook to build a flood protection system.

According to an article in Politico, “the state would build a $200 million flood protection system in Red Hook, Brooklyn.” A whole host of other projects were announced, including subway seals, bridge repairs throughout the state, new tidal gates and drainage systems including at the area airports, and the creation of micro-grids to provide emergency power.

In a press release issued by the Governor’s office, dated December 16, 2014, another mention of the $200 million number is made. The release is headlined: “Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio Announce Integrated Flood Protection System Study and Design For Red Hook.” It is subheaded “State and City Each Commit An Initial $50 Million to Launch the Initiative, Which Will Make the Brooklyn Waterfront Community More Resilient – Part of Comprehensive, Citywide Resiliency Plan.”

The release announced the issuance of the initial RFP for creation of the Integrated Flood Protection System (IFPS) and went on to say that “the project, for which the City and State are each committing an initial $50 million, for a total of $100 million, aims to make the waterfront community more resilient and better protected from future storms.”

It is further stated that “The Red Hook IFPS will cost approximately $200 million in total”

This press release was filled with supportive comments from Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio, Borough President Eric Adams, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Assemblymember Felix Ortiz, Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, and Co-Chair of the Red Hook NY Rising Community Reconstruction Committee Gita Nandan.

But the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), which has been executing the RFP process, now says that “The study began in October of 2015 and is expected to be complete in approximately one year.

“For subsequent project phases, the City and the State have committed $50 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds and $50 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds for a total of $100 million in funding to be used for environmental review, permitting, design, engineering and construction.”

Public informed in January
This was first revealed locally on January 21, 2016, at a public meeting at the Miccio Center. One of the slides presented characterized the total funding of the IFPS at $100 million.

Further research of documents available online reveal that this cut was already decided more than a year earlier. An EDC Q&A, dated February 27, 2015 includes the following:

“Q – In the pre-proposal session presentation, it was stated that the total cost of the project including the feasibility study, design and engineering and capital costs for construction, is $100 million. Is that sufficient – does this reflect actual project costs?

A – The Feasibility Study is being performed to better understand the scope and costs for an IFPS in Red Hook. The Preferred Project advanced through the HMGP application and subsequent FEMA and HUD approvals will need to be assessed, designed and built within the anticipated available budget.”

Sometime between December 2014 and February 2015 funding for Red Hook’s flood protection program, which would hopefully mitigate future flooding, has been cut in half, with no official announcement from the governor’s office, which is managing the money.

Borough President Eric Adams, commenting on the budget changed said: “We look forward to hearing more from the City and the State in the days ahead about how they plan to make the IFP program whole through critically-needed funds. The residents of Red Hook deserve nothing less than a truly resilient and sustainable community where they can safely raise healthy children and families.”

Councilman Carlos Menchaca is sure that whatever it ends up costing, whether $100 million, $200 million or more, the right storm protection system will be built. “The money must be found,” he said.