The City Sponge

In NYC, and globally, affordable housing locations are “available” and set up in areas where builders have avoided knowing there is more flood risk. So when flooding happens, the effect maybe be shared, but disproportionately felt. NYC Renters in basement apartments already know this, but clearly it’s not just NYC.

Trades people should be listened to more and be at “the table” for policy decision making…for many things, including climate mitigation. They are the bridge between your basement and the broader community. They know what people need, what they are doing, what they are NOT doing…and what gets in the way. Reminded of that reading this: “Without a very local perspective and a very diverse set of experiences at the legislative table, staffers who have not worked in the trades cannot anticipate the way these regulations will be implemented by a licenser or a regulator. You know, I convened a meeting about the I-5 bridge replacement, and I was thinking that I would not have even been invited to this two years ago, or even likely read that it happened. If you’re working a couple of jobs and trying to make it to pick up your kid after day care, you don’t have time to attend a lot of these and be heard. It points to the urgency of having a different set of experiences baked into the process.” https://lnkd.in/eB-z4GAZ

Nice visuals…but also key distinction: “NbS aren’t just about adding green—they’re about restoring and integrating ecosystems into cities in a way that is long-term, multi-functional, and community-driven.”

A new homeowner in Brooklyn put in some basement fixtures, then went on a journey to solve his flooding problems. Story here. https://lnkd.in/gF33sWa6

People often post pics of themselves on LinkedIn talking to a big crowd at a conference…(guilty). But this is just me at a table at a community fair talking about flooding to random Brooklyn ppl walking into the library or checking out a housing resource fair hosted by State Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie It’s very refreshing to talk to people who don’t know you and don’t have much time. Makes you appreciate: * there are a lot of nice people out there just trying to do the right thing in small ways * you got to ask questions and really listen, not jump into your schpeel * one flood - or getting on your landlord’s bad side - can be the difference between having a home and being homeless * we all want a dry home, basic shelter, a safe space and someone to listen to us Its one of the reasons I love talking to people about flooding.

NYC has over 500 miles of coastline and millions of people affected by stormwater flooding. How mayoral candidates can help steer resources to help us prepare to “live with more water” in times of federal funding uncertainty is an important topic.

Cool project using riverbanks in flood-prone areas to not only help with flooding surges but also enable community gathering…water connects us! Good work Wendy Andringa

Let’s go!

This is important in that it shows how much there is to do, but also how unpolitical it should be. No matter how you vote, nobody wants water pouring in their door or down their street and town, and it can’t be denied either. Flooding has the potential to bring ppl together. Water connects us.

We’re happy to announce we’ve been selected as partners of the @RebuildbyDesign’s? Rainproof [Your Community's Name], an initiative supporting NYC communities to tackle heavy rainfall challenges with localized solutions. The project, FloodChat, will focus on NYC residents - 2.3M renters specifically - ?prepare to “live with more water” by making the community engagement aspect more engaging, specific to their situation, and digestible versus overwhelming. We leverage the capabilities of AI to synthesize vast amounts of decentralized information and make it more accessible in a conversational, multi-language format. More below... The City Sponge is proud to partner with Unified Ground on this. Congratulations to the other participants - Sabina Sethi Unni, The HOPE Program, Unified Ground, Climate and Health Equity Foundation (CHEF), Brooklyn Level Up, Flatbush Workshop for Design, Nonprofit Staten Island, The City Sponge, Tiffany Baker ?who we’ll be working together with over the next year as a cohort of the initiative. We’re excited to collaborate with the other grant recipients who are driving change across the city. Together, we’re turning recommendations from Rainproof NYC into action. For more on all the cool projects, go here: bit.ly/rycn Learn more about Rainproof NYC: rainproof.nyc Why do renters need this? * Of the estimated 2.3 Million renters in NYC, an estimated 10% are in high flood risk areas.? * There are ~4,300 “basement” apartments in NYC, and more are street level.? * As has been documented, this high-risk group may not know their risk, nor have alteration rights nor funds to protect where they live.? * Therefore they need to know: + How Stormwater works in their specific area in simple clear ways + Rights regarding protection (Right To Know Disclosure Laws, responsibility for mitigation) + Steps others have taken in similar situations: from insurance to organizing to pre/during/post flooding stories and case studies + Affordable solutions they can implement (barriers, sandbags vs pumps) + Avoiding bad plumbing fixes or underestimating insurance needs + Resources to help renters implement needed mitigation #RainproofNYC #RainproofYourCommunity #RainproofTogether #environmentaljustice #climatejustice