On the ninth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy — which devastated low-lying coastal communities that surround Jamaica Bay when it crashed ashore on Oct. 29, 2012 — Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and members of the New York Congressional delegation representing Queens and Brooklyn sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting already approved funds be used on ecosystem restoration projects to benefit the bay.
“While it’s been nearly a decade since Superstorm Sandy, many Americans continue to feel its devastating effects. Today, the Jamaica Bay area remains vulnerable to extreme weather events,” the members wrote. “We were reminded of this disturbing fact last month, when Hurricane Ida and its remnants caused torrential downpours and significant flooding in low-lying neighborhoods, tragically killing 16 people in New York. The storm demonstrated that our constituents and local businesses remain at risk, and the communities we represent need more assistance.”
