Statement from Mayor Tom Murphy Regarding Army Corps Flood Project
Dear Friends,
The Village recently learned that the much needed and long anticipated Army Corps project to mitigate flooding in our community was not included in the President’s budget plan. Since learning of this development, we have worked hard to understand why the project was omitted and what we can do to change that result. Our Board of Trustees, as well as our county and state counterparts committed funding our share of the project costs. News that the federal government has backed away from the project, despite years of study and involvement, shocked us all.
Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, as well as Congressman Engel and myself have asked for an in-person meeting with the Army Corps, and they are strongly advocating that the funding be reinstated.
Several questions remain. For example, it is unclear why the formula for calculating the project’s cost-benefit ratio changed since the Army Corp’s 2017 report. But we – along with our federal representatives – believe that the Corp’s formula fails to account for human costs, which are always our most important consideration. The potential loss of life of our residents and the displacement and disruption of thousands of Mamaroneck citizens lives when flooding occurs was not a consideration of the Trump Administration. Many of our residents live in areas of flooding and every big rain event creates immense stress. We have vigorously related these concerns to all higher levels of government.
Mamaroneck is not alone in losing federal support for vital projects. New York state is losing $8 billion to its healthcare system; the Army Corps has suspended funding to New York City’s storm protection efforts. The list is long and growing, indicating that political retribution is playing a role in federal spending decisions.
We are angry about these developments. But we remain committed to working with our counterparts at all levels of government to getting answers and making our strong case that the Army Corps project move forward. And we remain committed to protecting our community through local flood mitigation efforts and ensuring that our first responders have the resources they need. Many smaller projects in those areas are underway and ongoing, and we are seeking additional grant funding to help.
As we learn more, we will continue to update you. In the meantime, ensure your voice is heard by writing to your local elected officials. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Representative Engel, State Senator Mayer, State Assemblyman Otis, County Executive Latimer, County Legislator Parker and our Village Manager and Staff are committed to fighting for this project. Please join us in thanking them and supporting their continued efforts to protect Mamaroneck.
Respectfully,
Tom Murphy
Mayor, Village of Mamaroneck