New York City Councilor Sandra Ung invited the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Rohit Aggarwala, to Flushing on May 13 to have a direct dialogue with residents and homeowners affected by flooding. During the meeting, homeowners expressed their opposition to using government funds for building retention tanks and instead suggested allocating the resources to expand the sewer system.
Commissioner Aggarwala shared that a “Cloudburst” initiative will be implemented in the flood-prone area of Kissena Park in Flushing. The design phase of this project is expected to take 18 months, followed by procurement and construction. The next step will involve initiating the design and planning phase, and a virtual meeting will be held in 10 days to gather public input.
“We are exploring solutions to address surface flooding and water retention,” Commissioner Aggarwala stated. While he did not have specific solutions to share at the moment, he affirmed that his team is diligently researching various strategies to tackle surface flooding.
A homeowner residing on Peak Avenue since 1990 recounted the devastating floods in the community in 1996 and particularly the destructive impact of the 2021 flood, with a neighboring family tragically losing three members. She expressed her ongoing anxiety with every rainfall. Despite authorities responding to clear debris and blockages upon her calls to 311, she pointed out that the maintenance efforts were limited to her immediate area, leaving other sections neglected. The homeowner advocated for sewer system expansion over retention tanks, which she viewed as potentially harmful rather than beneficial.
Another resident on Rose Avenue, Miss Zhang, emphasized the necessity of enlarging the sewer system rather than constructing retention tanks. She criticized the authorities’ plan to build two retention tanks, highlighting the lack of effluent outlets which could lead to overflow issues during prolonged rainfall, ultimately viewed as a wasteful endeavor.
After listening to residents’ concerns, Commissioner Aggarwala, in an interview with NTD Television, expressed the community’s desire for long-term, substantial solutions over short-term fixes.
Discussing the challenges of expanding and constructing new sewer infrastructures, Commissioner Aggarwala pointed out the high costs, lengthy timeline, and complexity involved in such projects.
“Building sewers is the costliest solution. Imagine digging sewers in New York City. It’s the most complex due to the need to integrate with existing sewer systems, manage all underground public facilities, and comply with state and federal regulations. Constructing sewer facilities in New York City is a long-term investment no matter where in the world,” remarked Commissioner Aggarwala.
Councilor Sandra Ung mentioned that this was the second community dialogue session between government officials and residents to address flooding issues near Kissena Park in Flushing. She encouraged residents to share their viewpoints with the Department of Environmental Protection, underscoring the importance of community engagement. Interested residents were invited to attend an online meeting on May 22 from 6-7 pm or on May 23 from 1-2 pm to learn more about the “Cloudburst” initiative. Registration details could be obtained from her office or by scanning the QR code on promotional materials.