THE LONG-TERM CHALLENGES OF POST-SANDY LONG BEACH WILL BE THE MEASURING ROD OF SUCCESS…IF NOT LEGACY

The Democrat City Hall administration admittedly did a good job in the immediate aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Civil order was preserved following the storm, and City Hall maintained a spirited presence in addressing issues to bring Long Beach back on its feet.  In large part, the administration’s performance following Sandy was the deciding factor in their electoral victory this past November, with all their high-profile media presence standing alongside State and Federal leaders coming to Long Beach. A good start now needs a good finish. Now that more than a year has passed since Sandy, there are concerns I have about the long-term well-being of the City related to post-Sandy issues that are yet known or answered.  How they are played out or addressed are vital to build on the short-term interventions of the past year.  These concerns are as follow:

1. Will the government funds from FEMA and New York Rising be timely released and sufficient to cover costs, and will the funds “hit the street” without being siphoned or consumed by middle-men or misappropriation by those in charge of the distribution.

2. Public relations and media image must emphasize the positive. There remain church and civic counseling groups that continue to process storm trauma. There continues media fascination with individual stories of ongoing displacement. These programs and coverage focusing on special needs of worst case scenarios makes the suggestion that despair is the norm rather than the unfortunate exception as much of the city and its residents have “moved on.”  Such a vision of a beleaguered Long Beach does not help property values to rise.

3. Has the City borrowed too much to cover Sandy recovery costs?  Five City Hall so-called “exempt employees” netted more than $37K overtime in the two months after Sandy.  Has the future been mortgaged in borrowing and bonding instead of cost-cutting.

4.  Will the Boardwalk prove an overpay at 44 million?  Will the City try to create a Boardwalk Operating Authority that will lay extra levels of costs for its upkeep and “administration?”

5.   The City must commit itself to a preferential option to respect property rights and be prudent in its handling of eminent domain, discouraging shore-line rebuilding and new construction, and implementing Agenda 21 mandated rules for neighborhood transformations.  Don’t panic.  Be conscious of neighborhood appearance in its rush to have houses raised to satisfy insurance needs

6.  Has City Hall gotten around to figure a plan for the most complex issues of damaged infrastructure, bay flooding, bay contamination and ocean-front protection?

7.  Have there been political obligations and quid pro quo that will ham-string or compromise the independence of City Hall?  Is City Hall now in Schumer and Cuomo’s pocket, even if there are reasons to oppose a respective legislative or executive measure that does not accrue in Long Beach’s favor? Has City Hall vetted the ongoing influence and input of outside agencies, such as Sustainable Long Island and New York Communities for Change, groups with wide and extreme social agenda which came into Long Beach to help right after the storm and who may not have yet gone away?

8. Does City Hall have the political pull to get federal momentum towards repealing Biggert Waters? 

The Disaster Accountability Project is a Louisiana-based NFP advocating for the transparency and accountability of organizations responding to disasters which started after Hurricane Katrina.  The Disaster Accountability Project has been asked to look into Long Beach’s post-Sandy activities. 

Although I am a Republican Committeeman, I want the current administration to succeed.  After all, I am a resident of Long Beach and I “kinda like the place.”  However, how City Hall follows up long-term and how they deal with the long-range consequences of the immediate and short-term measures they took will be the measuring rod on voter approval in future elections. Consequences of decisions made at the time of crisis must be anticipated for the long-term. As City Hall accrued voter support for their immediate response, how things shake out for the long range solvency and good ordering of the City will tell the tale of the tape.  But for the time being, I encourage City Hall to consider my concerns, if they have not already, as they will be governing for at least the next two years.