Power outages have long plagued the neighborhoods of Middle Village, Maspeth, and other areas of my district. This persistent and frustrating issue continues to disrupt the lives of our residents. These outages often occur with alarming regularity, sometimes triggered by something as innocuous as 30-mile-an-hour winds or the occasional mischief of squirrels. Falling trees and other preventable disruptions further strain the fragile state of our electrical infrastructure. Despite ongoing efforts and promises from Con Edison, the investment in upgrading and securing our power lines has been woefully inadequate.
Con Edison’s recent initiatives to bury power lines underground—a solution that many agree would mitigate the frequent outages—have moved at a glacial pace. The funding allocated for these crucial upgrades falls short of what is required to address the scope of the problem. Residents in our area deserve reliable electrical service, and it is time for Con Edison to accelerate its efforts and increase its investment in this essential infrastructure.
Compounding the problem is the City of Yes proposal, which is being pushed through despite widespread opposition from civic associations, like the Juniper Park Civic Association, community boards, and the public. This initiative, which aims to increase development, has failed to consider the critical need to improve our grid infrastructure. While the proposal is a developer’s dream, it is a neighborhood nightmare. As the city and state continue to enforce regulations that push for more electric appliances—restricting the use of gas stoves and water heaters—the demand on our already overburdened electrical system will only grow. Additionally, the surge in electric vehicle usage further strains our grid, which is ill-equipped to handle the increased load.
The looming disaster of an overloaded electrical grid is exacerbated by the recurring flooding in our area, a problem that has only intensified with the changing climate. What used to be occasional downpours have now turned into regular deluges, leaving our streets submerged and our homes vulnerable. In 2007, the city introduced a zoning text amendment designed to prevent flooding by encouraging flood-resistant building practices and raising the elevation of new construction. However, it wasn’t until the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 that the city tried taking more substantial steps with the 2013 Flood Resilience Zoning Text Amendment.
This amendment further facilitated flood-resistant construction by removing regulatory barriers and aligning building practices with updated flood maps. However, none of this has helped as we see more people paving over their lawns and green spaces, actions that contribute to runoff and exacerbate flooding. Even utility companies like National Grid are guilty of paving over areas that could otherwise help absorb excess rainwater.
The lack of tree planting by the Parks Department is another missed opportunity. Trees are crucial in managing storm water and improving air quality, yet our neighborhoods remain underserved. Bioswales meant to absorb rainwater and reduce flooding, have proven ineffective in providing the relief we desperately need.
What is urgently required is a comprehensive, citywide plan to revamp our infrastructure and address these pressing issues. Instead, we are confronted with the City of Yes proposal. This half-baked plan fails to guarantee affordable housing while jeopardizing the quality of life in our area and beyond. This proposal prioritizes rapid development over the well-being of existing communities, ignoring the infrastructure improvements needed to support any increase in population density.
The city should be ashamed of its failure to address these critical infrastructure challenges. We need leadership that will prioritize the safety and well-being of its residents over hasty development and inadequate planning. It is time for the city to take a hard look at the needs of its communities and commit to making the necessary investments to safeguard our future.
Our neighborhoods deserve better than unreliable power, frequent flooding, and ineffective infrastructure planning. It’s long past time for the city and our utility companies to take action to ensure that all residents in our district have the reliable, resilient infrastructure they need to thrive.
