At the annual Mayor’s Chamber of Commerce speech this week, Mayor Wu called on all businesses and institutions in Boston to write a comment letter in support of a comprehensive storm risk management plan through the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
The GRC urges Boston’s business community to answer the mayor’s call: weigh in before the end of the public comment period this Friday, September 18.
As background: the City of Boston is currently partnering with the USACE to develop a Coastal Storm Risk Management strategy. Their draft was released this summer.
The plan presents three possible Action Plans but does not recommend which path to pursue.
- Action Plan 1 is no action
- Action Plan 2 is a comprehensive strategy with 20+ projects along the Boston coastline located in all of Boston’s coastal neighborhoods
- Action Plan 3 is one section of Dorchester that would protect Moakley Park
The partnership between USACE and the City of Boston could be a generational opportunity to access billions in federal funds. However, the possibility of securing $6.5 Billion in federal funds only exists if the final draft of the report recommends Action Plan 2 with Action Plan 3 as an early action project.
We have been inspired to see GRC members and partners stepping up. Thank you to everyone who has already submitted a letter.
It’s not too late to make your voice heard. Additional information here:
- Link to the City of Boston’s StoryMap about the different proposed projects.
- Boston webpage about the USACE project.
- City’s resources regarding the comment letters.
- GRC key talking points.
Questions? Contact Rebecca Herst, Associate Director and Head of Climate Resilience at the GRC at rebecca@greenribboncommission.org.