Biden Infrastructure Advisor Visits Hudson Valley In Wake Of Floods

MOUNT VERNON, NY — As the Hudson Valley continues to reel from the latest natural disaster to hit the region, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand brought together local and national leaders to search for solutions for a future increasingly at the mercy of climate change-related weather events.

In the wake of deadly flooding in the Hudson Valley, Gillibrand recruited senior advisor to President Biden and White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu to Mount Vernon for a roundtable on resilient infrastructure on Friday.

"This week, I had the opportunity to see firsthand the devastation from the recent flooding in the Hudson Valley," Gillibrand told those gathered. "As climate change makes severe storms like this one more frequent, we have to rebuild smarter — that means investing in climate resilient infrastructure that can weather floods, hurricanes, blizzards, and other extreme weather events. I’m proud to have delivered millions in federal funding to upgrade New York’s roads and bridges, but there is still more to do."

Senator Gillibrand and Mitch Landrieu were joined by Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, State Senator Shelley Mayer, State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow, Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky, Assemblymember Chris Burdick, Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne and Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

"As the former Mayor of New Orleans, I know all too well the devastation that can follow a severe storm and flooding, and I know the tireless work it takes to rebuild communities back better than ever before," Landrieu said. "Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda as well as the leadership of Senator Gillibrand and Mayor Shawyn Patterson Howard, we are making historic investments in resilience across the Hudson Valley. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to continuing our efforts to ensure that when extreme weather hits, our infrastructure stands strong."

County Executive Latimer said that like New Orleans, Westchester is uniquely susceptible to the effects of climate change.

"Westchester County is home to many thoroughfares that are named after bodies of water — so when it rains, we are always susceptible to major flooding," Latimer said. "The same can be said for many of our municipalities, even if they aren’t named after bodies of water. Events like this bring even greater attention to our need for federal dollars to combat the rising tide of climate change impacting our County. I thank Mitch Landrieu, Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer and our entire Congressional delegation for their attention to Westchester’s needs and efforts to remedy them."

Assemblymember Chris Burdick, who represents parts of Westchester most dramatically affected by the latest round of flooding, said that as the federal government faces the challenges of climate change infrastructure improvements can make a positive change his constituents lives even when rivers aren't in danger of overflowing their banks.

"I am delighted that Senator Gillibrand and White House Senior Advisor & Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu were here in Westchester to address our pressing infrastructure needs," Burdick said. "Top amongst those needs in my district is the implementation of the key I 684/84 Department of Transportation study, which identifies a means of solving the severe congestion at the 684/84 interchange that is leading to traffic overflowing onto local roads. We also have recently seen our share of flooding and storm damage, which will only increase due to climate change. I was glad to participate in a fruitful discussion on the growing infrastructure needs of Westchester."

NYS Sen. Fernandez., who represents Mount Vernon, said that providing a stable system of infrastructure is one of the most basic functions of government.

"Resilient infrastructure is the backbone of a thriving society, weathering the storms of uncertainty and adversity," Fernandez said. "It forms the bedrock of progress, safeguarding communities, and empowering economies to withstand challenges and emerge stronger than before. In an ever-changing world, investing in resilient infrastructure is a testament to our commitment to a sustainable and secure future."