NY1 reporting live from CSI.
The College of Staten Island (CSI) was the location of a NY1 sponsored Live Town Hall broadcast, entitled “Build it Broke.” The segment examines the city’s Superstorm Sandy reconstruction program, Build it Back, which has been plagued by building delays, soaring costs and communication issues since its inception in 2014.
Approximately 100 community members gathered with elected officials in the Lab Theatre, Center for the Arts to voice their concerns about the Build it Back program. The evening included a screening of NY1’s Amanda Farinacci’s 30-minute special on the subject, followed by remarks by CSI President William J. Fritz, PhD.
“I am pleased that at CSI we have been actively researching the impact of hurricanes and storm surges with the goal of protecting lives and property (houses and cars) with a special focus on protecting vulnerable populations… Since Hurricane Sandy, the College has been a place where we can have serious conversations about difficult topics like these. Tonight’s conversation is a serious one, and we need to hear from multiple perspectives,” Dr. Fritz said, noting that right after Hurricane Sandy, he offered a five-point plan to protect the city. This plan includes protecting wetlands, dunes, marshes, and bio-reefs; rebuilding and restoring dune fields, marshes, and oyster reefs; rezoning high-risk areas; finding appropriate uses of engineering such as seawalls, and other structures; and education.
Watch NY1’s coverage of the College’s YouTube page.
