Assembly Member Nily Rozic rallied local elected officials, environmental advocates and other community stakeholders to call for stronger flood prevention measures, drawing attention to the growing impacts of climate change on Queens residents.
Rozic held a press conference on Friday, May 16, with Sen John Liu, Council Member James F. Gennaro and Council Member Sandra Ung attending in support.
Rozic is the sponsor of the Rain Ready NY Act(A7467), a bill that would amend public authorities law to include stormwater in the definition of sewage for the purposes of certain water, sewer, and water and sewer authorities. The Rain Ready NY Act has successfully passed the Senate and is currently under review by the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions.
The rise in flooding incidents has particularly affected the neighborhoods of Flushing, Jamaica and Fresh Meadows, as heavy rainfall continues to overwhelm the aging sewer systems. The rainfall has caused significant property damage and hazardous conditions for Queens residents, with notable incidents including Hurricane Ida in 2021 and repeated flash floods as recent as 2023.
According to Rozic, a Regional Plan Association report released last month warns that New York City and the surrounding areas could lose up to 82,000 homes to flooding if urgent investment is not made in updating flood infrastructure throughout the city.
“Flooding has become a persistent crisis that threatens homes, disrupts communities, and endangers lives. As climate change accelerates, we must act now to provide water and sewer authorities with the tools they need to build resilient, future-proof infrastructure. The Rain Ready Act offers a pragmatic solution, and I am proud to stand alongside my colleagues in government, environmental advocates, and community leaders in advocating for the investments our state urgently needs,” said Rozic.
Liu, co-sponsor of the companion Senate bill, S4071, added that many business owners and homeowners in northeast Queens have been fearful of flooding when inclement weather is announced. “While the Trump White House continues to strip critical FEMA funding for flood mitigation projects in Queens, we are pushing for responsible legislation that would protect homes, businesses, and lives from the growing dangers of extreme weather.”
Gennaro, who chairs the Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency, and Waterfronts, is in full support of Rozic’s bill. He said the Rain Ready NY Act is crucial in allowing local water and sewer agencies to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure.“It aligns with the goals of my recently passed legislation, Intro 1150, also known as Stormwater 2.0, which mandates a comprehensive citywide stormwater management plan and creates a public dashboard to improve transparency and preparedness. Together, these initiatives offer a commonsense, forward-thinking approach to protecting our communities, our homes, and our environment. I’m proud to stand with Assembly Member Rozic and my colleagues to push for these much-needed initiatives.”
