To ALL State & Federal Senators, Congressman and Legislatures the voters and taxpayers of Northern NJ demand proactive measures be implemented in the short term to reduce and eliminate the yearly devastation of flooding not only along the Passaic River banks but for homes, businesses and schools miles away. This plea is not just the result of Hurricane Irene but what has become a yearly event for all the residents since 2007.

 

The people you represent are NOT in need of further studies but are in need of ACTION. Action in the forms of capital projects to avert, minimize and eliminate the deluge of water that are destroying communities, schools, highways, businesses, homes and the lives of its residents on a yearly basis.

 

We are in a crisis of utmost urgency and there should be no excuses over lack of funds or party affiliation. If we can fund the rebuilding of communities in other countries we can certainly find the funds and resources to re-build our own. Bold measures are needed to alleviate this yearly occurrence and they are needed IMMEDIATELY.

 

These measures must include these basics:

 

1.)    Legislative amendments within the State to mandate and manage reservoir and dam levels that feed our rivers not only throughout the year but in advance of projected and forecasted weather events must be instituted and passed immediately. Even if that means convening an emergency session. There must be a much better balance between the profit of private water companies and the basic health, welfare & safety of residents. If private water companies do not wish to cooperate then legislation must be passed removing their indemnity to be sued over flooding. These entities objective is to maximize profit on the backs of the very same people they are flooding.

 

2.)    Locally identified issues which contribute to flooding must be prioritized, funds allocated and construction begun in 2012. The DEP and DOT must streamline the approval process of these projects as they are of extreme community urgency. These projects include previously US Army Corp of Engineers studied problems such as the Two Bridges back flow of the Pompton Rv and the Beatties Dam restricted flow situation; problems identified and documented over 20 years ago yet no viable action ever taken by the State or Federal Government.

 

3.)    Dredging of the river to increase capacity and flow. Millions upon millions of dollars have been allocated to dredge the lower Passaic River which by all admissions is the most polluted area, yet not a single dollar has been allocated to dredge the portion of the river that has seen the most devastation, well over $1billion dollars in damages since 2007. De-snagging and shoal removal is the equivalent to skimming pool the impact is less than desirable. An aggressive dredging project is required by summer of 2012.

 

4.)    Buyouts – process must be streamlined and expedited for the people choosing this option; waiting periods of 1-2 years is no longer applicable as that can mean an additional 3-4 flood events for those individuals. This is the backbone of the Governors 15 point Commission Report issued last Dec – a report which fails to address the lost tax revenues and the impact on remaining residents not to mention the destruction of communities or the homes and businesses being flooded miles away from the river.

 

5.)    Accountability – There MUST be assumed responsibility to rectify and amend existing policies and procedures within the same state agencies that are responsible in the issuing of permits to build in wetlands or sensitive areas.

 

6.)    Moratorium on building until a fully funded action plan is put in place.

 

 

Continued inaction by our elected officials or the ordering of additional studies WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED and the voters and taxpayers who put you into office WILL VOTE YOU OUT OF OFFICE. Therefore as election time approaches we are watching to see who will stand up and be a leader and finally take this issue head on and propose bold initiatives and who will continue to stick their head in the sand.