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The New Year brings hope, but does disappointment linger in the air. |
By Mark E. Ruquet
Me, like many others, are hopeful that 2014 will be the
beginning of a better year than 2013. Then again, I said that for 2013 at the
end of 2012, and said the same for 2012 at the end of 2011. My memory doesn’t
reach back further at the moment, but I feel it's not a recent sentiment.
The reality is that as much as we hope life will improve in
the New Year the issues that hounded us in the prior year haunt us into the new.
It’s a question of resolving issues from the past and our hope that life takes
an upswing. Yes, reality is a disappointment.
Taking stock of what the major issues facing us today, those
of us in the fight against oppressive flood insurance increases have some positives
on our side. Sen. Mary Laundrieu (D-La.) posted
on her website an article from the Times Picayune that supporters of
legislation to rollback the increases have adopted a new strategy to move the
bill ahead after the Senate returns. Unfortunately, there is solid opposition
from the Republican ultra-right that is seeking to deny Laundrieu any legislative
victory as she faces re-election.
To say the least, this is a mixed message, with no guarantee
of success. If the bill passes the Senate, it faces an uncertain future in the
House where Republicans dominate. However, since numbers translate into votes,
if we make our voices heard maybe we could bring legislators to their senses.
Consider this, NOAA’s State
of the Coast map shows that more than 16 million people, five percent of
the U.S. population, lives in coastal floodplain. More than 800,000 of that 16
million live in New York alone. Not all of those homeowners may buy flood
insurance, but in the wake of Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Irene in
2011, many who received federal aid are required to buy flood insurance and face
bankrupting rate increases. A vocal, committed chorus of homeowners should sway
the majority of legislators to do the right thing and take a step back from
this ruinous law.
In New York and New Jersey, for the most part, we can be
confident that our legislators understand our predicament and are working to
help us. Locally, one would think this is a no brainer and many New York City officials
would be speaking out in support of homeowners. However, as many residents
still struggle to get back into their homes or worry insurance rate increases
will drive us away, Bill de Blasio was silent on the issue in his inaugural
address.
As is the custom among politicians, an inaugural focuses on
broad themes. Indeed, the mayor’s remarks focused on the inequality within the five boroughs
and the promise the city can do better.
“We are called to put an end to economic and social
inequalities that threaten to unravel the city we love,” said de Blasio, adding
that he will take “dead aim” at seeing this come to pass, while acknowledging it
will not be easy.
The mayor has grand plans. While we hope he moves the city
to a better place, it would have been nice if he had reached out and remembered
those of us who suffered one of the most devastating tropical storms to hit the
Northeast in decades and are now victims of one of the most devastatingly
shortsighted Congressional reforms in recent memory.
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