Hurricane Sandy struck a devastating blow to New York City. It is going to be a long time before Far Rockaway, Breezy Point and Staten Island are going to be back to the way things were before Sandy.
The one thing made clear in the days since the storm hit is now is the time to rebuild the city’s infrastructure. As a City Council candidate in the 19th District in 2013, I feel this issue must be put front and center.
The images of flooded subway tunnels, downed power lines, major hospitals being evacuated and destruction of homes are overwhelming. We must come together and develop a comprehensive plan to rebuild our city. Whether it is building storm doors for our tunnels or metal gates that will seal entrances to subway stations, creating levees or moving all power lines underground, all options must be put on the table.
With a 9.3 percent unemployment rate in October 2012, rebuilding our aging and outdated infrastructure is the perfect way to put New Yorkers back to work. Historically, every time the United States economically struggled, we built infrastructure like the Erie Canal and transcontinental railroad in the 1800s, or the interstate highway system in the 1950s.
These projects helped our economy recover. I am confident rebuilding the city’s infrastructure will secure and protect our city and do the same for today’s economy. Yes, the cost will be high and these projects will take a long time. We must find a way to move these projects forward. Our future depends on it.
When elected to the Council next year, I will be a strong advocate for these projects. I know that together we will make a difference.
Matthew Silverstein
City Council Candidate
Whitestone
