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By Linda Kaidan
Why Housing for NYC’s Climate Refugees? Everywhere we’re finally acknowledging the immediacy of coastal climate change devastation. Now is the time to replace traditional spending behaviors with healthy behaviors that can save millions of people and millions of dollars.
For example, we might ask, can we put part of NY’s $90.2 billion FY 2020 budget to better use as an investment in new permanent housing for 1 million coastal residents migrating to inland homes in Central NY?
New Housing for 1+ Million People
$60 billion will create infrastructure and homes for 1 million people in Central NY (CNY). The existing Utica/Rome SMSA population is roughly 350000. With CNY quadrupling in size, exciting opportunities will exist for workers, learners and investors.
Central NY is experiencing significant growth in Health and High-Tech Sectors. For example, Cree is investing in a $1 Billion semiconductor chip processing plant in Utica. In Syracuse, Microsoft is participating in “Smart Cities”. New residents will have good opportunities for jobs, education and growing services. Ongoing expansion in medical sectors is taking place in both these cities.
Horrible facts mean let’s act quickly for a healthy future
- We have gravely underestimated the rate at which coastal cities will catastrophically flood.
- Due to Antarctic melting sudden ocean rise may occur.
- Mortgages will become unobtainable in coastal areas.
- This implies that a sudden devaluation of coastal property is likely.
Central NY has elevations well above the maximum predicted sea level rise. These range from 400 ft to 800 ft above sea level. New York State has the resources and wisdom to prepare for inevitable devastation by directing investments to critical targets that will promote security and prosperity. Rerouting coastal investment to optimal inland locations is key to our success!
