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"The Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy applauds Mayor Bloomberg's leadership and welcomes the important recommendations in this report to harden our fuel system infrastructure, facilitate faster post-emergency restoration efforts, improve information-sharing and coordination, and expedite necessary waivers to bring needed fuel supplies to New York City. We welcome the Mayor's invitation to partner with him on implementation of these recommendations to make the city more resilient to extreme weather events, drawing on the unique experience of Center Director Jason Bordoff from his time at the White House responding to energy shortages during Hurricane Sandy."

STATEMENT OF TIMOTHY P. CROWLEY, ESQ, DIRECTOR, MITIGATION DIVISION, FEMA REGION II

"The partnership that FEMA has built with the City of New York in developing the updated coastal analyses ensures that the best available flood hazard information is provided to the public. Understanding one's risk and role as it relates to flooding can lead people to take action to reduce their flood risk. We feel that our collective efforts through this partnership can help the residents of New York City build back safer and stronger. FEMA is committed to work with the City of New York to help implement the mitigation elements in the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency report."

"One of the goals of Columbia University's Earth Institute has been to ensure that sustainability policy is based on the best possible scientific knowledge. Mayor Bloomberg's Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency has been an impressive and massive analytic effort to develop a cutting edge plan to protect New York's infrastructure, buildings and communities from the impacts of climate change. A number of Columbia University Earth Institute scientists were deeply involved in this effort, and we pledge our continued support to help New York City in any way we can to meet the challenges identified by this state-of-the-art plan."

JOINT STATEMENT OF CYNTHIA ROSENZWEIG, NASA GODDARD INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND WILLIAM SOLECKI, HUNTER COLLEGE, CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, CUNY INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES; CO-CHAIRS OF THE NYC PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE

"The inclusion of increasing risks due to climate change in the post Hurricane Sandy rebuilding of New York City is a positive tipping point for climate policy and action –  not just for New York City, but for cities around the world, said Cynthia Rosenzweig and Bill Solecki, the co-chairs of the City's Panel on Climate Change. With the Mayor's report, 'A Stronger, More Resilient New York,' and the NYC Panel on Climate Change's report, 'Climate Risk Information 2013' we have an opportunity to illustrate the valuable role of climate science information and how it can be used to inform adaptation and resiliency decision making. This information is increasingly required by climate change and New York's efforts can serve as a model for other municipalities facing similar challenges."

STATEMENT OF CAROL BROWNER, DISTINGUISHED SENIOR FELLOW, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS

"New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading the way in finding creative and sustainable strategies for cities to become more resilient and secure while addressing the impacts of climate change. America's mayors are on the front lines of combating climate change that is fueled by industrial carbon pollution. Our cities are at risk, and it will take strong leadership to protect ourselves in the future from the public health, security and financial risks associated with climate change, carbon pollution, and extreme weather."

STATEMENT OF FRANCES BEINECKE, PRESIDENT, NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL

"Mayor Bloomberg gets it and has been leading the way on climate issues on a broad front. Climate change is real, it is hurting our people and putting our city at growing risk. Our families, workers and taxpayers are already paying the price, and the costs are certain to rise. It's time to go after the problem. It's time to cut the carbon pollution that's driving climate chaos."

STATEMENT OFTOM BOURGEOIS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PACE ENERGY AND CLIMATE CENTER; CO-CHAIR, NEW YORK CITY DISTRIBUTED GENERATION COLLABORATIVE

"Mayor Bloomberg's plan recognizes the important role of clean distributed generation such as solar and high efficiency, environmentally superior combined heat and power, as well as microgrids. Combined heat and power can provide critical infrastructure resiliency, business continuity, and is a major component of emergency preparedness and planning. We applaud the Mayor today for taking major steps forward towards making New York stronger and a more resilient place to live and do business."

"The Bloomberg Administration has drawn on a wealth of public and private expertise to produce the most comprehensive analysis of the lessons of Superstorm Sandy to guide the city's planning for future preparedness, development and infrastructure investment."

STATEMENT OF BRYCE RUDYK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FRANK J GUARINI CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL; LAND USE LAW ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF LAW, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

"This report's recommendations highlight the potential for clean, distributed generation to enhance New York City's energy infrastructure and improve service for New Yorkers. Distributed generation will increase our city's energy resilience, and through new business models and regulatory policy, can create utilities for the 21st century. In the coming months, the Guarini Center of New York University School of Law, in partnership with the City's Distributed Generation Collaborative, will release detailed proposals for how the City can use administrative, financial and regulatory tools to achieve the ambitious goals for distributed generation development outlined in PlaNYC."

STATEMENT OF KEVIN BURKE, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, CON EDISON

"We value Mayor Bloomberg's leadership on preparing our city for climate change and the threats posed by increasingly dangerous weather. Con Edison has already begun making significant investments to protect our infrastructure and our customers from future storms. We expect more improvements to evolve as we learn more about dramatic weather patterns that we must confront."

STATEMENT FROM MICHAEL NORTHROP, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND

"Mayor Bloomberg's science based, practical approach to making the city resilient to climate change is a model for other jurisdictions across the United States and beyond."

STATEMENT OF STEVEN SPINOLA, CHAIRMAN, REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK

"Severe weather events like Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene demonstrate how catastrophic it can be for residents and businesses when real estate is not operational. The Mayor's PlaNYC report for A Stronger, More Resilient New York not only outlines regulations to improve buildings' ability to withstand severe weather events, but also provide a comprehensive and thoughtful blueprint for how all sectors of New York City – public, private, utilities and not-for-profit – can work together, respond faster, and best contribute to a coordinated defense against extreme events in the future."

STATEMENT OFJAMES T. GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEW YORK STATE SMART GRID CONSORTIUM

"We applaud Mayor Bloomberg for his leadership and imagination in devising solutions that will address broad infrastructure issues that impact the lives of all New Yorkers. As a diverse coalition of utilities, technology providers, policy makers and universities, we will work closely with the task force to support the Mayor's vision by facilitating innovative smart grid projects that leverage the latest cutting-edge technologies."

STATEMENT OF DR. JUDITH RODIN, PRESIDENT OF THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION

"Today is a big win for all New Yorkers, from businesses in Hunts Point to homeowners in Breezy Point, this ambitious plan better prepares New York to more effectively respond to, and bounce back from, future storms. I commend Mayor Bloomberg for a resilience strategy that considers not just the vital need for natural and man-made barriers, but also comprehensively addresses other aspects of building resilience like insurance, energy, telecommunications and community impacts.  Going forward, we must build systems that are less likely to go down during a disaster and will come back more quickly if they do go down.  We cannot prevent all future disasters from occurring, but we can prevent failing catastrophically by embracing, practicing, and improving comprehensive resilience strategies."

STATEMENT OF ROBERT D. YARO, PRESIDENT, REGIONAL PLAN ASSOCIATION

"This has been an extraordinary effort on the part of the City to lay out a set of coherent strategies to ensure that New York is prepared for whatever climate-related events are coming our way. This report is the result of extensive consultations with every important community, civic and business group in town." 

"There have been a lot of ideas about how to better protect the City from coastal flooding and the related consequences of climate change. I think that what came out of Sandy was the sense that there are diverse strategies that are available and that need to be developed in parallel. Some have focused on soft infrastructure or other green strategies. Others have been more focused toward traditional engineering control structures. I think that now everybody has come together in favor of a balanced set of strategies, and that is exactly what the City has put forward."

STATEMENT OF PHILIP ORTON, RESEARCH SCIENTIST, STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

"The City took a smart approach and didn't just look at Sandy and try to prepare for the next Sandy. They looked at different storms as well as sea level rise and other climate change risks. It was a complex study, testing out many different coastal adaptation measures to develop a comprehensive coastal protection plan for New York City, and it lays the groundwork for further study and implementation of its ideas."

STATEMENT OF ANDY DARRELL, NY DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OF STRATEGY FOR ENERGY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND

"Sandy brought New Yorkers face to face with our changing climate, and showed us that the future is now. New York City's plan tackles both the immediate threats of rising seas and extreme weather, and the emissions driving the problem to begin with. Building a cleaner, more robust energy grid will pay back daily dividends for years to come."

STATEMENT OF PEGGY SHEPARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WE ACT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

"The Bloomberg Administration has developed and implemented a far-reaching  plan for New York's sustainability in the face of climate change. WE ACT looks forward to working with the city and other partners to increase community resilience and to build community residents' capacity to sustain themselves and their neighbors during extreme weather events which will continue to occur more frequently."

STATEMENT OF JEFF T. BLAU, CEO, RELATED COMPANIES

"Modern infrastructure is critically important for the future of cities and an issue we as real estate developers are extremely focused on. We applaud the Bloomberg administration's visionary efforts to not only undertake such a comprehensive initiative, but to ensure the involvement of a diverse group of experts and the utilization of the very best analytic models. We look forward to working with the administration and other stakeholders to ensure we are building stronger and smarter and securely positioning our city for long-term growth."

"We are further strengthening our partnerships with the City and other local entities as we implement lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy and look at comprehensive approaches to incorporate advanced technologies and other measures to further develop our response actions. We are committed to storm hardening, resiliency and emergency preparedness for extreme weather events which impact our natural gas customers."

STATEMENT OF YELENA MAKHNIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BRIGHTON BEACH BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

"The Mayor's team took time to engage with us and understand the challenges facing our area, and I look forward to working with them to implement the important initiatives in this report."

"The businesses and residents of the Hudson Square neighborhood were impacted by Sandy at a time of great optimism for the future of our Lower Manhattan neighborhood as a great place to live, work and play. The City's Rebuilding and Resiliency report includes ambitious initiatives to support resiliency in our neighborhood and across the City and justifies our confidence. We are excited to continue to work with the City on resiliency investments that achieve our shared goals."

STATEMENT OF RICK BELL, FAIA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS NEW YORK CHAPTER

"Superstorm Sandy revealed major vulnerabilities in the city's transportation and infrastructure, housing, critical and commercial buildings, and waterfront that can only be resolved through a comprehensive approach to designing the New York City of the future. The Strategic Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency report strategically outlines a roadmap for what we must endeavor to build back better and smarter. The architecture, engineering and planning communities are prepared to assist rebuilding leaders in preparing for the future."

STATEMENT OF ALISON BURKE, VICE PRESIDENT, REGULATORY AND PROFESSIONAL AFFAIRS, GREATER NEW YORK HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

"The Mayor's Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR) thoughtfully approached making recommendations for repairing buildings damaged by Super Storm Sandy and ensuring critical healthcare services are better prepared to withstand future storms and climate change. SIRR convened healthcare providers and industry experts to participate in a transparent process that considered existing buildings and future new construction of healthcare facilities with the goal of maintaining critical services and minimizing disruptions to services. GNYHA is grateful to have participated."

STATEMENT OF VIN CIPOLLA, PRESIDENT, THE MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

"Last fall New York City joined a now not-so-exclusive club of cities faced with the sudden impact of severe weather. For over a century the Municipal Art Society has advocated for policies and approaches that strengthen the livability and resilience of our city, which is why we were pleased to support the Mayor's Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency. This report is an important step in finding ways to build our urban resilience and the engagement of all New Yorkers in this work. The recommendations of the SIRR report are an important start in fostering a national and global resilient city movement, of which New York City must be at the forefront."

STATEMENT OF ROLAND LEWIS, PRESIDENT AND CEO, METROPOLITAN WATERFRONT ALLIANCE

"Sandy was not a surprise to many but it was a shock to all. I think the response by the City has been robust and effective. They're asking the right questions, looking at the science first, and coming up with a nuanced and neighborhood-specific set of plans that will be very useful going forward for all of us involved in the rebuilding for the years to come."

STATEMENT OF JOSEPH VIETRI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PLANNING CENTER FOR COASTAL AND STORM DAMAGE AT THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

"The US Army Corps of Engineers has been working with the City of New York for decades on flood risk reduction projects. Sandy may have not been the first storm to hit New York, but it certainly has set the new benchmark. New York faces several existing challenges, such as the geology of its harbor, its topography, and the variety of land uses found along its coastline – all of which point to the need for a suite of coastal defense solutions that is tailored for each specific part of the City as part of tiered layers of defense. New York City has been a leader in coastal storm risk reduction in the past and we look forward to working closely with the City and its multilayered proposal for coastal defense, which we expect to form the basis for the solution set to be developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers."

STATEMENT OF MICHAEL OPPENHEIMER, ALBERT G. MILBANK PROFESSOR OF GEOSCIENCES AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS; MEMBER OF THE NYC PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE

"Over the course of 350 years, New York City has adjusted to the risk of living by the sea but now the risk is increasing markedly, said Michael Oppenheimer Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs at Princeton University and a member of the New York City Panel on Climate Change. While the prospect of higher sea level presents daunting challenges, it's encouraging to see policy makers undertake a process of hard-headed evaluation of the risk and begin to plan to increase the City's resilience in the face of the multiple threats posed by climate change."

STATEMENT OF JILL EISENHARD, FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RED HOOK INITIATIVE

"The SIRR report combines the collective experiences and recommendations of technical experts, community-based organizations, home owners, renters, NYCHA residents, climatologists, and City agencies in order to create a comprehensive blueprint with which to guide New York into the next stage of recovery. Communities like Red Hook will depend on this diversity of voices and perspectives in order to shape our thinking around long-term resiliency planning."

STATEMENT OF ROBERT HAMMOND, CO-FOUNDER, FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE

"Hurricane Sandy showed how climate change can impact some of NYC's most cherished attractions and destinations as well as neighborhoods like West Chelsea, which was hit hard by the storm and is vulnerable in the future. We're pleased that the City is taking concrete steps today and is recognizing the important role our parks play both as protective infrastructure and as drivers of economic resiliency."

STATEMENT OF CLAY HILES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HUDSON RIVER FOUNDATION

"It is very important to the scientific and environmental policy communities that the process launched by the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency be built on an analysis of the broad array of potential coastal protection measures from traditional solutions to innovative ideas, and consider ecological resources and impacts to be central to planning a resilient and protected harbor. The Mayor's team has shown solid leadership in grounding the Initiative in that analysis."

STATEMENT OF SAM SCHWARTZ, PRESIDENT AND CEO, SAM SCHWARTZ ENGINEERING D.P.C.

"Brilliant in design, clear on message and visionary in expression."

STATEMENT OF LINDA CANZANELLI, SUPERINTENDENT, GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

"The National Park Service and Gateway National Recreation Area are committed to work with our City, State, NGO and other federal partners in developing and implementing solutions to the challenges presented by climate change and sea level rise. The report of the City's Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency provides a strong platform for that collaboration. Opportunities exist for storm-resistant infrastructure, educational programs that build community resilience, and in restoring native ecosystems better suited to protect the surrounding communities. Parks and open spaces, like those found around Jamaica Bay and the coast of Staten Island, can serve as laboratories to develop environmentally sensitive solutions while preserving the natural areas that are important for our visitors and wildlife."

STATEMENT OF MICHELLE DE LA UZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FIFTH AVENUE COMMITTEE

"This report is helping our communities and the city as a whole face our inherent vulnerabilities to climate change. Given the sense of urgency around these issues, we appreciate the outreach that was done to community leaders and the attention to NYCHA properties, in particular, and look forward to even deeper engagement and consultation as we move forward."

STATEMENT OF DEAN L. BALSAMINI, DIRECTOR, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND

"Superstorm Sandy has altered the landscape of the Staten Island small business community for years to come. The significant restoration work begun in the past six months has also brought into dramatic focus the enormity of what still remains to be done in light of the future risks of climate change. Staten Island impacted communities and small businesses require extensive support to deal with these challenges.

"We applaud the City's bold plan which has put forward extensive initiatives for long-term resiliency including several economic and community recovery programs for small businesses. We believe in the importance of small business as the economic engine stimulating the community, and have appreciated working with the City on the SIRR report and look forward to future collaboration to benefit Staten Island's redevelopment."

"The City has put forward a bold vision for long term resiliency city-wide. We are pleased that the recommendations in the SIRR report include help to impacted communities on Staten Island's East and South Shores. The Chamber looks forward to working collaboratively with the City to re-build a strong and sustainable economy."

"Once again Mayor Michael Bloomberg is demonstrating the highest level of leadership through his visionary call to recreate a more resilient New York City in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy. The Mayor knows that at the heart of every New Yorker is the will to respond to an aggressive rebuilding and resiliency plan that will sustain us for decades to come.

"Being a part of the SIRR Task Force has given me a keen insight into all of the resources of our great City. SIRR has created an actionable plan to rebuild not only my community of Far Rockaway but all of the communities affected by the storm."

"The discussion in the report on the issue of flood insurance reform is timely and important. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the National Flood Insurance Program and ways to achieve financial sustainability while addressing the important issue of affordability."

"This report represents a thoughtful and thorough effort, one that recognizes both the seriousness of the challenges facing the city and the complexity of the implications that various solutions will have on the health care system. New York will be a safer and stronger city for having had these important questions and strategies put before us."

"Beginning in January, at the Mayor's direction, a special task force embarked upon formulating a plan of action to protect the City from future natural disasters, whether it is another hurricane or other threat posed by climate change. To do this the task force sought the input of those communities who suffered great devastation from Hurricane Sandy, including Staten Island whose East and South Shores suffered some of the greatest damage of any community in the City.

"The Mayor recognized that today decisive action must be taken both to help our citizens recover from Sandy and at the same time formulate a set of recommendations to prepare for environmental threats of the future. Doing this will help mitigate the impact of future environmental threats upon our community. The Mayor and his staff brought an open mind, expertise, compassion and leadership to this task. I share the conviction of the Mayor that today is the time to respond to the threats of tomorrow."

"Since its earliest days, Lower Manhattan has been called on again and again to be more innovative and become more resilient. Each time it has responded by setting a new and higher standard. Now, from Water Street to the South Street Seaport, and from TriBeCa to Hudson Square Lower Manhattan is well positioned to respond to the challenges presented by climate change thanks to the outstanding plan the City has proposed."

"With the historic Battery having taken a direct hit from SuperStorm Sandy, The Battery Conservancy values the work of the Mayor's task force in a deep and personal way. We understand and strongly endorse the need to harden parks to make Lower Manhattan –
and all of New York City – more resilient."

"Mayor Bloomberg has formed a successful collaboration between FBOs, CBOs, Emergency Relief Organizations, and City Government in response to the immediate, short term, and long term impact of Hurricane Sandy."

"Mayor Bloomberg's recovery plan, and the speed at which much of the City was restored post-Sandy, is nothing short of remarkable. The City has taken steps, working with organizations including The Trust for Public Land to plan for recurring storm events. These are cataclysmic times: dramatic sea level rise and sea warming that generates low pressure systems and increased intensity of land-driven storm events – are the new normal. The City's plan to strengthen building codes coupled with greater protection and enhancement of natural/wetland systems that serve as buffers to protect our neighborhoods – and a commitment to reduce our carbon footprint – are visionary, and should be replicated globally."

"The report of the City's Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency demonstrates strategic and far-reaching thinking in the areas of climate change adaptation and community resilience. Partners across all sectors and at all scales of government are working collaboratively to ensure that such innovative planning is implemented,  monitored over time and designed to meet changing conditions. The Forest Service is committed to continuing our partnership with the City of New York through the Urban Field Station and supporting the implementation of the SIRR initiatives with research on social-ecological systems and urban natural resource management." 

"The Joint Industry Board of The Electrical Industry is proud to have played a significant role in the post-Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts. Our Local 3 I.B.E.W electricians employed by NECA-NY Electrical Contractors worked hard to answer the city's emergency call to restore the vital electrical service of the communities most impacted. The release of the City's resilience action plan is an important milestone and we look forward to helping make it a reality."

"Community Environmental Center applauds the Bloomberg Administration for its recognition of the need for long term planning that both prepares the City for future climate events as well as mitigates their causes. This Administration is clearly leading the way for a resilient and sustainable future."

"These new guidelines place New York City at the forefront of thinking on resiliency relevant for coastal communities around the world. This continues a series of strategic steps that the Bloomberg administration has taken, including investment in new, sustainable building models, to help create a new paradigm for construction that addresses both the fact of climate change, as well as the need for renewable and sustainable practices."

"Building on the significant progress of PlaNYC, the SIRR report lays out a bold agenda to redesign and reimagine a resilient New York City for a changing climate. By recognizing the important role of natural systems, finding ways to integrate natural and grey infrastructure, and developing large and small-scale science-driven strategies, Mayor Bloomberg is helping secure the promise of a greener, greater New York."

"It is encouraging to see that Mayor Bloomberg and his team have undertaken a thorough and very frank assessment of New York City's strengths and vulnerabilities in the face of climate change. Similarly, the New York Building Congress Task Force on New York City Storm Preparedness recently released a report that raised serious concerns about the City's preparedness for future weather emergencies. The Mayor deserves great credit for issuing a series of sensible and achievable recommendations that, if implemented, will strengthen our infrastructure, better secure our waterfront, and sustain the City as a global leader for decades to come."

"We are pleased to see the Task Force's key recommendations incorporated into SIRR. We hope that SIRR and the Task Force will be seen as a blueprint for future administrations and other cities facing similar challenges to NYC."

"We are encouraged to see that the City's plan calls for resiliency planning efforts in vulnerable communities like the South Bronx, where climate change poses a serious threat to local residents and businesses. As the plan moves from concept to reality, it is our hope that the City will ensure that perspectives of waterfront communities such as Hunts Point are incorporated into the City's efforts to protect public health and to prepare local infrastructure in advance of the next storm – and the storm after that."

"Foresight is more effective than hindsight, said Klaus Jacob a research scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University in New York and a member of the City's Panel on Climate Change. And that's what the report, 'A Stronger, More Resilient New York,' and the NYC Panel on Climate Change are all about."

"The only way to confront an issue as complex as climate change is with a comprehensive and bold approach. With a multi-faceted and clear course of action, that that is exactly what Mayor Bloomberg's plan does. This document will serve as a critical roadmap to protect our city's environment and vitality for the long-term. We thank Mayor Bloomberg and his team for their hard work, and we look forward to working with the current and future and administrations to making progress on these recommendations as soon as possible."

"The SIRR initiative has been one of the most ambitious and impressive undertakings by the Bloomberg Administration. Virtually overnight they were able to marshal professional groups including climatologists, insurance experts, analysts and planners who, with community representatives, efficiently developed a forward-thinking response to Hurricane Sandy the likes of which will prepare New York City for future events. Because they are coming, and we need to make sure our Red Hook and Gowanus waterfront communities are not only rebuilt and restored, but prepared for the advent. The plan is a remarkable blueprint for resiliency."

"Kudos to Mayor Bloomberg and the Special Initiative for Building and Resiliency (SIRR) team, led by Deputy Mayors Steel and Holloway and EDC President Pinsky, for taking a comprehensive look at how to tackle climate change in New York City,  now and in the future. I have just begun to review the plan's myriad of proposals carefully, and it includes both long-term and immediate solutions. It is clear that the Mayor and his SIRR team have embraced what we in Lower Manhattan learned post-Sandy:  that an enormous amount can be accomplished in the short-term to harden buildings and prepare for future weather events.  We look forward to working with the Bloomberg Administration to keep Lower Manhattan resilient and strong, today, tomorrow and beyond."

"The Sierra Club applauds Mayor Bloomberg's new resilience plan, which tackles the impacts of climate-fueled extreme weather head-on. Mayor Bloomberg's plan not only takes steps to ensure that New York City's communities, businesses and infrastructure will be protected, but it also helps ensure the city that never sleeps will be able to keep the lights on and our hospitals open.  We thank Mayor Bloomberg for his leadership on the issue of climate change. Through PlaNYC initiatives that promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and cut carbon pollution, Mayor Bloomberg has made New York City more resilient, sustainable and prepared to endure the next climate-fueled storm."

"The City University of New York (CUNY) serves as one of NYC's prime partners in its coastal storm shelter operations and is supporting the Mayor's office in both recovery and planning efforts. CUNY is committed to working towards a sustainable future that is resilient to climate change. By providing sea level mapping, supporting insurance research and clean energy strategies, CUNY is helping the City create realistic and informed resiliency plans."

STATEMENT OF JOHN MANISCALCO, CEO, THE NEW YORK OILHEATING ASSOCIATION

"We fully support the Mayor's efforts to strengthen the fuel infrastructure of New York City following hurricane Sandy and further applaud his efforts to do so in a sustainable and efficient manner that respects the many moving parts of the energy industry. NYOHA and the Bloomberg Administration have worked closely to ensure that New York's heating oil product became the cleanest heating oil in the country and we look forward to continuing that good work with a keen eye toward disaster planning so we are well prepared for any emergency or fuel disruption."





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