Washington -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer plans to take on the Federal Emergency Management Agency over its decision to require about 2,400 Onondaga County property owners to buy flood insurance. Schumer, D-N.Y., will try to convince FEMA to give Onondaga County more time to appeal a new flood map for the region that added 2,383 parcels to its list...
The Rev. Nebraski Carter stands next to a puddle of rainwater in the parking lot of the Living Water Church of God in Christ. He says that this is the closest that water has ever come to his church in the 32 years it has been located at 121 Huron St. in Syracuse. The church is one of 1,200 parcels in Syracuse that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is adding to the Onondaga County floodplain. Onondaga Creek is located over 100 feet away from the church and well below the land the church sits on. Washington -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer plans to take on the Federal Emergency Management Agency over its decision to require about 2,400 Onondaga County property owners to buy flood insurance.
Schumer, D-N.Y., will try to convince FEMA to give Onondaga County more time to appeal a new flood map for the region that added 2,383 parcels to its list of potential flood hazards.
Anyone living in those zones will be required to buy flood insurance, which can cost from $500 to $2,000 per year. No exemptions are given to nonprofit agencies or those living in poverty.
Schumer plans to provide details of his plan Monday afternoon during a visit to Syracuse’s Armory Square along Onondaga Creek. About 1,100 of the affected parcels are in neighborhoods on Syracuse’s South and Southwest Sides, a short distance from the creek.
The senator says FEMA gave local residents and the county inadequate notice of the proposed flood map changes. He said that leaves too little time to file an appropriate appeal, unless FEMA grants an extension.
Many public officials said they were unaware of the proposed flood-map changes until a Post-Standard report last month. The changes initially were due to become effective Nov. 4.
Separately, U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt, has co-sponsored a House amendment that would give any property owner added to a flood map up to five years to buy the mandated insurance.
Maffei’s amendment to the Flood Insurance Priorities Act of 2010 passed 64-0 last month in the House Financial Services Committee. The legislation now moves to the full House of Representatives.
Gillibrand wants speedy action
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., says she is concerned New York officials are not moving fast enough to help develop high-speed rail service in the state.
Up to $13 billion in federal financial aid will be available over the next five years to jump start high-speed rail development across the nation in 11 designated corridors. One of them is Upstate New York.
Gillibrand said Friday state Department of Transportation officials have to act quickly to appoint a new high-speed rail project manager. The post has been vacant since a resignation last month, and state officials have not announced any intention to fill the job, she said.
The senator said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has kept his commitments to New York by agreeing to designate a top staffer to work out an agreement with the state and CSX over the use of its freight rail right-of-way.
“If we’re going to rebuild our economy and create new jobs, we need to connect all of our cities, businesses and workers with high speed rail,” Gillibrand said. “And we need the right leadership in our state to help secure federal funding and manage this development. We can’t afford to miss out on any federal dollars or watch other states pass us by.”
New York received $151 million in the initial round of federal funding for high-speed rail development. The state also will be able to apply for a second round of $2.5 billion expected to become available within the next year.
Doheny keeps momentum
Republican Matt Doheny kept up his momentum last week as he attempts to gain a clean sweep of endorsements from all 11 GOP county committees in the 23rd Congressional District.
Doheny, of Watertown, gained the designation from the Essex County Republican Committee and from the party’s executive committee in St. Lawrence County.
Last month, he received the full GOP endorsements in Madison and Oneida counties, as well as from the city committee in Oswego and Fulton in Oswego County. Oswego County Republicans could choose a candidate as early as this week.
Doheny also was endorsed by GOP county chairs in Jefferson and Clinton counties.
His opponent, Republican-Conservative Doug Hoffman, of Lake Placid, has received no GOP committee endorsements, but he has the backing of Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long.
Hoffman has declined to say whether he would endorse Doheny if he is the Republican pick, or challenge him in a GOP primary. Hoffman lost his bid for the seat last year to Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh.
On the horizon
The head of Massey Energy Co. will testify this week before a Senate subcommittee about mine safety for the first time since an explosion killed 29 workers at his company's mine in West Virginia. It was America’s worst mine accident in 40 years.
Washington words
“Sure, he’s an aggressive advocate for the people of New York. He probably doesn’t want just one of three dollars going to New York state; he wants three of three dollars.”
White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton refers to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer Thursday after the senator complained of cuts in anti-terrorism aid for New York’s transit security.
Mark Weiner’s Washington Notebook appears Sunday in The Post-Standard. He can be reached at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751.