In a letter last week, Congressmembers Ritchie Torres and Adriano Espaillat demanded New York City match funding for an environmental restoration project in Harlem.
The Harlem River Environmental Restoration Project of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was put forth under the Hudson Raritan Estuary (HRE), which dates back to 2001. The river is a 9-mile tidal strait characterized as “urbanized” — lacking green space, having poor water quality, and with mostly economically disadvantaged neighborhoods nearby. The project hopes to “improve significant ecological function” and incorporate new infrastructure to manage the risk of coastal storms and flooding.
Torres pushed for a $500,000 allocation for the restoration project in the Consolidated Appropriations Bill of 2024, but first, the city must fund and complete a feasibility study executed with a local sponsor and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP). In a letter sent to Mayor Eric Adams on May 5, the congressmembers asked the city to commit to funding their share of the $500,000 under federal law.
“Without a local commitment, the federal funds could be forfeited by the end of Fiscal Year 2025,” they wrote. “The Harlem River project represents a critical opportunity to restore ecological function, improve water quality, enhance public access, and strengthen New York City’s climate resilience. Failure to move forward would mean not only the loss of current federal dollars but also jeopardizing future environmental investments in the Bronx and across New York City.”
Torres and Espaillat were joined by Bronx Borough President (BP) Vanessa Gibson; Manhattan BP Mark Levine; Deputy Speaker of the City Council Diana Ayala; and Councilmembers Eric Dinowitz, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Althea Stevens, and Carmen De La Rosa in calling for the funding.
Torres’ office said that the mayor hasn’t given a “formal response to the letter yet, but there have been a series of conversations on the staff level with DEP.”
“The clock is ticking on the Harlem River Environmental Restoration Project,” said Torres in a statement. “This initiative is vital to the environment, health, and well-being of the Bronx, and we can’t afford to let this opportunity slip away. I urge City Hall to act swiftly and ensure this critical investment becomes a reality.”