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    North                       The Indian Eye

                              AMERICANNewsline

             16                                                                                                                  APRIL 10, 2026

                      Mamdani Pushes $132 Million Climate

              Infrastructure Drive as Brooklyn Project and

                            Citywide Sewer Overhaul Converge

             Major investments in Gowanus and across New York signal a coordinated effort to tackle
                                            extreme weather, pollution and urban resilience

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            posting  efforts  in  Gowanus,  long  a
                                                                                                                  focal  point  for  grassroots  environ-
            NEW YORK, NY
                                                                                                                  mental  activism.  Operated  by  Big
                  he   Mamdani    administra-                                                                     Reuse, the facility can process up to
                  tion  has  unveiled  a  sweeping,                                                               600,000 pounds of organic waste an-
            Tmulti-pronged  infrastructure                                                                        nually — including food scraps, yard
            push  combining  a  $24  million  cli-                                                                waste and wood chips — transform-
            mate-focused facility in Brooklyn                                                                     ing them into usable compost for lo-
            with a broader $108 million citywide                                                                  cal communities.
            sewer  upgrade  plan,  underscoring                                                                       For  environmental  advocates,
            what  officials  describe  as  a  decisive                                                            the  reopening  of  the  composting
            shift toward climate resilience and                                                                   site  represents  a  significant  victo-
            environmental protection in the face                                                                  ry. Council Member Shahana Hanif
            of intensifying weather extremes.                                                                     called it “a powerful example of what
                At the center of this effort is the                                                               it looks like when a community fights
            newly  completed  snow  operations                                                                    for climate infrastructure and wins,”
            and composting facility in Gowanus,                                                                   noting  that  the  project  builds  on
            Brooklyn — a project that not only      Completed facilities viewed from the Gowanus Canal’s 6th Street Turning Basin    years of local organizing.
            strengthens winter preparedness but                                                                       Justin Greene, Executive Direc-
            also clears the way for critical sewage   City  workers  who  make  our  streets   Rooftop solar panels generating   tor  of  Big  Reuse,  echoed  that  sen-
            infrastructure aimed at reducing pol-  safer and our environment healthier.”  79,600 watts of renewable energy fur-  timent.  “We  are  thrilled  by  the  re-
            lution in the long-troubled Gowanus                                 ther align the facility with the city’s   markable efforts of the entire team
            Canal.  Simultaneously,  City  Hall     A Brooklyn Hub for          broader climate goals, powering on-  at  DEP,  who  collaborated  with  the
            has committed over $100 million to       Climate Readiness          site lighting and equipment.      community to rebuild and enhance
            modernize  thousands  of  catch  ba-  The     newly     completed       Officials  say  the  facility  has  al-  the site so we can continue this vital
            sins  across  New  York  City,  target-  7,600-square-foot facility in Gowanus   ready proven its value. Since its com-  work,” he said, adding that the pro-
            ing  flood  prevention  and  improved   reflects a layered approach to urban   pletion in January, sanitation crews   gram  supports  parks,  green  infra-
            drainage amid increasingly frequent   resilience. Designed and constructed   have used it to maintain uninterrupt-  structure and neighborhood sustain-
            and intense rainfall.             by  the  Department  of  Environmen-  ed service through one of the largest   ability initiatives.
                Together, the projects represent   tal  Protection  (DEP)  and  operated   snowstorms in recent memory — a   Andrea  Parker,  Executive  Di-
            a combined $132 million investment   in  part  by  the  Department  of  Sani-  test case that underscores the urgen-  rector  of  the  Gowanus  Canal  Con-
            in  climate  adaptation,  blending  hy-  tation  (DSNY),  the  site  integrates   cy of such investments.  servancy,  emphasized  the  broader
            per-local  upgrades  with  long-term   snow response infrastructure, renew-  Deputy  Mayor  for  Operations   ecological  and  social  role  of  the
            systemic changes.                 able energy generation and compost-  Julia  Kerson  described  the  project   site.  “The  Salt  Lot  has  long  been
                Mayor Zohran Kwame Mam-       ing capacity within a single footprint.  as “public excellence at work,” high-  the eco-infrastructural heart of
            dani framed the initiative as both    The snow operations component   lighting  how  coordination  between   Gowanus,” she said, describing plans
            practical governance and a broader   alone  marks  a  significant  upgrade.  agencies  can  deliver  multiple  bene-  to integrate public space, education
            environmental  imperative.  “Invest-  With the ability to store 6 million   fits simultaneously. “These facilities   and  habitat  restoration  alongside
            ing  in  resiliency  is  an  affordability   pounds  of  road  salt  —  widely  con-  will ensure our neighbors in Brook-  critical  infrastructure.  “Today  the
            strategy  we  cannot  take  for  grant-  sidered a first line of defense during   lyn are prepared for the next blizzard   Gowanus community regains access
            ed,” he said, emphasizing that infra-  winter storms — the facility ensures   while advancing our work to reduce   to the Salt Lot, and we all move for-
            structure  upgrades  are  essential  to   faster,  more  efficient  responses  to   pollution  in  our  waterways  and  ex-  ward towards a greener Gowanus.”
            shielding  neighborhoods  from  “the   hazardous conditions. The structure   pand composting citywide,” she said.
            destruction and devastation severe   also  includes  storage  for  up  to  75                              Tackling the Gowanus
            storms  bring.”  At  the  Brooklyn  fa-  plow  blades  and  brine  tanks,  sup-  Composting and Community       Canal Crisis
            cility inauguration, he added: “This   ported by a reinforced underground       Impact                    Perhaps  the  most  consequen-
            is what public service looks like: the   base  designed  to  handle  the  im-  Beyond  winter  operations,  the   tial  aspect  of  the  Brooklyn  project
            year-round, often unseen labor of   mense weight.                   site  also  revives  and  expands  com-  Continued on next page... >>

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