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After Sandy: Build Better, Smarter, and For Our Future

As we learn more about the level and depth of devastation along our coast it is becoming even clearer that Hurricane Sandy was truly a catastrophe. 74,000 structures were damaged and around 5,000 buildings destroyed or severely damaged, impacting so many lives. When we rebuild, which we must do, we have to do it better and, more importantly, smarter.

Close to a quarter of New Jersey Transit’s equipment was damaged or destroyed.  More than 60% of people in the state lost power. Roadways and bridges were washed away. The human tragedy was enormous and we have to address those problems to move the state forward. 

We need to look at the mistakes of the past to embrace a better future. When changes were proposed to the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) to close loopholes and strengthen regulations, the builders and their allies were able to stop those positive changes, even after Hurricane Floyd.   Legislation that would have set up a catastrophic insurance pool so that tax payers would not be on the hook for repairing the shore after a major storm event was blocked.  Attempts at regulatory fixes under Governors Whitman and McGreevy to limit sprawl along the coast were stopped and now what progress was made is being undone by the Christie administration. 

Governor Christie weakened land use tools within the DEP that prevent sprawl in flood prone and wetland areas including stormwater and flood hazard rules.  Many areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy are growth areas under his State Strategic Plan.  His administration has not adopted new FEMA mapping showing how flooding has gotten worse in New Jersey.  He eliminated the DEP Office of Science and stopped progress under previous administrations on adaptation to climate change and sea level rise.   

We now have the opportunity to fix the mistakes of the past, to protect our coast, grow our economy, and make sure we have a Jersey Shore for future generations.  These are some critical policies and practices that we need to revise, create, and eliminate so that we can rebuild the coast in the right way and keep people and property safe.

Coastal Commission. A coastal council would help coordinate efforts to rebuild along the shore and ensure we protect vital infrastructure, do proper planning and zoning, and develop building codes.  During the recovery, this body would help coordinate funding and regional rebuilding activities so that redevelopment in one town does not negatively impact neighboring communities. 

Better Planning.  New Jersey needs to adopt the new FEMA flood maps, and start implementing adaptation and hazard planning along our coast to make sure we build in the right places using sound science and based on capacity of drinking water and wastewater.

Better Building. We need to strengthen our building codes and rebuild homes and businesses making them more energy efficient.  The state should offer rebates and other incentives to replace all the loss appliances with energy star appliances as well as other energy efficient building codes.  Designing new homes using green technology, recycled material, even salvaged timber from buildings destroyed by storms will help to move the state forward and protect our environment.

Fix the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA).  We need to close loopholes and change the impervious cover limits to allow less development in environmentally sensitive areas.  We need to end the exemption for developments of less than 25 units so that impervious cover limits and protections of sensitive features apply to new projects along our shore. 

Fix Single Family Exemption. We need to change the current law that allows buildings to be rebuild in the same footprint. There are some places where it is appropriate, but other areas where it is not.

Infrastructure.  We need to protect and rebuild vital infrastructure in the right places and rebuild dunes and coastal wetlands to protect against the impacts of future storms.  We need an infrastructure assessment to determine where we need to upgrade infrastructure to meet the demands of rebuilding the shore as well as the rest of New Jersey. 

Catastrophic Insurance Pool.  We cannot allow people to keep rebuilding in the same place and have tax payers foot the bill each time there is a storm.  We need to put in place a catastrophic insurance pool so tax payers are not on the hook to cover all the costs.

Blue Acres Funding.  Our open space fund is out of money so we will not be able to purchase many of these sites through the Blue Acres Program.  We need funds restored to help move families out of harm’s way.

Natural Systems. As we rebuild, we need to require dunes and that they are properly maintained.  We need natural systems like tide pools and coastal wetlands to reduce flooding impacts on residents. 

We must and we will rebuild after Hurricane Sandy.  However we need to do it better, smarter, and in the right places.  New Jersey needs to fundamentally change how and where we build along our flood prone areas. 

frank rizzo

2:16 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012

dopes like jack daniels here spend their days dressed up like ben franklin and davey crocket with tea bags stapled to his hat yelling at people in the walmart parking lot that his constitution is being taken away. yet when anyone else uses their right under the first ammendment to free speech this mouth breather tells them to shut up. you see because the constitution was written for him and only him. get a life the department store mannequin you republicans ran for president lost. now take your ball and go home jack.

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mtwnres

2:34 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012

And when Jack Daniels exercises his 1st Amendment right ,......
You call him and idiot, and basically tell him to shut up and go home.

Brilliant.

frank rizzo

3:19 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012

thank you mtwnres finally the dyslexic now have a voice. lol

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frank rizzo

3:21 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012

i have a feeling mtwnres just got back from the walmart parking lot and right now is carefully putting the colonial hat with tea bags stapled to it carefully back in the box until tommorrow. lol

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Greta Cuyler

3:51 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Comment deleted due to personal attack.

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Bruce Smith

7:56 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012

Are you high? All comments on the patch are personal attacks!

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~Barb~

10:01 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Odd, I still see personal attcks Greta. How 'bout the rest of them?

I have spoken

5:06 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Oh geeze why hasn't anyone taken this kooks keyboard away yet? Read between the lineS....No more building, lots more fees and taxes.

GO AWAY JEFF

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Charles E. Hoffman. Jr.

6:48 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012

in looking to the "rebuilding" of Union Beach and the restoration of a viable property value foundation, the presence of a 382 ft Industrial Wind Turbine will be a serious detriment to that process. Why rebuild in the Flicker Pattern Field, noise impact zone, and looming presence of such a structure? In its agony, U.B. must now take even a stronger position against the BRSA's Wind To Energy Project. Financially its efforts in this matter have been seriously damaged, through no fault of its own, and I seriously hope that the Consulting Environmental Law lawyer will step fwd and continue the fight on a Pro Bono basis for an extended period while U.B. works back toward solvency

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Walter Cunningham

8:47 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

*in looking to the "rebuilding" of Union Beach and the restoration of a viable property value foundation*

Turbine or not there will be NO value in UB since it got swamped by 8 feet of water for at least another 10 years until everyone forgets what happened.
The turbine will be an asset to the are as a cheap source of free energy to an area that needs it.

Johnny Appleseed

7:44 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012

All points in UB that were flooded should not be rebuilt. Since Colts Neck adopted union beach - all homes that were destroyed should be rebuilt in colts neck. The places that were flooded in UB should be turned into a flood plain and offices for the patch and this nutcase titelbaumstein.

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Xavier

10:33 am on Monday, December 10, 2012

This guy just doesn't go away.

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frank rizzo

9:42 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

slippery slope youre starting to look a bit thin . you should eat more you know even homophobic kkk types have to keep their strenght up too.isnt it funny how people who are not the brightest crayons in the box who cant find anything else to think of but 4th grader insults can bash gay people while naming himself "slippery slope" . even a mouth breather like you should know thats a helluva freudian slip. lol .have a nice day and we look forward to see you dressed up as davey crockett in the walmart parking lot holding up a sign that says " keep your gubmint hands off my medicare" . (if this dolt only knew who ran medicare).

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type writer

9:53 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The fact is frank rizzo, the people that I described dressed up in rubber underwear are real, and they only care about themselves and they do support the dummycrats and the dummycrats bend over backwards to recieve their votes.

The people you decsribed dressed as stereotypical American patriots, care about the Constitution and the rule of law. They vote republican or actually independent or libertarian. They care about whats best for the entire country, not just themselves.

Tim O C

9:58 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

sounds like " slippery slope" is a republicon living in denial out of touch with reality and is screaming he wants to come out of the closet and is waiting on his fema check the one his idol Mittens thinks is immoral
may I sugggest "slippery slope" you send your advice to Mike Ritacco and da boys
maybe you can send them some of your extra astro glide

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type writer

5:15 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012

Say hello to your mom and sister for me. And tell them I said thank you.

frank rizzo

10:03 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

yeah thats why republicans are going to let the farm bill expire for no reason which will skyrocket food prices on jan 1st. only a twit like you would think that a republican congress that have a 6% approval rating are doing a great job. slippery get off the govt dole and spending all day on the patch giving us your flintstone based thoughts and go to your job being a sandbag.yeah right youre having your constitutional rights all being taken away. too bad teabaggers like you cant even name one right thats been taken away. if you get off the patch and hurry i think you can still catch a repeat of hannitty's show from last night. i love that ronnie reagan haircut of his. good luck with all of that but in the meantime instead of posting unfunny comments on the patch all day just go out and get a job. we democrats are tired of carrying you and your pimply offspring. the only thing funny is how youre such an expert on rubber suits and ball gags etc. homophobes are the ones who bash what they hate about themselves in reality.i,m sure you,ll work it all out in therapy. just dont wear your ben franklin costume to the doctor's office next time.

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Tim O C

10:07 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Rubber underwear ? kind of like Mittens believing in Magic underwear.
kinda like corps are ppl too super pacs yeah thats in the constitution lol

they had a right to bear arms because you couldnt call 911

republicons are the backward thinkers look at a map

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Joe Cool

10:23 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Anyone that refers to Mitt Romney as "mittens" has to be a complete tool. Really? In 2012 you have to make up names for people you don't agree with. I just don't understand how anyone can look at the last 4 years and think the next 4 will be any better with the same guy in charge. Insanity - doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We are on our way to being a 3rd world nation.. so sad

Yah Mo B There

10:24 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

If republicans are so awful and backwards can we leave the programs you love? SS, Medicare, Medicaid, affordable care act, etc. Liberalism, ideas so good they are mandatory

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Tim O C

11:06 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

@ yah no b there

could you enlighten us to the republicon plan on Medicare?
you know the plan that has been getting ripped off by Drs and Hospitals everywhere how else could you cut 716 billion and still provide the same coverage

cut foreign aid and the military budgets

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Yah Mo B There

11:13 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

no plan would be a better plan.
Agree completely on foreigh aid and military

Tim O C

11:01 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

sure move to a third world country like texas
whats sad is republicons
they want the govt outta their lives but want to probe women
or say stupid stuff like legitimate rape how bout Mittens and his 47 %
you voted for a guy who believes is Magie underwear ppl
oh and JOe Mittens lost because ppl dont agree with his flip flopping policies
of which he wouldnt say what tax loop holes he wanted closed
perhaps if the party of No got out of the way and not filibuster things you might have a job

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Yah Mo B There

11:15 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Seriously if you can't see the faults with both parties you are naive. I happen to think on is less of a disaster than the other. But in reality they are identical and just court their mob in different ways.

Tim O C

11:21 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

no plan to insure ppl that paid into it is better? wow
no plan is why republicons lost

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Yah Mo B There

11:25 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

You really think it's gonna last as is? No gov't plan doesn't mean no plan. There are plans available through non compulsury private companies.
This is not a football game where a team wins or loses. The real losers will be people that are counting on the gov't to be there. Bad news, no matter they promise it won't.

Joe T

12:52 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

What is Democrat plan for Medicare? Stay the course?

2013 Medicare/Medicaid spending will be $811 billion while medicare taxes collected will equal $214 billion leaving a defict of nearly $600 billion which will be added to the national debt of $16.5 trillion.

By 2022, M/M will spend $1.5 trillion and only take in $355 billion.

I guess bankrupting us all could be considered a plan.

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Tim O C

5:05 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

I think cutting the fraud and waste from medicare to the tune of 716 billion ring a bell?
good luck with the ryan plan lol Him and Mittens lost you know
sorry Joe but if you think because you have insurance your not at the mercy of what they want to pay for
you are sadly mistaken

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Project Bluebeam

5:49 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Cutting fraud and waste? There are more people bilking the system than ever before!

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Joe T

4:45 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

@Tim O C who is cutting Medicare waste and fraud by 716B? Not BHO.

If there is so much waste and fraud in Govt and Medicare, what is Barry waiting for to cut it out? Just do it. Don't need Congress. He's such a failure, he doesn't do anything but golf and vacation.

Let me correct you on where the 716B is coming from.

http://blog.heritage.org/2012/10/16/understanding-obamacares-716-billion-in-cuts-to-medicare/

By the way, that 716B is over 10 years. Medicare deficits are $600B plus EACH YEAR.

FACT: Medicare/Medicaid spending will add trillions to the national debt.

Bankruptcy just around the corner.

John57

4:44 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

I've been waiting for a good topic so let's start one. Nobody cares about the Sierra Club tree hugger taxpayer funded schemes anyway. Michigan and it's right to work law. But first I would like to know what TIM OC or whatever name he's posting under these days, what type of Democrat are you? The refuse to work kind (welfare) or the refuse to work hard (government). Maybe a disability scam? Because there's no way you're in the private sector. So what is it?

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Project Bluebeam

5:50 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Tim is he typical lib. He resorts o name cling while accusing others of being backwards, illiterate, and childish.

Tim O C

6:23 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

ppl bilking the system? really and you know this how?
are you a Dr? please
maybe your superman and you use your x ray vision? I bet youd charge less then the mri providers lol
I guess you think it ok for hospitals and dr to bill medicare what every they want?
so tell us moon if the black mamba is cutting medicare and services didnt change what exactly did the boogie man cut?

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frank rizzo

9:18 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

john 57 is the typical teabagger. he has nothing to say because facts elude him so he then has the same old reply that anyone opposing his flintstone idea must of course be on welfare. while those like bluebeam with his wacky theories like agenda 21 end up scaring the gullible. this week on the floor of congress mitch (the turtle) mc connel offered up a bill knowing it was badly written to take a vote on the debt ceiling thinking harry reid would never go for it. mc connel ended up dropping crab cakes in his shorts when he was shocked to hear reid actually calling for a vote on this republican bill. so what does the turtle do? he calls for a 60 vote majority to pass his own bill. he actually tried to filibuster his own bill. with this useless republican congress no wonder we are going over the cliff.

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frank rizzo

9:20 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

joe cool listen the waxwork dummy you guys ran for president lost. get over it already. lol

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John57

2:22 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Still waiting for an answer and what facts are you looking for?

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frank rizzo

1:57 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012

here are the facts. the president has proposed $1.4 trillion in cuts mainly due to taxing the millionaires another 2 % . republicans have proposed $800 billion in cuts mostly to medicare and social security. this week mitch mc connel proposed a bill he never thought the democrats would go for on the debt ceiling. man was he surprised when harry reid said yes he was willing to take a vote on it. mc connel then said he wanted a 60 vote majority to pass the bill. he actually fillibustered his own bill proving once and for all republicans arent the least bit interested in fixing our economy.

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franky rizza

7:30 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012

rizzo you are an idiot. stop worshipping krugman. why do you quote the ny times like it is a peer reviewed journal? It is a shame you never learned to think for youself. clearly you are a product of the nj school system.

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John57

1:10 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012

All the news that's fit to make up. Nobody with a brain uses the N.Y. Times for information? LOL Especially after the all the fabrications and plagiarism. Jayson Blair ring a bell? Maybe he was a fan of Biden's plagiarisms. Anyway the Times is bankrupt ( partial thanks to the unions) and might wind up the way of Newsweek, another liberal rag. Unless bailed out by Mexcan Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world who illegally gave campaign money to Hussein Obama who in turn rewarded Carlos with the contracts for the Obamaphones (you tube it) . Now poor democrats get multiple cell phones and service from the Universal service charge tax on our phone bills. Still waiting on that answer.
"If you're not a conservative by the time you're 40, you have no brain- Winston Churchill.

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frank rizzo

11:08 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012

john 57 i never mentioned the ny times never mind saying i was quoting from it. glad you had a nice argument with yourself over it though. i,ll just stick to the basics like the congressional budget office while you have fun with your conspiract theories.

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frank rizzo

11:11 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012

oh and by the way paul ryan proposed to cut $716 billion from medicare with his budget. so soon we forget

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