Throgs Neck Surge Gate Induces Debate

Caroline Ryan and Marco Schaden

Originally published in Port Washington News

On Thursday night, Oct. 24, a large crowd of around 300 people gathered at the Inn at Great Neck for a presentation from the Army Corps of Engineers about a potential Throgs Neck surge gate. The Army Corps of Engineers has been studying different alternatives for protecting New York Harbor after the impact of Superstorm Sandy.

Local officials and activists have been speaking out against the potential Throgs Neck surge gate because of environmental impacts and induced flooding that could see storm surge rise by several feet. The original meeting, that was set up by various activist groups and the Port Washington-Manhasset Office of Emergency Management for Sept. 10 at the Sands Point Preserve, was canceled after the Army Corps pulled out, citing scheduling
conflicts. The Army Corps then proceeded to come up with their own public meeting for Oct. 24. Local officials and activists decided to schedule a press conference at the Village Hall of Great Neck Plaza an hour before the Army Corps public meeting was set to begin to voice their concern.....

State Senator Anna Kaplan, who represents the potentially affected areas on the North Shore such as Great Neck, Manhasset and Port Washington, was present at the Army Corps public
meeting.

“One thing was very clear from the presentation made by the Army Corps of Engineers: building flood gates to protect New York City will profoundly impact my residents and the coastal portions of my district,” Kaplan, who was previously the councilwoman of District 4 for Town of North Hempstead, said. “This is an incredibly serious issue and I will do everything in my power to ensure that Long Island isn’t sacrificed to protect New York
City. If anything is to be constructed, they will be hearing from me and my
residents first.”

....read more at https://portwashington-news.com/throgs-neck-surge-gate-induces-debate/