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Candidates emphasize need for stronger coastal resilience and drainage upgrades
Summary
Candidates running in the District 1 and 5 race said the city must prioritize sea‑level rise adaptation, drainage upgrades and seawalls, but they noted funding gaps and large cost estimates.
At a candidate forum for City Council districts 1 and 5, candidates described the neighborhood around El Punto and adjacent waterfronts as vulnerable to rising water and urged the city to accelerate resilience projects, update drainage systems and pursue larger grants to finance seawalls and other protective infrastructure.
Why it matters: Forum participants said flood risk affects housing, parks and proposed redevelopment sites. Candidates noted recent past floods and a need to coordinate with regional partners and nonprofits to secure funds and design long‑term solutions.
Discussion points: Several candidates called for physical infrastructure upgrades: additional pumps, reinforcement of the municipal pier, replacement of aging storm drains and construction of seawalls or tidal barriers. A candidate noted a 2018 flood that damaged apartments, and another said preliminary estimates show local project funding currently in the low millions while full protection could cost tens of millions.
Erin Turowsky (candidate, District 1) and other candidates said the city has worked with local nonprofits and cited state funding and the governor’s recent allocation as helpful, but they said larger federal or state grants will be required to complete major coastal defenses.
Implementation concerns: Candidates stressed that municipal actions depend on funding and interagency coordination. One candidate said typical grant awards and municipal allocations do not match the multi‑million‑dollar cost of long seawalls and comprehensive upgrades.
Ending: Candidates urged residents to press elected officials and attend upcoming community meetings to influence project priorities and funding requests.
