New Jersey

What New York Can Do to Survive Flooding

Published

13 hours ago

October 15, 2025

What New York Can Do to Survive Flooding

New York is experiencing extreme rainfall events with increasing frequency and intensity, according to a 2024 study in Nature.

Since 1970, the city’s stormwater system has been built to handle up to 1.75 inches of rain per hour. Hourly precipitation recorded by Central Park’s rain gauge didn’t exceed this limit until 1995. It’s been eclipsed in three of the last five years.

Annual maximum hourly rainfall at Central Park

One major problem is how little of that rainfall is absorbed or stored before reaching the stormwater system. A whole suite of solutions focuses on building and expanding the city’s capacity to do so.

Understanding New York’s historical environment is crucial to imagining a more resilient urban future, one based on the city’s past topography, according to Eric Sanderson, a landscape ecologist and vice president for Urban Conservation Strategy at the New York Botanical Garden and the author of “Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City.”

“I was trying to imagine a configuration of the landscape that could work with the understanding of climate change at the time,” Sanderson said of his book. “Part of that is restoring streams, wetlands and agricultural lands, connecting the urbanized parts of the city, and depaving a lot of what we have.”

He and a team of researchers have spent years reconstructing the past ecological landscape of the city, producing data that they hope will inform its future.

Embracing absorption could allow the city to restore those natural features, allowing floodwater places to drain.

Rain gardens, curbside planted pits designed to siphon water away from drainage systems, and permeable pavement are already turning streets and sidewalks into sponges. And as part of its Cloudburst program, the city is designing parks and public spaces to flood intentionally, enhancing their innate ability to act as natural catch basins. The first to be completed, a basketball court in South Jamaica, Queens, recently opened.

Rain gardens in Gowanus, Brooklyn, absorb and redirect water away from the sewage system.

Lucía Vázquez for The New York Times

A basketball court in Jamaica, Queens, can contain up to two feet of flood water, which drains into an underground storage tank.

Lucía Vázquez for The New York Times

But these initiatives are in their infancy. Only a handful of Cloudburst sites have been identified, and the need is most likely far greater: Sanderson and his team mapped out 540 potential locations.

Policymakers have offered several incentives to private property owners, making it easier for real estate developers to install green infrastructure. Similarly, waterfront properties above a certain size are now required to provide stormwater solutions.

Sewer and storage upgrades are also on the table. In Gowanus, Brooklyn, Department of Environmental Protection engineers recently installed an eight-million-gallon underground tank at an artificial canal, redirecting water that would otherwise flood the space. The agency is planning another tank, and once it is complete, a new public park will sit on top of it.

Then there’s daylighting, in which onetime waterways, covered by buildings, pavement and landfill, are unearthed and restored, allowing floodwater to go elsewhere.

A project at Tibbetts Brook in the Bronx will test the concept. Concrete and other artificial materials will be removed to reroute water aboveground and into a dedicated underground pipe, reducing sewer overflow that ends up in the Harlem River.

Tibbetts Brook in the Bronx currently drains into an underground tunnel and, eventually, into the sewage system.

Lucía Vázquez for The New York Times

A more dramatic example of leveraging the city’s natural landscape is the successful Bluebelt project in Staten Island, which strings together streams, ponds and wetlands — some natural, some engineered. It has already reduced flooding in parts of the borough.

But for greater effect, the city will have to rapidly expand this work to feasible locations. “Our imaginations have not caught up to what nature can and will do,” Sanderson said.

On a recent tour of the Staten Island Bluebelts, Rohit Aggarwala, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, said the agency had listed 86 “priority areas” citywide for flood mitigation. “We’re asking, ‘What is the solution for this specific place?’” he said.

That work has its hurdles, though, and not every part of the city is as spacious as Staten Island. A major overhaul of local sewer capacity in Bushwick, Brooklyn, for example, will cost $390 million and take years. Expect disruption, Aggarwala said: “The residents will be less happy when they find out how long Knickerbocker Avenue will have to be ripped up.”

But for too long, he added, the city’s work was not focused enough on the future: “We have to build for 2075, not 1975.”

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New Jersey

Parents of 12-year-old boy killed by falling tree sue State of New Jersey

Published

45 minutes ago

October 16, 2025

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Parents of 12-year-old boy killed by falling tree sue State of New Jersey

Thursday, October 16, 2025 4:08AM

Parents of boy killed by falling tree sue State of New Jersey

LAWRENCE TWP., N.J. (WPVI) — The parents of 12-year-old Lucas Schwartz, who was killed by a falling tree while playing in his backyard, have filed a lawsuit against New Jersey’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

The tragic incident occurred in Lawrence Township as Lucas played with his 8-year-old sister during gusty winds in October 2024.

The lawsuit claims the rotted tree from the state’s property should have been removed.

The Schwartz family is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

“We, the Schwartz family, continue to be devastated by the senseless loss of our beloved son,” the family said in a statement to Action News.. “We respectfully ask for privacy as we cope with this unimaginable tragedy – one that resulted from negligence and a lack of proper care for the property involved. Our deepest hope is that no other family will ever have to endure such a heartbreaking loss.”

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New Jersey

Community Engagement Committee of New Jersey hosts day at Beneduce Vineyards

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2025

Press Room

Community Engagement Committee of New Jersey hosts day at Beneduce Vineyards

Pittstown, N.J. — On September 28, 2025, the Community Engagement Committee of New Jersey hosted its second social gathering at Beneduce Vineyards in Pittstown, N.J. The event was sponsored by the ARF “Dro” Gomideh and organized in collaboration with sister Armenian organizations: Hamazkayin of New Jersey, ARS Bergen County “Armenouhi” Chapter of New Jersey, ARS “Shakeh” Chapter of New Jersey, ARS “Agnouni” Chapter of New Jersey and the Homenetmen of New Jersey.

Designed to unify the community and strengthen ties among organizational members, the gathering provided an opportunity to connect, collaborate and lay the groundwork for future initiatives, while enjoying a day of fellowship, fine wine and fun activities in a relaxed countryside setting.

Committee member Talin Daghlian reflected on the day itself: “It was a truly wonderful time at the Wine Tour, and I’m so glad we had the chance to connect. The atmosphere was incredibly welcoming and fun, and it was great seeing all the attendees.” She expressed her sincere appreciation, noting that the presence of the attendees made the occasion special. “This event was one of the first and most enjoyable steps toward our goal to work together and achieve our mission. I look forward to continuing to have more events like this,” Daghlian shared.

The program began with an engaging icebreaker activity. Attendees received sheets filled with fun introduction questions and were tasked with finding different people to answer them. This encouraged lively conversations and gave everyone the chance to meet new faces while strengthening bonds within the community.

Attendees mingling and enjoying food and wine at Beneduce Vineyards

Committee member Madlen Kaprielian, who organized all of the afternoon’s games and activities, prepared a variety of group challenges that sparked laughter and friendly competition, further adding to the welcoming environment.

Kaprielian reflected on the mission behind the initiative: “I joined the Community Engagement Committee because its mission to strengthen connections within our community is essential. By bringing together members of the three ARS New Jersey Chapters, Hamazkayin of New Jersey and the Homenetmen of New Jersey, we aimed to foster closer relationships and build a stronger, more unified community.”

Before the meal, Very Rev. Fr. Vache Balekjian of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church offered his blessing over the food and tables, setting a warm and spiritual tone for the gathering. Guests then enjoyed an assortment of appetizers and desserts, paired with Beneduce’s locally crafted wines, creating the perfect backdrop for both casual mingling and deeper conversations.

Fellow committee member Suzy Balabanian highlighted the joyful atmosphere: “It was a joy to see our four Armenian organizations come together in a beautiful vineyard setting. Between the wine, food and games, we shared a wonderful day filled with a true sense of belonging and support for one another.”

The Community Engagement Committee of New Jersey (Left to right: Madlen Kaprielian, Suzy Balabanian, Vera Mouradian, Marina Yacoubian, Lena Dishoyan, Kevork Payassian, Hrair Baronian, Alexandra Medina, Talin Daghlian and Floria Kasparian Keoshkerian. Missing from photo: Maggie Kouyoumdjian and Niree Kaprielian)

As the sun set over the vineyard, many attendees shared their appreciation for the event, highlighting how it fostered new friendships while deepening existing connections. Lively discussions, lighthearted games and the shared enjoyment of Armenian fellowship all contributed to the day’s success.

Echoing the day’s spirit, committee member Kevork Payassian emphasized the significance of unity: “The New Jersey Engagement Committee has achieved another success by unifying all sister organizations to work together for a prosperous event. Members of the ARS of New Jersey, Hamazkayin of New Jersey and Homenetmen of New Jersey had the opportunity to get together, enjoy lunch and local Jersey wine at a beautiful vineyard, to start discussing future joint projects. Mission accomplished.”

The Day at the Winery not only marked the committee’s second official event but also reaffirmed its mission of building stronger community ties by blending culture, tradition and social connection. The gathering at Beneduce Vineyards was a testament to the spirit of unity and camaraderie that defines Armenian life and culture in New Jersey, leaving attendees eager for the committee’s next initiative.

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New Jersey

Dispute over checkout line at Marshalls led to stabbing of woman in NJ parking lot

Published

2 days ago

October 14, 2025

Press Room

Dispute over checkout line at Marshalls led to stabbing of woman in NJ parking lot

KEARNEY, New Jersey (WABC) — No one likes to stand in a long line, but a dispute at a Marshalls in Kearney ended with bloodshed.

A woman in New Jersey is accused of stabbing another woman in the parking lot of a Marshall’s on Saturday after a dispute over the movement of speed at the checkout line, police said.

Police said 25-year-old Amber Thompson allegedly threatened to harm the woman in the checkout line.

The victim and her family decided to leave the store on Passaic Avenue and go to their vehicle.

Police said Thompson bought a set of knives, took one out of the packaging and chased the victim down in the parking lot, stabbing her several times.

Police said the victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Thompson was found hiding in the bathroom of the Marshalls’ with a bloody knife on top of the baby changing station, police said.

Thompson is charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of weapons, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and endangering another person.

Shoppers questioned whether or not there should be more security at the store, which has left many people on edge.

“I think that’s pretty crazy that happened here. It’s just crazy because it never happens here,” a shopper said.

The stabbing remains under investigation.

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