Lawmakers Discuss Plans for Harborfront Resilience

September 2022

Calls for unity and quick action echoed out at Boston’s City Hall Thursday, Sept. 22 as lawmakers and experts met to discuss the protection of the city’s waterfront due to climate change.

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The hearing, sponsored by Councilor Gabriela Coletta and chaired by Councilor Frank Baker, discussed possibilities for a city-wide comprehensive plan to protect and preserve Boston’s waterfront from new climate-related threats. 

A panel of experts and advocates provided testimony to the councilors, who then heard from members of the public. Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, the city’s Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Spaces, stressed the need for the city to come together and solve the issue.

“There is a necessity for our city to recognize the existential threat to Boston,” White-Hammond said. “We have to rise together.”

The hearing discussed two potential integrated resilience strategies to protect the waterfront. The first plan is to construct flood-preventing architecture directly on the harborfront, which is almost exclusively privately owned. This plan, while potentially more effective, could be completely useless if even a handful of private citizens on the waterfront do not want to make changes to their property. 

The second involves using preexisting public-owned land near the harborfront. However, Councilor Coletta stressed that people living in front of the right of way line would be left vulnerable to flooding and other climate-related disasters. She also emphasized the size of a project of this manner.

“I think this is Big Dig level,” she said.

Echoing her was State Senator Lydia Edwards, a former City Councilor and a Coletta ally. Senator Edwards joined the meeting via Zoom and placed support behind what she called the “desperately needed planning meeting.” She also talked of her plans to create a Senate Committee on Environmental Justice to aid Massachusetts waterfront towns with these climate questions. 

Later in the night, a panel of climate advocates provided testimony to the lawmakers. Rick Musioal, a representative from the New England Aquarium and an Eastie resident, advocated for what he called an “inclusive and resilient harbor” and discussed how the aquarium was invested in creating a waterfront for all.

“Harborfront resilience is Boston’s next big project,” Musial said, resonating with Councilor Coletta’s point. 

Another expert panelist, Director of Resilience Planning at Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) Letifa Ziyad discussed her organization’s desire to advocate for a coordinated effort between Boston citizens and local government in order to get one of these plans started. 

During her testimony, Ziyad stressed that the problem affected inland residents as well. She pulled from her own experience commuting from Dorchester to East Boston every day for work. 

“It’s like playing Russian Roulette,” she said. “I don’t know if [the T] will be flooded.”

Ziyad also called for the creation of a “Waterfront Czar” to watch over government action on the harbor and ensure plans are followed through, detailing that it is the only way to fight equity issues. 

Another panelist, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Trustees Boston Waterfront Initiative Gabriella Ramierez, echoed the idea of an equitable solution for Eastie, a community mainly of Latine immigrants. 

Ramierez, on behalf of her organization, advocated for more open spaces to be built as a way to combat flooding and encourage harbor resilience. Her organization’s goal is to utilize flood-resistant architecture as a means of community engagement, building parks and public meeting spaces meant to withstand rising tides. 

The expert panel was followed by public testimony, where Chris Mancini, director of Save the Harbor, demonstrated the need for swift progress in protecting the harborfront. 

“We need strong leadership and public investment in this,” he said.

The need for collective action was stressed throughout the night, as White-Hammond said throughout her presentation to the Councilors.

“This is not just something for my job,” she said. “This is a responsibility to and for my neighbors. 

The Council did not decide on a specific plan at this meeting, but noted the urgency of the issue and noted their commitment to finding a solution.