Former Vice President Al Gore delivered words of praise and criticism during a speech on Thursday.
While speaking at an event sponsored by the League of Conservation Voters and the Regional Plan Association, Gore applauded New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his work during Hurricane Sandy.
However, the words of praise went abbreviated as Gore chastised the federal government for their slow response to climate change.
“What will it take for the national government to wake up as this mayor has been telling us to do?” Gore said.
In a room of business leaders and city officials, Gore discussed efforts to rebuild communities and how to prepare better for future inclement emergencies.
Bloomberg also took the time to explain how the city is handling the recovery process as well as planning for the future.
“Let me be clear: we are not going to abandon the waterfront,” said Bloomberg.
NYC’s mayor also identified current improvement measures such as extending evacuations zones. He also assigned researchers from the Economic Development Corporation to find out what is needed in order to sustain disasters such as a category 2 hurricane.
Hurricane Sandy was the first storm of its strength the state has ever experienced.
City officials like Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway says he has plans to assess which measures were and were not successful after the storm.
Bloomberg did not specify on rebuilding costs, however he did mention that several private firms have agreed to help.
Five weeks after Sandy, several Lower Manhattan buildings were still without phone services. Bloomberg said Con Edison had agreed to make a $250 million investment to “harden its electric, gas and steam systems.”
“You don’t have to be a believer in climate change to know the dangers of extreme weather are already here,” Bloomberg said.
(Photo: AP)
