After the February Blizzard: Climate Commission Calls for Infrastructure Action
Dear Editor, Council President Letterie, Town Councilors, and Town Management,
As residents of Precincts 1 and 6 and as leaders of the Citizens Advisory Commission on Climate (CACC), we are deeply concerned that the February blizzard’s cascading failures at the Pressure Relief Valves (PRVs) and the severe flooding on Girdlestone demonstrate systemic, longstanding problems in Winthrop’s water and stormwater infrastructure.
The Climate Commission’s Climate Action Plan identified Tileston/Girdlestone, Morton/Banks, and Pico/Fisherman’s Bend as top?priority neighborhoods for drainage upgrades, pumps, and backflow prevention, yet these projects remain largely unimplemented. In addition, recent policy choices have caused Winthrop to lose, or become ineligible for, more than $2 million in state climate and resilience grants.
The Climate Commission was created to baseline climate?driven risks, spotlight exactly these flooding hot spots, and recommend phased capital investments; after more than a year of meetings and planning with limited response from the Council, we voted to suspend operations until the Town Council demonstrates that this is a priority.
This pause is not a rejection of partnership; we stand ready to resume our work and support the Council with research, planning, and public engagement as soon as there is a concrete path to implementation.
In light of the blizzard’s impacts, we respectfully request that the Council:
1. Commit to taking action on the CACC’s recommendations for Tileston/Girdlestone, Morton/Banks, and Pico/Fisherman’s Bend, including timelines and funding strategies, as outlined in our Climate Action Plan.
2. Evaluate backup power and fail?safe settings for PRVs and present options for rapid corrective action.
3. Convene a public briefing focused on infrastructure and climate resilience, with participation from the Climate Commission, DPW, MWRA, and relevant state partners, so residents can understand both the recent failures and the path forward.
Winthrop residents seek a visible commitment to both infrastructure improvements and climate resilience. We recommend beginning with our Climate Action Plan and restoring access to the outside funding sources our community urgently needs.
We look forward to partnering with you to transform this storm into a pivotal moment for sustained investment in our town.
Best regards,
Ana Tavares Leary, Co-Chair, Citizens Advisory Commission on Climate
Norman Hyett, Co-Chair, Citizens Advisory Commission on Climate
Celeste Ribeiro Hewitt, Secretary, Citizens Advisory Commission on Climate