SIDEWALKS SHOULD NEVER BE CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION

CLOSERS FOOLISHLY FORCE MULTIPLE CROSSINGS 

OF DANGEROUS TRAFFIC TO COMPLETE A JOURNEY

Bravo for the scaffolding & wide, gently graded ramps to maintain pedestrian mobility for all during construction around the Freedom Tower on the west side of Biscayne Boulevard.

Tragically, dozens of downtown Miami sidewalks are closed for construction — putting people on peril.

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

Darren Olson, the engineer leading the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE), 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure is vice president and assistant department head of the Water Resources Department at Christopher B. Burke Engineering in Chicago.

This year’s grade was C: the highest overall grade ever awarded. ASCE credited increased investment at the federal and state levels for elevating the nation’s infrastructure grade above 2021’s C-minus.

“Infrastructure — it’s not a red thing or a blue thing — it improves life if we have clean water, safe sanitation and the commute to work is easier,” Olson said.

“Transit and broadband affect everything we do.

The digital transformation/AI is a huge topic.

Without infrastructure, there is no AI, no massive data centers.”

 

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

Earlier this year, California passed a wildfire aid package that dedicated up to $1 billion to disaster response and emergency operations while also making allocations for rebuilding homes and schools.

“In the near term, it’s possible that states with smaller budgets will see far greater challenges in responding to disasters without the access to federal dollars that they’ve had in the past,” said Drew Myers, policy representative, State and Local Issues, Advocacy Group, National Association of REALTORS®.

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

“Following the tragic Camp Mystic floods in Texas, the Texas legislature passed bills that allocate funding to early warning systems and support emergency training and first-responder communication improvements,” 

said Drew Myers, policy representative, State and Local Issues, Advocacy Group, National Association of REALTORS®, noting the legislation also addresses emergency manager licensing and equipment upkeep.

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

Drew Myers, policy representative, State and Local Issues, Advocacy Group, National Association of REALTORS®, said state governments are taking action on the budget impact of weather-related events.

“As the administration reviews and considers overhauling FEMA disaster aid and other programs, some states are considering boosting or creating new disaster recovery funds while others will invest in their ‘rainy-day’ funds to bolster their ability to provide aid to their constituents in the future,” Myers said.

States are also thinking about longer-term strategies, debating policy solutions to address disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

 

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

In early 2025, National Association of REALTORS asked government affairs directors from state and local REALTOR® associations across the country if weather-related events were placing a strain on their state or local government’s budget.

More than half (54%) reported financial stress in government budgets from extreme weather events, requiring advocacy for improved infrastructure and resiliency funding.

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

The Duwamish River restoration project is a perfect example of a “capital stack” combination of funding, including: state grants, local grants, public utilities grants, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant, King County Flood Control District funding, conservation fund dollars and funding from FEMA BRIC, a federal program now suspended by the administration.

Other grant applications for the evolving public-private partnership are pending.

The project team is hoping to enter a partnership with a pro sports team foundation that supports climate resilience in disadvantaged areas.