Schumer Wants Feds To Pay For Saw Mill River Dredging
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (WCBS 880) - After recent flooding, there is a new push by one New York senator to do something to prevent it in the future.
Sen. Charles Schumer wants the Saw Mill river dredged and is asking the federal government to pick up the tab.
"I am urging FEMA administrator [Craig] Fugate to commence the debris removal in the Saw Mill River right away," said Schumer. "We're not just talking leaves or branches. Sometimes, there are entire trees, oil tanks, a guardrail and pieces of road."
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When the Saw Mill River floods, Brian Fee isn't thinking about politics, but his own livelihood.
"Every time it rains, you wake up and you worry about your business being ruined again," he said.
He owns a sports training facility in Elmsford and says the flooding from Irene cost him $600,000.
"Anytime you have a devastating loss like that, to rebuild the clientele base and get a confidence back from your membership is difficult," he told WCBS 880 reporter Peter Haskell, adding that he's considering moving his business.
Fee said that is why he the river needs to be dredged.
"We're really hoping that that would help alleviate the problem," he said.
Greenburgh town supervisor Paul Feiner has already said he would have his part of the river dredged and bill the federal government for it.
He says it's worth spending a little now rather than a lot after the next flood.
What do you think should be done to prevent flooding in Westchester County? Sound off below!
