By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
Obviously this impacts the scope of the projects that they [USACE] are doing, Long Beach City Manager Edwin Eaton said. It could affect us negatively. It certainly doesn't help us. It's not a positive sign.
The City of Long Beach has been involved with the proposed beach-saving protection project which includes Long Beach, Point Lookout and Lido Beachsince 1989, Eaton said, and there was always the possibility of funding problems.
But USACE project manager Anthony Ciorra said the project design phase, at least, won't be affected. The USACE budgets year to year, Ciorra said, which does leave the construction phase with an uncertain future since they have not budgeted for it.
Still, city officials believe that it's too early to guess how things will play out.
No one really knows how that [budget cuts] will impact the city, Long Beach Public works commissioner Rob Raab said. Everything is contingent on those funds being available.
Even Atlantic Beach independent environmentalist Morris Kramer was at a loss. We have to see how it plays out. We need more information.
City council member Denis Kelly said that the proposed cuts meant all the rules have changed. Given President Bush's proposed slashing for the USACE, he feels that the city would not receive the funds for the beach project.
But even if the city doesn't receive federal aid, Kelly said the city will still have to do something about the beach jetties, which would be refurbished under the USACE's current plan.
The Army Corps project details include installing a new dune 15 feet above sea level along the back of the beach, a new 110 foot-wide berm of sand, refurbishing the beach with dredged sand, refurbishing any existing jetties and adding four jetties on the Eastern End of the island.
