It Takes Time

Yesterday, I mentioned the events at the beginning of Covid, six years ago. Today, we go back eight years further, to Hurricane Sandy. We’ve been repairing damage since the storm ended, but we’re not done. Some damage isn’t worth repairing. Sidewalks all over lower Manhattan moved a bit when they were underwater or when the water subsided, or maybe both. That movement is visible mostly where sidewalks abut buildings and I haven’t seen anyone replacing the sidewalks. There have been some major infrastructure improvements, like the replacement of subway ventilator grills with new ones that can be readily blocked off to prevent the stations from flooring from above. There has been some interim infrastructure work, like temporary barricades along the East River until a new, higher, permanent seawall can be built. And, finally, there is currently a large reconstruction project at the plaza west of the Winter Garden and east of the foot of North End Avenue. I don’t know as an absolute fact…