Alameda, CA Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft recently suggested that the city’s vulnerability to climate change and sea-level rise necessitates the resumption of federal funding. In a statement captured and shared on social media, Mayor Ashcraft emphasized that the required assistance isn’t military intervention but rather financial resources to combat the looming environmental threat. She cautioned that Alameda, being an island, is particularly susceptible, urging broader regional concern and action on climate change. “It’s anyone’s guess when that funding will resume … Alameda is an island, but the entire region needs to be concerned about Climate Change and sea level rise,” the mayor stated.
Mayor Ashcraft further stressed the urgency of the situation, warning fellow elected officials that even inland communities will eventually face consequences if climate change and sea-level rise are not addressed. This concern aligns with scientific projections indicating significant sea-level rise in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Alameda is located. Studies predict potential inundation of coastal areas, impacting infrastructure and communities, highlighting the need for proactive mitigation and adaptation strategies, and underscoring the importance of federal support in these efforts. Her quote: “As I like to say to my fellow electeds, even if you don’t live in a waterfront community, if we don’t do something about climate change and sea level rise, you will.”