Research
Urban Residents’ Justice Preferences in the Design of Climate Adaptation Flood Policy
I conduct an online survey (implemented, along with translations, in Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, London, New York City, and Seoul) that examines a comprehensive set of justice values that underlies residents’ flood policy preferences. The survey tests the hypothesis that self-identified vulnerability to flood risk more strongly predicts differences in policy preferences as compared to city of residence, political identities, or other demographics.
Multi-Level Funding Mechanisms of NJ & NY Flood Buyouts
I trace possible path dependency in funding flows between federal, state, and local governments for NY Rising and NJ Blue Acres, two state-run flood buyout programs, across three time periods: at the onset of the Blue Acres program in 1995; after Hurricane Sandy in 2012; and after initial implementation of the IRA, IIJA, and Justice40 initiative in 2021-2022. A focus of this natural experiment is to uncover how EJ communities have been explicitly or implicitly prioritized (or neglected) via different funding structures over the life of these programs.
Social Vulnerability Analysis of U.S. Federal Disaster Resilience Grants
I propose and implement methods for analyzing the reach of federal disaster resilience grants. I consider which communities are applying to/receiving project grants and technical assistance by utilizing multi-year data from a selection of FEMA, HUD, NOAA, & NFWF grant programs – and comparing results across competing climate vulnerability indices. The hypothesis is that more vulnerable communities are less likely to apply for grants, but on the other hand also more likely to be prioritized as grant recipients. I also expect to see increased prioritization of vulnerable communities since implementation of Justice40.
Collaborative Governance of the USACE NY & NJ Harbor & Tributaries Focus Area Feasibility Study (NYNJHATS)
I conduct a detailed case study and assessment of the (limited) collaborative governance and environmental justice structures embedded within the Army Corps of Engineers’ NY & NJ Harbor & Tributaries Feasibility Study. Case study methods will include: timeline documentation and stakeholder mapping, content analysis of public comments during the 2022-2023 open period, a short stakeholder survey, and recommendations for improving the current NYNJHATS EJ analysis methods.
