Research

Justice40 Implementation among U.S. Federal Climate Climate Adaptation Financial Assistance Programs

I conduct archival documentation and qualitative analysis of the impacts of the Biden-era Justice40 initiative on federal climate adaptation financial assistance programs. I assess how grant program administrators defined and set criteria for “disadvantaged communities” and “program benefits” – and whether they developed internal evaluation methods. I track additional ways in which program administrators modified program design in order to meet Justice40 standards, as well as what influence the Justice40 initiative had on non-covered programs within the same agencies.

The Impact of Multi-Level Funding Structures on Flood Relocation Programs in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic

I compare the funding mechanisms of six historical and contemporary flood buyout programs in the mid-Atlantic: a long-standing program in New Jersey (Blue Acres); one past (Build It Back) and one in-development program in New York City; one past (NY Rising) and one in-development (Blue Buffers) program in New York State; and one in-development program in Philadelphia. I furthermore conduct geospatial analysis on how differing distributions of funding sources (e.g., federal grants vs. state appropriations) impacts equity-based program outcomes.

A Comparison of Urban Residents’ & Local Officials' Environmental Justice Preferences in Climate Adaptation Flood Policy

I administer a set of online, quantitative surveys focused on justice preferences in the design of climate adaptation flood policies. The surveys are being conducted in three rounds:

To residents of 5 cities globally (Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, London, New York City, and Seoul), with translations.
To residents across New Jersey.
To local government officials across New Jersey.

The surveys explore the relationships between participant characteristics (e.g., experience & vulnerability to flood risk, city of residence, political & psychological worldviews, and layperson vs. expert) and 1) climate risk perceptions; 2) preferences for distributive, procedural, and corrective justice options in the design of climate adaptation flood policy (including targeted questions regarding flood buyout programs).

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, community engagement efforts, and environmental justice structures embedded within the Army Corps of Engineers’ NY & NJ Harbor & Tributaries Feasibility Study and subsequent Actionable Elements Draft Feasibility Report. Triangulated case study methods include: 1) timeline documentation and stakeholder mapping; 2) content analysis of FOIA-requested public comments during the 2022-2023 open period and secondary summer 2025 open period; 3) a pre/post-evaluation of a scientific assessments workshop; 4) and recommendations for improving the current NYNJHATS EJ analysis methods.