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. More specifically, the survey explores the relationships between participant characteristics (e.g., experience & vulnerability to flood risk, city of residence, and political & psychological worldviews) and 1) climate risk perceptions; 2) preferences for distributive, procedural, and corrective justice options in the design of climate adaptation flood policy.
Multi-Level Funding Mechanisms of Flood Buyouts in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic
I trace possible path dependency in funding mechanisms and program stipulations among
six programs in the mid-Atlantic: a long-standing program in New Jersey (Blue Acres); one past (Build It Back) and one in-design (Rainproof NYC) program in New York City; one past (NY Rising) and one in-design (Blue Buffers) program in New York State; and one in-design program in Philadelphia. I compare different federal funding sources to state appropriations to uncover how these variations impact equity-based program outcomes on the ground.
Justice40 Implementation among U.S. Federal Climate Resilience Grant Programs
I explore the policy learning process across federal agencies during implementation of the White House Justice40 initiative under the Biden Administration. I assess how grant program administrators defined and set criteria for “disadvantaged communities” and for “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.
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.
