Page 6 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2023 More than 100 people took part in 1st Metropolitan Beaches Commission Hearing on Sea Level Rise. O n Tuesday, July 11, the Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC) and Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay convened a public hearing on current eff orts to address sea level rise in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull. More than 100 people from the region’s waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities from Nahant to Nantasket took part in the hearing, which was held on Zoom. At the hearing the Commission heard testimony from the Massachusetts Offi ce of Coastal Zone Management, the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR), DCR’s Office of Climate Resilience, the City of Boston’s Environment Department, the Climate Change & Environmental Planning team at the Boston Planning & Development Agency and the Town of Hull’s Climate Adaption & Conservation Department on the status of their eff orts to address the impacts of climate change. “I want to thank all the experts, advocates and residents we heard from at today’s hearing and our partners in the community and from government at all levels for sharing their thoughts and plans with us today,” said Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Executive Director, Chris Mancini. “It is clear that the region’s waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities and all our region’s public beaches are seriously threatened by sea level rise and increasingly frequent and severe coastal storms caused by global warming and climate change. Unless we take steps today to preserve these beaches and protect our communities, in the near future we really could be looking at ‘A Bay State Without Beaches.’” In the coming months MBC will hold additional hearings on this subject, before issuing a report of their fi ndings and recommendations to the Legislature, the Administration and the public. “This hearing is an important first step in the Metropolitan Beaches Commission’s efforts to help the region’s waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities develop strategies and secure resources that will both strengthen coastal defense and resilience and preserve public access to our region’s public beaches,” said Bruce Berman, who serves as the Lead Consultant to the MBC. “If we get it right, our beaches can protect our communities. If we don’t, we put public safety, our beaches and the economic future of our communities at risk.” “The beaches of Lynn and Nahant are critical recreational resources to my constituents and the region’s residents, and important economic drivers as well,” said MBC Co-Chair Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn. “We need to work together to secure the resources our coastal communities need to preserve our beaches and protect our communities from the increasing threat posed by global warming and sea level rise.” “My district has more shoreline but less public access than any other waterfront neighborhood or beach front community in the region,” said MBC Co-Chair Imagine a Bay State Without Beaches Rep. Adrian Madaro of East Boston. We need to fi nd both the ways and the means to protect public access to the beach and waterfront and protect nearby residents and businesses from the threat of climate change. “My district is home to three great public beaches, two of which are easily accessible by the Blue Line,” said MBC ViceChair State Senator Lydia Edwards, who represents East Boston, Winthrop and Revere. “We need to work together to fi nd ways to preserve public access to Revere Beach, Winthrop Beach and Constitution Beach while protecting the adjacent neighborhoods from the increasing risks of sea level rise and coastal fl ooding.” “As the Representative of the City of Revere, home of America’s First Public Beach, I believe it is critical to protect the beautiful coastal natural resources that are the Commonwealth’s beaches,” said Rep. Jessica Giannino (DRevere). “I am so thankful that the commission is exploring ways to strengthen our coastal defense as well as ensure our beaches remain safe, accessible, and resilient.” “In many ways, the beaches and shorelines of South Boston define our community,” said MBC Commissioner State Rep. David Biele of South Boston. “They are critical recreational resources to my constituents and the region’s residents, and important economic drivers as well. We need to work together to secure the resources our coastal communities need to preserve our beaches and protect our communities from the increasing threat posed by sea level rise.” “Dorchester’s beaches and shore are critical recreational resources to my constituents,” said MBC Commissioner Rep. Dan Hunt of Dorchester. “We need to work together to secure the resources our coastal communities need to preserve our beaches and protect our communities from the increasing threat posed by coastal fl ooding and sea level rise.” “As a barrier island peninsula that protects communities in the metro-Boston region, the Town of Hull is well-versed in resilience and adaptation eff orts,” said MBC Vice-Chair Rep. Joan Meschino of Hull. “We must endeavor to understand our communities’ local histories, identify patterns and trends, and work collaboratively with DCR to invest in coastal resilience. By turning our focus to climate resilience for our beaches, we protect our coastal communities while also promoting the betterment of the entirety of Boston Harbor.” “Our public beaches are critically important to all of us, especially kids and families who rely on them for recreation and healthy outdoor activities,” said MBC Vice-Chair Christopher Byner of the Boston Police Activities League. “We all have a responsibility to work together to protect our communities from the increasing risk of fl oods and storms, while preserving access to the beach and sea.”
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