Queens Councilmember James Gennaro joins “In Focus” to discuss flood protection and what’s being done to prevent a tragedy like the city saw after remnants of Hurricane Ida swept through in Sept. from happening again.

The storm devastated every borough but parts of Queens, in particular. Nearly a dozen Queens residents were among the 18 New Yorkers who lost their lives.

Gennaro is the chair of the City Council’s Environmental Protection Committee and represents District 24, including central Queens. He discusses what the city needs to do to be better prepared as researchers predict an above-average upcoming hurricane season.

With about 85% of the city’s electricity coming from fossil fuel plants in his borough, Gennaro also explains why he’s throwing his support behind Clean Path and the Champlain Hudson Power Express. The two recently approved, multi-billion dollar projects promise to bring solar, wind and hydropower to the city. Known as Tier 4, the program aims to increase renewable energy in New York and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Gennaro shares his thoughts on the climate action included in the new state budget and what he thinks it’s lacking.

He also reviews Mayor Eric Adams progress so far in the fight against climate change and explains how he’s enforcing Local Law 79, one of the world’s most ambitious bills to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from existing buildings.