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Thursday, Aug 23, 2012 5:34 PM UTC

A year after Irene, NYC ponders sea barriers

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Topics: From the Wires,

NEW YORK (AP) — Hurricane Irene didn’t prove to be the New York City flooding nightmare forecasters had feared.

But a year after the storm’s center hit Brooklyn as a tropical storm, some elected officials and community groups are pressing for an evaluation of whether sea barriers make sense for New York.

The city has been gathering information. Officials stress barriers are only one of many ideas under study.

Some scientists have discussed the barrier idea for years. A 2009 academic conference featured conceptual designs from engineering firms.

Advocates note that experts estimate the city could face a surge as high as 25 feet in some hurricane scenarios.

Some scientists and engineers feel barriers could create a false sense of security and raise environmental and social-equity questions.

Jennifer Peltz

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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