Unfair Lifeguard Coverage

Dear Editor:

Chris Tedesco here, resident/homeowner on Beach 61st Street, member of CB14. Our neighborhood seems to be on the wrong end of the fight for lifeguard coverage. In one of the most densely populated areas of the peninsula, with two A train stops, bus and shuttle lines, and street parking on nearly every block, we have TWO lifeguard chairs on ONE open bay for swimming.

I am aware that the councilmember for the west end of the peninsula has been very vocal about lifeguard coverage for her constituents. Her efforts clearly paid off judging from today’s “open beach” map of Rockaway – scroll down the page for current lifeguard coverage. She was an effective squeaky wheel.

This is the least amount of lifeguard coverage for this neighborhood in (at least) the last 16 years. For reference, last year there were five chairs, other years four chairs with two bays open for swimming. We also have an unfortunate history of drownings in this area.

I would like an explanation why the neighborhoods of Belle Harbor and Neponsit, with a fraction of population density, very limited public transportation, and zero street parking, has far more lifeguard coverage than zip code 11692.

Chris Tedesco