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Editorial: Another Hard Lesson


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Illustration by Thomas Kerr

Rockaway’s popularity as a beach destination has never been bigger. But with that attraction comes tragedy, as our severe riptide currents have claimed another life; this time, 17-year old Lamine Sarr.

Sarr, a junior at Channel View School for Research, went swimming with friends on Saturday night. No lifeguards were on duty, and the current overwhelmed the young man.

Every year, beachgoers are warned that even expert swimmers can be caught unawares on certain days, and those fears were realized on Sept. 18, when Sarr’s body washed up on Beach 98th Street, two days after he first went missing.

Floyd Smith, the executive director of Concerned Citizens for Rockaway, says swimming alone is dangerous, but even just wading in the water can be deadly.

According to Smith, while many drowning victims are people who come to Rockaway for the day and don’t know the dangers of the peninsula’s waters, even locals are susceptible to the dangers.

“Four times a day the tide changes,” Smith added. “Before and after the tide changes the tide and current are so dangerous that [Rockaway lifeguard] Janet Fash told me she almost drowned.”

Something needs to be done and needs to be done now. NYC Parks, which is supposed to be monitoring the beaches, has to come up with a better system to prevent people from swimming, especially when the current is strong.

Maybe they aren’t capable of doing so?

Back on July 5, at an outdoor meeting of the Rockaway Beach Civic Association (RBCA), one upset resident suggested NYC Parks needs a specialized coastal committee because they “have no idea how to run a beach.”

RBCA President John Cori has been saying this for years and said so that night.

“We need a coastal commission, somebody that understands the coastline,” he said. “A park is not a beach, I’m sorry it’s not.”

However, Parks strongly denied that night they weren’t coping.

“Parks is not overwhelmed. We have managed Rockaway Beach for decades as a safe, clean facility and the popularity of the beach is a testament to the success of our efforts,” the agency replied in an email. “Safety is always our first priority, and we are happy to say that we have not had a drowning at Rockaway Beach during operating hours in recent years.”

That’s the key of course; during “operating hours.” You see Parks doesn’t count the people who drown on someone else’s time.

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