From The New York Shitty Inbox: More Ado About The Manhattan Avenue Kayak Launch

Or: Ten Days & Counting!

(Taken June 16, 2014.)

A tipster writes (on June 6th, 2014)

Hi Heather!

Thank you for your post about the Manhattan Ave Boat Launch. I actually attempted to make an online 311 complaint about it a day or two before your post. However, the 311 website did not accept the complaint since the launch is not listed. Today I attempted to make the same complaint via phone and was again unsuccessful. I ended up making an “agency complaint”. I’m sure many people give up long before this point.  I spent about 15 minutes attempting to make the online complaint and 40 minutes making the agency complaint via phone.  My agency complaint number is C1-1-977259887

It lists the following:

• Parks Dept does not list the site as a park to enable 311 complaints
• Broken waterfront railing
• Broken railing surrounding grassy area
• Wood chips have not been replaced
• Grass dry and unkempt
• Boats moored to kayak launch access gate
• Dead trees
• Trees with broken branches
• Excessive weeds

I found the the first bullet point rather fascinating. The following, gentle readers, should clarify why.

Let’s review:

1. Permits can be/have been issued for the use of this park.
2. This would suggest that this piece of public space is in the “Parks” system.
3. However, when a complaint is to be lodged it cannot be located. Fascinating.

I suppose the argument could be made that our local parks conservancy/partnership “arrangement” is more interested in the monetization of our public spaces (via the issuance of permits and hosting events such as the Northside Festival) than enforcement/”upkeep”. I would like to kindly counter that much-needed revenue is being lost by allowing these watercraft to moor for free. I wonder what our City Councilman’s position is on this? Anyone?

In any case I was recently advised to poke around online boating forums regarding free mooring at Newtown Creek. Today I did. It was rather illuminating.

Those of you who, say, struggle to pay rent, property taxes or bemoan the woeful condition of our public spaces— few as they are here— should take a moment, read and re-read the previous. Angry yet?

You should be.

“Playing by the rules” is for chumps.

P.S.: It would appear the North Brooklyn Boat Club is now the North Brooklyn Community Boathouse.

Still no listing on the New York State Charities Database. Hmm.

Nonetheless it is located on the premises of the “Broadway Stages Boat Yard“, is still “fiscally sponsored” by Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn— and they’re having a party!

Um, isn’t OSA’s job to help finance public parks?

Flyer credits: the North Brooklyn Boat Club’s Facebook page.

Photo Credit: Dustin Brugmann.