Res 1435-2020

By Council Members Gjonaj, Cabrera and Gibson Whereas, The City Island Civic Association has sent a letter to the New York Police Department, outlining resident complaints about a deteriorating quality of life in the area; and Whereas, Included in the letter were claims that loud noise, lewd and reckless behavior, and illegal activity from personal water craft operators in Eastchester Bay are having an increasingly detrimental effect on residents of the surrounding Bronx communities, including in City Island, Sunset Cove, Spencer Estates, Country Club, Edgewater, Throggs Neck, Silver Beach, and Locust Point; and Whereas, While coordination between Harbor Patrol and Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs) of the NYPD's 45th Precinct have led to better enforcement of quality of life concerns during the day, residents have complained that after 8:00 p.m., during off-duty hours, the waters are again plagued by loud noise, lewd behavior, and dangerous activity; and Whereas, On July 20, 2020, two men were killed in a jet ski crash that took place around 8:45 p.m. near the Evers Marina in Eastchester Bay, illustrating the need for better harbor patrol in the City Island area during off-duty hours; and Whereas, The Bronx is the only borough in New York City without a dedicated Harbor Patrol unit, and tens of thousands of people swim at Orchard Beach each summer; thousands of boaters navigate the waters of Long Island Sound, Eastchester Bay, the Hutchinson River, and the East River; private fishing and party boats entertain thousands during the day and night; and commercial traffic is present on Bronx waterways seven days a week; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York Police Department to create a permanent, year-round harbor patrol in the Bronx, and review its allocation plan for citywide harbor patrols, in order to address concerns in the City Island area. LS #15905/13267/13248/12385 1/4/2021 12:25 PM M.T.