QUESTION
What are the efforts being made to address the lifeguard shortage and expand training and testing sites?
5:00:04
·
136 sec
The Parks Department acknowledges the national lifeguard shortage impacting New York City's pools and beaches.
- It is expanding lifeguard training to outer boroughs beyond Manhattan.
- Council Member Krishnan emphasizes the need for a testing site in Queens near Rockaway Beach.
- More resources and funding are required to hire additional instructors to increase training capacity.
- The department confirms its intention to open more testing sites across the city.
- Krishnan stresses that addressing the shortage is crucial to avoid limited operating schedules.
Shekar Krishnan
5:00:04
Another point I wanted to make on that, was Oh, you know, I think Council's municipality now have raised this before at a prior hearings, but I think there is one important point to know is I think part it is worth in addition to looking at expanding the testing past February, and I'm glad to hear there's movement on that.
5:00:22
And and You know, I I should say stepping back.
5:00:24
I do appreciate all that Parks is doing.
5:00:26
I know you're you're doing more with less in the budget overall.
5:00:30
And on this issue.
5:00:31
So I do know how hard you're all working.
5:00:32
So this is in no way.
5:00:34
And the numbers are encouraging to see the increase, but we're just not where we need to be.
5:00:39
So I think in addition to looking at expanding testing beyond February, maybe by condensing, having a more accelerated training, would help create more opportunities for high school college students as they get closer to summer to apply.
5:00:52
On top of that, I do think calcimipaldino's point about expanding testing sites is an important one too because I know constituents and Jackson Heights that were assigned to the Fort Hamilton location.
5:01:03
And it's just not workable.
5:01:05
And, of course, that's even worse in terms of a commute for constituents coming from Eastern Queens or other places too.
5:01:12
And again, these are all just way case, understanding the dynamics that play, all different things parks can do to do all that it can to maximize opportunities for lifeguards.
Sue Donoghue
5:01:23
Absolutely.
5:01:24
And thank you for that, and we agree.
5:01:26
And it was prior to the 1st step in organizing parks.
5:01:30
There was only training happening in Manhattan.
5:01:32
So the fact we have expanded, we have moved out to the outer boroughs.
5:01:36
We absolutely want to continue to do that, and we recognize the importance of it.
Shekar Krishnan
5:01:39
Are there any testing sites in in Queens?
Iris Rodriguez-Rosa
5:01:42
Not at this not at this time, but we are looking to be able to hopefully increase instructors so that way we can have as the commissioner said to be able to to hold some other sites for training throughout the city?
Shekar Krishnan
5:01:54
Yes.
5:01:54
And I think I would say that given especially Rockaway Beach And Queens to having a testing site in Queens is crucial and should be the number one priority.
5:02:03
Of course, having more life guards to teach, as you mentioned, for deputy commissioner, requires more resources and funding to keep them on.
5:02:09
Correct?
5:02:12
K.
5:02:12
Sorry.
5:02:12
I couldn't can't hear your answer for the records.
5:02:14
Yes.
5:02:15
Is that a yes?
5:02:15
Yes.
5:02:17
Let me how many testing facilities are there overall?
5:02:19
Sorry.
5:02:20
Last question on Lifeguard.