Q&A
Discussion on beach signage effectiveness and Let Swim NYC investment
0:39:24
·
3 min
Commissioner Donoghue and Council Member Krishnan discuss the effectiveness of beach signage and the Let Swim NYC investment. Donoghue defends the current signage, while Krishnan expresses concerns about its clarity and accessibility to all New Yorkers.
- Debate on the effectiveness of red flag signage with international symbols
- Discussion on the need for clear communication that translates to reality for New Yorkers
- Donoghue highlights the $1 billion Let Swim NYC investment for expanding pool access
- Krishnan emphasizes the need for creative solutions beyond current measures
Sue Donoghue
0:39:24
Thank you, Council member.
0:39:25
I just want to note, our red flags do have on the signage of indication, international symbol of not swimming.
0:39:33
And they're not just plain red flags.
0:39:35
They have a symbol on them to not swim.
0:39:37
And also, I apologize if if I didn't make it clear in my testimony.
0:39:41
We're not only increasing recruitment, but also, you know, the $1,000,000,000 investment in Let Swim NYC is really about expanding access to pools 2 new pools being created and then investments in 39 pools.
0:39:56
So we are being proactive both on the recruitment side and in the pool infrastructure side.
0:40:01
Absolutely.
Shekar Krishnan
0:40:01
And is the what's written on the flags?
0:40:03
Is that actual writing, or is it just the the picture itself?
Sue Donoghue
0:40:07
An internationally recognized sign for no swimming.
Shekar Krishnan
0:40:09
So I and that's good that they're internationalized signs.
0:40:12
But the reality is that oftentimes, you know, what we may think on a policy level makes sense, They don't always translate on the ground to reality for New Yorkers, especially many who don't know how to swim or in the water.
0:40:23
And so I'm reporting what I'm hearing from New Yorkers.
0:40:27
I know as a lawyer too, we can have all the laws in the world, and all the regulations.
0:40:33
But if you don't make sense not accessible to New Yorkers or anyone on the ground, then the laws aren't going to have the intended effect or be worth more than the paper they're written on.
0:40:42
And so one thing I think about is looking at different ways to explore, making clear, where the territories are to swim and not swim, but also we're hearing from New Yorkers that this is the kind of communication they want from parks.
0:40:56
And there may be things that are done by the parks department already to address it.
0:40:59
But the fact of the matter is there's too much of a focus on not where not to swim, what hours not to swim during.
0:41:08
And, again, the hours right now, the time frame is just not the reality of where New Yorkers are on this issue because of how warm it is outside.
0:41:18
And I just urge, again, city hall, the mayor's administration, to 1, put funding in the parks department budget to address this issue.
0:41:27
Think you all need funding absolutely to address it, and it's a problem when we're battling cuts to the box department every year.
0:41:32
And we have to be honest about what that means.
0:41:35
And 2, finding ways even with the resources that we have to come up with more creative measures than simply telling the Yorkers don't go into water after hours, don't go into waters in a lifeguard as a non duty.
0:41:46
Part of what we have to anticipate is these foreseeable things that will happen you know, it's it's as I think about it in in in in the law, in products liability law, you look at foreseeable misuses of a product, and you protect against those foreseeable misuses.
0:42:05
It is foreseeable that people will swim outside of hours.
0:42:09
It is foreseeable that people may end up something past the red flags even if there's communication on it too.
0:42:15
And we've gotta figure out what solutions we're gonna do to address it beyond simply repeating that they have to be swimming when lifeguards on duty or during those hours.
0:42:27
On that note, what did the budget allocate for maintaining parks departments beaches and pools this year?
0:42:32
What was our total parks department budget and how much went towards beaches and pools?
