Q&A
Incident involving religious attire at Astoria Pool
1:17:34
·
4 min
Council Member Krishnan raises concerns about an incident where a woman wearing a hijab was prevented from entering Astoria Pool. Commissioner Donoghue addresses the Parks Department's policies on religious attire.
- Parks Department apologizes for any miscommunication in the incident
- Hijabs and turbans are allowed at pools, as well as modest observant swimwear
- Clear signage about allowable attire is posted at pool facilities
- Parks Department commits to ensuring pools are welcoming and accessible to all
Shekar Krishnan
1:17:34
OUR OFFICE, CAN'S OFFICE, WAS MADE AWARE OF A DISTURBING INCIDENT IN WHICH A WOMAN WEARING A HIT JOB WAS PREVENTED FROM ENTERING THE POOL.
1:17:42
MY OFFICE THROUGH CAN'S ALSO MADE AWARE OF THIS TOO AND SHE AND I BOTH directly about it.
1:17:47
We sent you a letter as well from both our offices.
1:17:49
When councilor Keban's office inquired with the Parks department regarding this matter, there was a lack of clarity around the pool's policy about religious attire.
1:17:59
Has the Parks' DEIB investigated the incident and made a determination about training or measures it will take in order to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Sue Donoghue
1:18:08
Thank you for the question, and I'm aware of the letter that an union council member com on submitted.
1:18:16
First off, we do do extensive training around customer service at our pools, and we absolutely want to ensure that our pools are welcoming and friendly and accessible to all.
1:18:28
So it is an important part of the work we do leading up to full opening is making sure that people that our staff is focused on customer service and awareness of the rules.
1:18:39
I am aware of the incident that was mentioned and apologize if they were not appropriate communication.
1:18:46
We do have signage at the entrance to each of our pool.
1:18:50
Someone just handed it to me.
1:18:51
We can submit it for testimony that does show what is allowed on the deck and in the water.
1:18:56
Your jobs and turbines are allowed.
1:18:58
We do also allow for modest observant swimwear.
1:19:03
So there there would not be a reason why someone would have been turned down for wearing a new job.
1:19:08
We post that.
1:19:09
It's very visible.
1:19:10
So if there was a miscommunication, I apologize on behalf of the agency.
1:19:14
But we do work really hard to make sure our pools are welcoming and accessible to all.
Shekar Krishnan
1:19:20
That was an extremely concerning incident and raises a number of of questions.
1:19:26
And and clearly, I know that Marx has the policy what happened on the ground in reality was very different and was very traumatic.
1:19:32
And especially for so many most of New Yorkers and communities like Astoria, Jackson Heights, for a pool in Astoria, we would expect a far different standard of of treatment and making sure that the staff there are adequately trained to understand different religions, cultures, and ensure poor policy reflects that.
1:19:55
So on that note, I think you already answered it too was the question was, can you share Park's policy on allowable attire to enter the Astoria pool?
1:20:02
We'd appreciate if you could submit that as well.
Sue Donoghue
1:20:04
Absolutely.
1:20:05
Have it right here.
1:20:06
We'll leave it.
1:20:06
Yeah.
Shekar Krishnan
1:20:07
Can you share the parks department's policy on permitting religious attire within the boundaries of the Astoria pool or any New York City pool?
Sue Donoghue
1:20:16
So as we just discussed, we do have very clear signage on what's allowed.
1:20:22
We do prioritize welcoming accessible access to all of our pool facilities.
1:20:29
We we that's why we make this signage readily available right at the front.
1:20:34
And in in our folks who are working at the pool facilities know are now trained in what is allowed on the deck and in the water.
1:20:42
We work really hard to make sure that people are aware and there's good customer service around that.
Shekar Krishnan
1:20:49
Is it your understanding that the Parks department is allowed to limit and or deny access to a New York City public pool based on individual's choice of religious attire?
Sue Donoghue
1:21:00
So they we We do.
1:21:02
They're they're in terms of our what's allowed on the pool deck.
1:21:07
The material of the swimsuit or of what people are wearing in the pool does need to be suitable.
1:21:14
There are and regulations around that.
1:21:18
But as as I've said, we will submit.
1:21:21
We do or we're very clear about allowing for jobs, turbines, modest absorbent swimwear, and we provide access to, you know, all New Yorkers center pools.
1:21:32
Absolutely.
Shekar Krishnan
1:21:32
Seems to me that this situation needs to be closely addressed as we wrote about in our letter 2 to ensure that it does not happen ever again.
1:21:40
Mhmm.
1:21:41
Consumor Keban's office asked for immediate website updates and signage information informing guests of this policy.
1:21:48
When can we expect to see these updates for pool guests posted online and at pool facilities?
Sue Donoghue
1:21:53
So they already are posted at pool facilities.
1:21:56
This document that I have is exactly what's posted at pool facility.
1:22:00
Days.
1:22:00
We'll leave that with you today, and we can submit it for testimony, make sure you have it.
1:22:06
So it is there today.
1:22:07
It was there for the 2024 beach season.
1:22:09
It will be there always.
1:22:12
And We we can also make sure that it's available and on our website.
