Chants of “people yes, party boats, no,” and “hey hey, ho ho, party boats have got to go,” rang through a high-tension rally to keep a popular form of entertainment out of Mill Basin Waterways.
Community members and elected officials gathered at Nick’s Live Lobster House, 2777 Flatbush Avenue, to speak up on why they believe allowing party boats to operate on the waters of Mill Basin would cause irreparable harm to the community.
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration moved the party boats from Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn to Mill Island last week without notifying the community. The boats were moved after Sheepshead Bay lawmakers City Council Member Chaim Deutsch (D) and Assembly Member Steve Cymbrowitz (D) lobbied the mayor to move them because of wee morning rowdiness when the boats came back to dock after a night of partying at sea.
Party Boats, also commonly known by the colloquialism “booze cruises,” are ships that take passengers around a small area of water and gives them a space for drinking and dancing.
Residents that live along the waterway have raised concerns over the possible damage that could occur to their properties if the cruises were allowed to operate. Loud music disturbing residents, lack of parking and facilities and the size of the ships were the biggest concerns that the residents raised.
Among the Mill Basin elected officials attending the rally included Assemblywoman Jamie Williams, New York State Senator Roxanne Persaud, Kings County Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio, Female District leader Sue Ann Partnow. Additionally, leaders of the Marina where the boats would operate from, were in attendance.
Williams noted there was never a study done as to how adding the boats to the waterways would affect the community, nor was there a town hall to give citizens an outlet to voice their concerns.
“We just cannot allow this to happen at all,” Williams said, “We’re just not going to take it sitting down.”
Williams described the energy and the turnout of the rally as powerful. She said that the mayor cannot make decisions without giving residents notice and not expect a fight.
“This is just the beginning,” she said, “we’re going to raise an army.”
The residents and lawmakers demanded a reason from the mayor as to why the decision was made.
“You just can’t come and put something into someone’s community and not get an explanation,” Williams said.
Sol Needle, a Mill Island Civic Association member, said the rally showed the community opposition, and just how strongly the residents feel about the decision.
“On very short notice we were able to put this together,” he said, “the city ambushed us, they didn’t give us any notice at all.”
Needle said that the party boats are not just a bad idea for Mill Island, but for anywhere in the city that has residents that live near the water.
“This is the most ludicrous decision that the mayor ever made,” said Jim Buchanan, the 63rd Precinct Community Council member, who was standing with Needle.
Buchanan said the decision to move the boats from one community to another without addressing any of the problems from the previous community made no sense. He said the Mayor is not listening to the
“To take a problem from one person and give to another is ludicrous,” he said.
Arelene C., who did not wish to disclose her last name, interrupted Party Chair Frank Seddio to demand a specific plan for resolving the situation.
“What action are you going to take?” she asked, “Don’t say things that are general.”
Arlene, who claims to live in the area on National Drive, said the wake from the boats would destroy parts of her property.
“We already have enough boats in the area,” she said, “It’s dangerous, it’s too narrow and it’s noisy.”
