Fixing the Riegelmann Boardwalk will protect public health and safety.

Fixing the Riegelmann Boardwalk will protect public health and safety.
Every day, thousands of people come to the ocean on Coney Island and Brighton Beach. These walks include senior citizens, parents with children, people with disabilities, local residents, and tourists from all over the world. However, today, walking along some sections of the boardwalk can result in injury.
Loose boards, protruding nails, dangerous holes, and uneven surfaces are no longer just minor issues. They pose a real safety threat. Residents believe cars cause additional damage to the wood flooring.
As a journalist and volunteer, I consider it my duty to draw the attention of the public and government officials to this problem in order to ensure the embankment is repaired and possible accidents are prevented.
That's why, together with active residents of the Luna Park Mitchell-Lama buildings, the Oceana residential complexes, 500 Brightwater Court, 35 Seacoast Terrace, and other areas, we began to push for immediate repairs to the most dangerous sections of the boardwalk.
In a short time, more than 400 signatures were collected. People aren't demanding the impossible and aren't asking for the wooden flooring to be replaced with a more modern material tomorrow.
Residents are asking for basic steps to be taken today to prevent injuries:
• secure loose boards;
• remove protruding nails;
• close dangerous holes;
• level out protruding areas of the coating.
Residents want to see transparency in the process, so information about inspections, repairs, the number of crews working, and the progress of renovation preparations should be published monthly.
Is this too much when it comes to the safety of thousands of people?
Michael Iospa, a proactive Coney Island resident, played a major role in drawing attention to this issue. Thanks to his interview with American television and CBS News journalist Hannah Kliger, the state of the boardwalk became known across America.
I sincerely thank renowned attorney Tanya Segal for her support of this important initiative.
Special thanks to New York Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny, who took a principled stand on this issue. He rightly noted, "We can't wait another few years for large-scale reconstruction to begin."
People need a safe boardwalk now." That's why he contacted the New York City Parks Department to urgently repair the section from the library on First Brighton to the Shorefront Y. According to available information, this section is in extremely poor condition and is categorized as requiring urgent attention. Similar problems exist on other sections of the boardwalk, such as near the Aquarium, where repairs have already begun. Residents of the area have repeatedly called through 311 and directly to the NY Parks Department, asking for repair crews to repair the dangerous damage.
According to our elected representatives, who have been briefed on the issue, approximately one billion dollars has been earmarked for the development of Coney Island, including the boardwalk reconstruction. This is an important and long-awaited investment in the area's future. However, while the design, approvals, and preparations for this large-scale reconstruction are underway, people continue to walk along dangerous sections of the waterfront every day.
We can't wait for another fall or injury to lead to tragic consequences.
Our initiative is aimed at protecting people. We support the reconstruction of the boardwalk.
More than 400 signatures aren't just a number. They represent hundreds of residents who love their neighborhood and want it to be safe and comfortable for everyone. Senator Jessica Scarcella-Stanton, while this article was being prepared for publication, held a press conference on July 8 at the Boardwalk and 5th Brighton regarding the Boardwalk renovations. If you also believe that human life and health are more important than bureaucratic procedures, please support our initiative.
Boardwalk should be safe not in years to come, but today!
God Bless America!
Marina Lagunova