People's safety is the most important thing!

People's safety is the most important thing!
200 orange flags have become a symbol of concern for people's safety on the Riegelmann Boardwalk.
On July 30, concerned people once again gathered on the famous Riegelmann Boardwalk to draw attention to dangerous sections of the embankment and demand concrete action from city authorities.
The initiators of the #FixConeyIslandBoardwalk movement are Mike Iospa, along with renowned attorney Tatyana Segal, and I, Marina Lagunova, a journalist with the newspaper R.Reklama, have supported this movement from day one. The goal is simple: to ensure repairs to dangerous areas, regular maintenance, and greater accountability for the historic boardwalk.
Just three people—a small initiative group—managed to draw the attention of residents, American media, and government officials to a problem that had long been ignored.
Tatyana Segal, on a voluntary basis, sent numerous petitions to the Mayor of New York, members of the Assembly, City Hall, and the Parks Department, organized meetings, and gave interviews to American television networks. Mike Iospa actively engaged American journalists and politicians in the issue and proposed innovative initiatives.
Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny, who repeatedly appealed to the Parks Department to begin repair work, provided significant support. Together with Steven Symbrowitz, he successfully secured the reconstruction of the section of the boardwalk from Coney Island to Brighton 15th Street many years ago. Assemblymember Mikhail Novakhov, who repeatedly raised the need for repairs with the Park Department, also deserves thanks. New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton played a key role by organizing a press conference directly on the boardwalk. This resulted in widespread public attention to the issue.
The July 30th event was symbolically named "Don't Trip." Mike Iospa purchased 200 bright orange flags, which participants used to mark the most dangerous spots.
Cracked and loose boards, protruding nails, holes in boards, and differences in board height have caused falls and injuries over the years, and numerous lawsuits have cost taxpayers significant amounts of money.
Orange flags have become a kind of signal: "Watch your step!"
At the same time, initial positive changes are undeniable. In some areas, protruding nails have been significantly reduced, and two severely damaged sections near Coney Island and Shorefront have been repaired, with cracked and holey wooden boards replaced. These are encouraging steps.
But residents want to know: Who determines the repair priority? What is the specific work plan? How many hazardous areas will be repaired by the end of the season?
Another idea being discussed is to create a strip of approximately two meters wide along the edge of the boardwalk with a more durable surface. It could be used by emergency vehicles, police, bicycles, and small electric vehicles. This would facilitate access for emergency services while reducing the strain on the wooden surface.
The #FixConeyIslandBoardwalk movement continues to call on the Parks Department to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the boardwalk, promptly address hazardous areas, develop a transparent, regular maintenance plan, and keep residents informed about the progress of repairs.
Discussions are already underway about what the boardwalk will look like after 2027. This issue has been under study for many years. What materials will be used? How will the safety and durability of the new structure be ensured? These questions require open discussion with residents.
I'd like to sincerely thank everyone who supported our initiative. We were a small group, but it was thanks to your persistence that the situation began to change.
I'm a volunteer. And I only want one thing: for residents and visitors of Brighton and Coney Island to be able to stroll peacefully along their favorite boardwalk and enjoy the ocean and fresh air.
Marina Lagunova