One thing is clear in New York area politics: you can always blame Bill De Blasio.
Lawmakers in Long Island and along the Jersey Shore are facing a big decision as we head into the summer season. If beach communities remain completely closed, their economy sinks like lead. If they paint an “open for business” sign too brightly they’ll seem like the mayor from Jaws should a spike in coronavirus cases occur. A third way is to take measures that limit access, then let any fallout rest with the park-strolling, YMCA-attending former Presidential candidate.
“Do your job. Figure out a plan to safely reopen your beaches” the New York Times quotes the office of Suffolk County executive Steve Bellone saying to Hizzoner, should De Blasio feel the citizens of the five boroughs are being unfairly targeted by reduced parking or beach passes limited to locals. Bellone, it should be noted, is a fellow Democrat.
At specific issue is the fact that the city’s beaches (there are many! and some are actually quite nice!) neither have an opening date set, nor a plan in place to maintain a semblance of social distancing.
Laura Curran, executive of Nassau County, and also a Democrat, referred to De Blasio’s current strategy regarding beaches and pools as “irresponsible and shortsighted.”
Todd Kaminsky, Democratic State Senator from Long Island’s south shore, said “it’s a shame Long Island has to turn away city beachgoers to protect its residents and ensure safe beaches, but until the mayor gets his act together and makes his own beaches safe, that’s the only responsible move.”
Beach communities dissing New Yorkers is not new to the pandemic, of course. Any Jersey Shore resident worth their salt water taffy has shouted “Bennies, go home!” at some point. The trans-Hudson pejorative “benny” refers to a city dweller who drives in for the day, “benefits” from the glorious beaches, then heads home by sundown. (There are other theories of the word’s origin, of course.) But rarely do these sentiments come so bluntly from elected officials.
At least one City Council member, Keith Powers of Manhattan, is ready to fight back, suggesting that only New York City residents be allowed to come to the St. Patrick’s Day parade or SantaCon.
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