Residents and transportation advocates rallied in Canarsie on Sunday, calling on Mayor Eric Adams to bring a ferry dock to a notorious “transportation desert.”
Led by Jibreel Jalloh, founder of The Flossy Organization, which advocates for marginalized communities, the group demanded that Adams open a fast NYC Ferry route connecting Canarsie to bustling Manhattan.
“For too long, our community has suffered from limited transportation options, resulting in congestion, longer commutes, and missed opportunities,” Jalloh said. “We must bridge this gap and demand the connectivity we deserve.”
Canarsie residents have been fighting for a ferry service since at least 2017. They also have a petition of 6,000 signatures in support of the service.
City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, who represents Canarsie and nearby neighborhoods, plans to introduce a bill this week mandating ferry service in the area.
“We’re talking about a transportation desert. This is a reality of our lives,” Narcisse said. “We’re talking congestion pricing, it’s so expensive, people can’t get to Manhattan. We’re talking about environmental issues and climate change. All those things that we are talking about, having that ferry right here would solve a lot of those problems for us in Canarsie.”
If the council member’s legislation were to pass, a ferry dock would likely be established at Canarsie Pier.
“It’s time to finally connect Canarsie to the city’s growing ferry network,” she said.
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams was at the rally and supported Narcisse’s remarks.
“There’s a beautiful pier here,” he said. “There’s no reason this part of Brooklyn shouldn’t have a ferry.”
Sheryl Boyce, president of Bayview’s Resident Association, said a ferry is desperately needed, especially since many local trains lack elevators, making it challenging for anyone with disabilities to traverse the city.
“This ferry not only benefits those looking for another route to Manhattan, but it also greatly benefits people with disabilities. We’ve been waiting too long for action on this issue, and we hope Mayor Adams will recognize the importance of creating a stop in our neighborhood,” she said.
‘No plans’ for a new line: City Hall
Meanwhile, City Hall said there are “no plans” for a new line. However, city officials just announced the return of two Rockaway ferries that will help accommodate more New Yorkers and tourists heading to the beaches this summer.
“While we currently have no plans for a new line, we just announced the start of the NYC Ferry’s summer schedule, which includes the return of the popular ‘Rockaway Reserve’ and ‘Rockaway Rocket’ that increases ferry availability to accommodate more passenger traffic to New York City beaches in the summer,” a City Hall spokesperson said.
He added that the mayor is also focused on making the current ferry service more “accessible, equitable, and financially sustainable for all New Yorkers” as it continues to see “record-breaking” ridership.
“Thanks to our efforts, more than 7.4 million people used NYC Ferry in 2024, its highest ridership in history, and we are already seeing increased ridership this year,” the spokesperson said.
This story first appeared on Brooklyn Paper’s sister site amNewYork.
