Statement by Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. on Mayor's Selection of Rockaway Ferry Operator

“Mayor de Blasio’s decision on a Rockaway Ferry operator is a critical point in the process to bring back a vital service that many Rockaway residents are counting on to resolve decades of insufficient public transportation. While I could criticize the decision to go with an out-of-state service provider, who has minimal experience in navigating large numbers of individuals in our city waters, I must also work towards a reliable ferry service that is desperately needed by my constituents. I remain cautiously hopeful that Hornblower Cruises will be able to provide new, appropriate boats and other important resources the Mayor promised for this initiative. I intend to keep a watchful eye over the company and the process to resurrect the ferry to ensure my constituents get what they rightfully deserve. As I have stated before, the Rockaway Ferry can only be as successful as its chosen operator allows it to be. The future of transportation in the Rockaways now lies in the hands of the Mayor's administration and its selected operator Hornblower, and we must make certain they run this service adequately.”