Riders of the heavily-subsidized NYC Ferry system became even wealthier and whiter during the pandemic, according to city statistics.
Annual surveys by the Economic Development Corporation — which oversees the waterborne transit system — show that in 2021 the average income of passengers jumped to six figures at $100,000-$149,999, compared to $75,000–$99,999 for both 2020 and 2019.
In a system long criticized for serving largely the well-off and white living along the Big Apple’s waterfront, a mere 32% of passengers identified as non-white or multiracial last year, declining slightly from 34% in 2020, and 36% in 2019.
The city questionnaire also found that more out-of-towners are coming back to the ferries, as tourism began recovering from a COVID slump in 2021.
Last year 88% of ferry riders were residents of the Five Boroughs, compared to an all-time high of 95% during 2020, and 86% in 2019.
EDC’s most recent report gathered data from 4,100 people in early October. The figures appear to have been published in December, according to its hyperlink address, but have not previously been reported.
The chairperson of the City Council’s Transportation Committee lamented that the ferry system has continued to leave out needier New Yorkers, despite footing the bill for the service through their tax dollars.
“The communities that are in need, that are a part of transit deserts, and that have lower household incomes, those are not the communities, unfortunately, that have the pleasure of having a ferry system,” Queens Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers told amNewYork Metro. “We need to make sure that it’s not leaving out a community that could greatly benefit from the access and from it being subsidized, quite honestly.”
The 2021 study notes that the higher incomes last year were “in line” with data the city collected in 2017 and early 2018, however that was before EDC expanded its ferry service area to more blue collar parts of the city like Soundview in the Bronx, which opened a landing in August 2018.
On that route, the majority of passengers make less than $100,000 a year and ridership has the largest share of people of color compared to other circuits — which is still less than half, according to graphics in the report.
11 comments:
Mmm, yeah, you put ferry stops in mostly white areas, those few that are left, and you get mostly white passengers. Shocking! And there's this:
"EDC expanded its ferry service area to more blue collar parts of the city like Soundview in the Bronx... On that route, the majority of passengers make less than $100,000 a year and ridership has the largest share of people of color compared to other circuits"
Gosh, no kidding! Amazing how that works out.
Then Selvena Brooks-Powers, who is apparently retarded, chimes in with this doozy: "The communities that are in need, that are a part of transit deserts... those are not the communities, unfortunately, that have the pleasure of having a ferry system."
Huh. So like those big swaths of Queens and Brooklyn that don't have good subway service, and which ARE NOWHERE NEAR THE WATER, don't get a ferry. Amazing!! Maybe we need special buses that can also sail like ships. That'll do it!
Ms. Brooks-Powers is just babbling the default "dis is racis!" speech of a typical CouncilTard.
I dunno, though, whenever I'm on the Ferry there's plenty of Peeple of Color. Not a lot of blacks, true, but loads of Asians and Hispanics, every time. So how do they get their numbers? Are they racistly counting people as they get onboard? Oh, they're using a survey! And who is most likely to fill out a survey? White people. But none of the big brains in the Economic Development Corporation probably thought of that.
I’m at a loss as why it’s so terrible to provide services to either white or rich people and rich, white people.
There is nothing in either our National or State Constitution that bars anyone from receiving government services or benefits based on the color of their skin.
And if they’re rich , great! They’re the ones who pay the taxes that finance the ferries.
It’s okay to be White.
“Divide et impera” As old as politics and war!
I'm too busy encouraging parents to boycott Disney !
Who cares what color the people are? As long as its causing less traffic, then let it be. As if black people don't have transportation in their areas? Alot of people who are not white live by subways. And they CHOOSE to live in these areas. Everything is so ridiculous and claims to be racist even though there is no "race war" involved in it. Just give me a break anymore with this crap.
Where is the ferry from Bayside?
Joe Blow said...
Anyway, will banning Russians and Belarusians from the ferry help ?
Grooming is a bigger problem than this is...
Prove Me Wrong !
Note that most of the bike nuts are young white men. What tiny percentage of NYC does this make?
And why do a tiny percentage of these elites disrupt minority owned and employed business with thier bike racks?
Because bikes do only one thing - decrease pollution so that more buildings are built by campaign donors from and for rich elitiest Democrats.
If you can't afford the ferry, you can always swim.
@“ Joe Blow said...
Anyway, will banning Russians and Belarusians from the ferry help ?”
Sounds like an excellent idea. Also include the Putinist right wing nuts .
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