February 20, 2008
Fish Tanks Make Ferry Welcome Appearance
Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro, and some young constituents, unveiled two new 10-ton fish tanks at the St. George ferry terminal. Molinaro said the tanks will liven up people's commutes; in July, he told the Advance, "It's very soothing because we live on an Island and it's very pleasant, so it fits perfectly."
Project cost $750,000 and features hundreds of individually picked fish from the Caribbean. Some argue that the tanks will be vandalized (scratches apparently can be buffed out), that they take up space, and that three-quarters of a million dollars for fish is a folly. But Molinaro said, "Some people don't understand the system. This is capital money, I can't hire a school teacher, I can't hire a cop, I can't put a new bus on the street with this money."
Mayor Bloomberg, who attended the unveiling, believes in the calming power of fish (he's installed them at Bloomberg LLP offices as well as his City Hall bullpen) and supported the Beep's decision, saying it could help with tourism. It seems to be helping with the natives, too. A 23-year veteran, Ferry Terminal supervisor John White, said, "I remember this place when it was a dungeon. I think it's beautiful and it definitely attracts the people." And some residents said they would be coming back.
The tanks were designed by Acrylic Tank Manufacturing, which has designed tanks for Las Vegas resorts and celebrities like Steven Spielberg and Kobe Bryant. The fish will be maintained by the Staten Island Zoo.
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Here comes the typical Staten Island Bashing from hipsters who've heard it's uncool without ever being there.
My take, very cool idea. I used to work on SI and the wait in the terminal if you just missed a ferry was miserable. This is a good way to pass the time.
Hipster bashing! (do two wrongs make a right?)
This just seems like a waste. What else could the capital money go to? Surely something better than two fish tanks. All it does is give the tourists something to look at while they wait for the return trip to Manhattan. It's not helping bring any money into the borough.
I think it's a nice thing for the terminal - I'll have to check it out when the weather gets better. It's like how some subway stations have art in them - seeing artwork does make me happier during my annoying commute.
Calm down Bizzle, it was sponsored by Richmond Community Bank. Anyway, even if it wasn't I'd rather see my tax money going to beatify the city than to more union waste and subsidies to people who don't deserve them.
Ok this isn't SI bashing, it's Molinaro bashing: The tanks take up too much space and cost too much money--money that might have been used to encourage businesses to locate in the terminal's empty shops or to open up the roof deck or to better maintain the restrooms...
But you can't put a plaque with 'James Molinaro' over a dry cleaner's shop or on soap dispensers in a restroom, so, instead, we have to deal with these multi-colored obstructions.
And as for helping with toursim, the tanks are only visible in the area where you wait to leave Staten Island.
I agree with you, other islander. Staten Island doesn't see any tourism (and for good reason at the moment) except for people using the SI ferry for the Manhattan/Statue of Liberty photo opportunity.
I can only imagine that it was the BP's idea for this and a local business chipped in. Which is fine, but I think people in SI would rather see some other ideas been a higher priority.
<cough>SI/Manhattan Subway.</cough>
It cost HOW much to put WHAT at the Ferry Terminal? Really?
Um they take up way too much space in a ferry terminal that is constantly packed with people. I'm really not liking any of the changes to the two terminals that cost billions of dollars, but how can you argue with a free ride?
Christine Quinn says she wants a citywide ferry system.
Yet I can't ride the existing ferry from Sunset Park anymore now that NY WaterTaxi had to suspend service because it can't stay afloat without subsidies.
The city doesn't come through with subsidies for NY WaterTaxi, yet $750,000 is spent on fish tanks to make the Staten Island ferry prettier?
WTF?
Christine Quinn says she wants a citywide ferry system.
Yet I can't ride the existing ferry from Sunset Park anymore now that NY WaterTaxi had to suspend service because it can't stay afloat without subsidies.
The city doesn't come through with subsidies for NY WaterTaxi, yet $750,000 is spent on fish tanks to make the Staten Island ferry prettier?
WTF?