"Mayor" of Coney Island Living on Taxpayers' Dime

A nosy Post reporter may have cost Coney Island “Mayor” Dick Zugin his free apartment in a building he purchased with a 3.6 million grant from the city. Zigun runs his Coney Island USA sideshow and museum out of the Surf Avenue building, which the city helped his group buy last year. But when confronted with documents that report the address as his residence, Zigun admitted that he’s also been illegally living there, albeit humbly on a convertible sofa.

Besides his Coney Island USA work, Zigun started the Mermaid Parade and until last week was a supporter of the Bloomberg administration’s ever-changing plan to take over and revamp the beach front amusement district. But the latest proposal put forth by the mayor would slash the amount of space dedicated to the rides, in favor of more shopping and hotels. Zigun is adamantly opposed to the plan, and has publicly resigned from the Coney Island Development Corp. [CIDC] board in protest, saying:

The [original] CIDC Plan promised a world class tourist attraction with an entertainment core: lots of rides complimented by year round nightclubs and enclosed waterparks. Instead the core will now be rezoned for a shopping mall full of NikeTowns, Toys R US and 4 thirty story hotels. ... We worked four hard years for consensus and I for one feel betrayed.

As for developer Joe Sitt, whose Thor Equities now owns much of the most-coveted Coney Island property, Zigun writes: “My personal experience suggests again and again and again that the man is dishonest.” (Read the full letter. ) And according to today’s Times profile, Zigun’s ideal Coney Island would have “the world’s largest indoor swimming pool, with wave action for surfing, or indoor skiing, like they have in Japan.” A free place to crash near the boardwalk would also be a nice improvement, too.

Photo of Dick Zigun courtesy Tozzer.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on June 9, 2008 11:09 AM

Comments [rss]

bornbrednewyorker

A p.o. box? It isn't exactly hard to find out anything about anyone with the amount of free public record searches on the internet or even paid ones like people finders that completely expose everything from your current and past addresses, your family members and phone numbers for a mere $10.

This is a perfect example of the city and more than likely Joe Sitt digging into anything they can find to go after Zigun after he resigned from the CIDC.

Rich Calder's journalistic abilities are questionable . This is the same reporter who erroneously report that Astroland signed a new lease (which at the time they hadn't) and erroneously reported that Coney Island restaurant Garguilos had sold there property to Thor Equities, story that was untrue which he a day later had to eat crow and retract. You have to wonder his intentions with all of this.

Speaking of journalistic integrity why didn't Gothamist report the REAL news story when Zigun quit the CIDC last week instead of this gossip rag article from the Post? Even The New York Times and Daily News covered his resignation but mysteriously the Post had nothing as well. Don't you people know anything about the real Coney Island players?

whantmoore

You get in to politics for the perks who really wants to help people ? but I do agree with a previous post get a fing P.O. Box

Polite New Yorker

Whatever Zigund's wrongdoing, if any, they pale in comparison to the crimes committed by Thor Equities and other developers.

coney fan

I wish a nosy reporter would delve into City Council Member from Coney Island Domenic Wreck-ia and his close personal relationship with Joe Sitt of Thor Equities. The sellout of Coney started with Recchia who is from the nabe as Sitt. Sniff around, you'll find

Spirit of 76

[2] Completely in agreement. First thing I thought was "What's the big deal?" It's two small rooms with a fold-out bed, not like some luxury suite.

A nosy Post reporter may have cost Coney Island “Mayor” Dick Zugin his free apartment in a building he purchased with a 3.6 million grant from the city.

Is there any other kind of Post reporter? Aside from the rude, the insensitive, the self-righteous, the sensationalistic, etc., of course.

bklynd

I like what Zigun's done at Coney Island, and also that (per the Times) he realizes that it can't stay scuzzy forever. Too bad money talks and "vision" walks.

Hey Post, You Have One New Message