Any information or special reports about various countries may be published with photos/videos on the world blog with bold legit source. All languages are welcome. Mail to lucschrijvers@hotmail.com.
Search for an article in this Worldwide information blog
woensdag 21 februari 2024
WORLD WORLDWIDE USA New York NY New York City NYC the city THE CITY News Journal Update - NYPD beach drones, retail theft, Rover dies
Dear New Yorkers,
The NYPD is floating a new concept to help rescue swimmers in distress at city beaches: remotely operated drones that will drop inflatable rescue buoys into the water.
“The goal is, we’re going to be utilizing these drones for public safety, and beach safety,” Daughtry said, holding the drone. If an officer sees someone caught in a rip tide or drowning, he explained, the operator “can hit a button, it will drop” a flotation device that inflates as soon as it hits the water.
It’s not clear how often the drones will fly, or how the NYPD would coordinate with the Department of Parks and Recreation, which employs the lifeguards patrolling beaches and pools. A spokesperson for the Parks Department deferred to the NYPD, while an NYPD spokesperson said they had no further information beyond the tweet.
The city has dealt with persistent lifeguard shortages over the last few summers. It has boosted recruiting efforts and raised starting salaries to $22 an hour.
Mayor Eric Adams, at his weekly press briefing on Tuesday, told THE CITY that the drones would be operated locally, starting at Coney Island. “I think it can be a great addition to saving lives,” he said.
Not everyone is so enthusiastic. Privacy advocates have expressed concerns about the NYPD’s past use of drones for other purposes at the beach. The executive director of the union representing city lifeguards and supervisors said, in a statement, that “no amount of drones can replace a human being.”
Meanwhile, Tom Gill, a spokesperson for the nonprofit United States Lifesaving Association, noted that drones might be helpful in certain situations.
But, he cautioned: “It’s not just as easy as throwing something up in the air and it’s all going to work perfectly,” he said. “A panicked victim in the water is not somebody that’s easily assessed.”
Read more about what we know so far about the NYPD’s drone rescue initiative here.
Wednesday's Weather Rating: 5/10. Partly cloudy skies and warmer than the past few days, with high temperatures in the lower 40s. Still a bit of a chill in the air, but we're not complaining. The vibes are all right!
Our Other Top Story
Many city small businesses have said they’ve been overwhelmed by retail theft. Last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul went to Queens to tout her pilot initiative in which people caught stealing are given trespass notices that allow them to be arrested if they return to the same store. “What we are focused on is what has become a sophisticated organized retail operation, the smash-and-grab efforts. They go in and swipe everything off the shelves,” Hochul said. But store owners in the city and retail theft experts say that is only part of the problem — and that the governor’s efforts are unlikely to help them very much.
Things To Do
Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.
Wednesday, Feb. 21: The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion, an ongoing show that celebrates colorful blooms and fashion. Free with admission at the New York Botanical Garden through April 21.
Saturday, Feb. 24: Introduction to Birdwatching Outings, a birding walk hosted by the Prospect Park Alliance and the Brooklyn Bird Club. Free from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., starting at the Prospect Park Audubon Center.
Tuesday, Feb. 27: Hazard NYC: A Talk on NYC’s Toxic Sites in the Age of Climate Change, a discussion about NYC’s toxic Superfund sites — and how climate change is complicating the cleanup process — hosted by THE CITY’s climate change reporter, Samantha Maldonado, and independent journalist Jordan Gass-Pooré. Free with RSVP from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library.
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten