Atlantic Beach Notebook: Poor Traffic Enforcement, Quicksilver Tournament

The handed out 48 less tickets in Atlantic Beach than reported in June, a statistic that disappointed Mayor Stephen Mahler and the board of trustees, who continually request more patrolling from Nassau County police.

Thirty-nine moving violations were given in Atlantic Beach during the month of July, according to Officer Tartamella’s report at the August board of trustees meeting.

“In the month of July, which is probably one of the busiest months we have, they went back to their 39," Mahler frustratingly said. "They gave out three parking tickets and they're back to normal.”

Along with the number of moving violations and parking summonses, Tartamella also reported 12 accidents and two reports of “criminal mischief.”

“Burglaries, 99 percent of the time, are a crime of opportunity,” Tartamella explained. “You’ve got to lock your doors,” he warned the audience gathered at Atlantic Beach Village Hall.

He said that many teenagers from the Far Rockaway and Long Beach tend to be the culprit in many cases.

“If you're going to leave your cars unlocked and your garages open to show all the goodies, its going to invite burglary,” Mahler said. “You have to act intelligently even though we are not a high crime area.”

Quicksilver Surfing Tournament

One concerned resident asked the board if there were plans for managing the vast crowds expected for the upcoming Quicksilver Pro New York, an international surfing tournament which runs from Sept. 1 through the 15.

Trustee Linda Baessler suggested the board speak with the Fourth Precinct to ensure the police department has plans for traffic control during the two-week-long event.

Mahler explained that it is not Atlantic Beach's responsibility to seek a solution for an event taking place in Long Beach.

"We're a municipality, not a private club," Mahler explained."People have to come through here to get places. I'm sure the Fourth Precinct will have to assign additional people to a major event that goes on in Long Beach.

“We already have problems trying to get traffic enforcement on our streets,” he added with some sarcasm.

Road Resurfacing

Allen Industries, a roadwork contractor based out of Amityville, was approved by the board to resurface Hamilton and Ithaca avenues as well for the continuation of the resurfacing project on Park Street.

According to several residents who know of the contractor's work first hand, the company did a phenomenal job with roads in Long Beach as well as East Rockaway.

“They are the lowest bidder for the job, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t give it to them,” Mahler said.

Following more praise from audience members, the board voted unanimously to move the project along.

Lifeguard Report

John Madden, chief lifeguard at the Village of Atlantic Beach, reported 66 rescues of residents and guests so far this summer.

He also gave a friendly reminder about the flags put up by the lifeguards notifying beach-goers of water conditions.

“I believe this summer is going very smoothly,” Madden said. 

There was no mention of the issue that dominated the board's previous meeting.