[Image courtesy of The Weblicist of Manhattan]

There was an interesting scene on the Coney Boardwalk yesterday, as city officials held the official opening of beach season in weather more suited to early Spring than the coming summer. In the background, about three dozen noisy and colorful demonstrators, including Diana Carlin of the Lola Staar Boutique, Coney Island USA’s Dick Zigun (who is on the board of the Coney Island Development Corp.) and preeminent Coney historian Charles Denson chanted and held signs. They chanted things like: “Thor No More” and “You Suck” (regarding City Council Member Dominic Recchia, who is an ally of Thor Equities developer Joe Sitt). Neil DeMause amusingly recorded the official scene this way:

Rainclouds and bitter winds met this morning’s official ceremonies marking the reopening of the beach for the summer season. “It’s a beautiful sunny day!” Parks Commissioner Adrian Benape taunted a crowd of schoolchildren shivering under a tent on the boardwalk. “Do you want to go swimming?”

He described the protest as “a steady stream of songs, chants, and jeers to call attention to what they charge is the city’s sellout of Coney’s traditional amusement district for a plan that would allow 30-story hotels along Surf Avenue, while shrinking the outdoor amusement district to a tidy nine acres.” The Battle of Coney Island will continue through the summer and fall.

Related Stories:
Save Coney Protesters Rain on City Beach Opening Parade [Runnin Scared]
Protestors: City’s Coney Island Plans No Fun [amNY]
Coney Beach Season Opens with Protesters [Kinetic Carnival]
Save Coney Beach Opening Colorful Protest [Kinetic Carnival]
Save Coney Island Opening Protest [Weblicist of Manhattan]
Jeers Drown Out Tears at Coney Beach Party [TRE]