Coney Island shutdown

Coney Islanders report that rides are already being packed up for the summer, even though they were meant to run until Labor Day.

 

Tricia Vita, of the Coney Island History Project, was aghast when she saw ride operators packing up the Himalaya and other rides Tuesday. She and others point the finger at Joe Sitt, whose Thor Equities has been buying up land in America’s Playground the last few years with the intention of creating more indoor amusement and high-rise hotels. Sitt brought the rides to this parcel where two winters ago he tore down tore down go-kart tracks and the batting cage.

 

Thor rep Stefan Friedman said they were “committed to rotating” other rides in, adding, “all of the operators have indeed faced challenges due to the inclement weather, pointing out how desperately we need year-round amusements.”

 

“They’ll just use any excuse,” said Vita. She noted that carnival ride operators are struggling because of oil prices. “It’s going to be tough for Thor to get anymore rides for the season. It’s the busiest season for [ride operators].”

 

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State of play

 

Unofficial mayor Dick Zigun gave his “State of Coney” yesterday. “The problem is that there is still no one involved in this project who understands how the amusement industry works,” said Zigun, who worries the development plan will result in “a nice mall for South Brooklyn fronted by a small … amusement park.”

by Amy Zimmer

Metro New York