Fire Island’s Last Ferry Canceled Amid Complaints About Noisy Passengers

The last ferry out has been canceled for the remainder of the summer due to noise complaints from Fire Island residents. Mayor Jim Mallott and Fire Island Ferries decided the 1am ferry would no longer run after residents complained it was riddled with intoxicated and rowdy passengers. As a result of the cancelation, the last ferry out will be 11pm.

Ocean Beach resident Ronnie Elovitch told CBS2 the last ferry of the night had turned into a “disaster,” explaining, “On a weekend night, it is horrific. They’re drunk, they’re peeing under people’s houses, they’re defecating, puking.”

Mayor Mallot said of the decision to cancel the last ferry, “This is the first step in taking back our village from the chaos.” As for Fire Island Ferries, they said in a letter sent to village trustees that the decision to cancel the 1am ferry was a direct response to control “undesirables with no morals,” who have become “more aggressive” in recent years.

After a “lengthy meeting” following Memorial Day Weekend, Fire Island Ferries general manager Dave Anderson said they reached the decision because the rowdy crowds were
“putting our crew members in jeopardy.”

While some Fire Island residents and summer occupants are happy with the decision to discontinue the latest ferry, Fire Island bartenders have expressed disappointment. Bartenders, who support themselves on their summer earnings, fear the cancelation of the 1am ferry will bring less crowds to the bars. Castaway Bar & Grill bartender Mark Woletsky told Newsday of the seasonal staff on Fire Island, “They could have planned to work at the Nautical Mile or out in the Hamptons for the summer. But they came out here to work. And now that’s being taken from them without any warning.”

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