City Grants Street Rides A Reprieve

City Grants Street Rides A Reprieve

Change in laws means portable amusements will continue to be available

A decision to change the city’s regulations on the inspection of portable amusement rides may have saved the summer for hundreds of Staten Islanders planning block parties this season. Under Department of Consumer Affairs’ regulations, ride operators were initially required to notify the agency of a job up to 30 days in advance. But with many event not scheduled that far ahead of time, operators were being forced to turn down jobs, leaving some block parties and birthday parties rideless.

The new rules – which went into effect last week call for yearly inspections of inflatable rides, such as the popular “moonwalk”

Ride operators will also have to fax a weekly schedule of jobs to Consumer Affairs, which will work with Buildings Department on random spot-checks.

“After working with the industry, we came to a resolution to agree that licensing is important, and also that all the rides are safe,” said Dina Improta, spokeswoman for Consumer Affairs.

The Buildings Department has 10 inspectors who will perform approximately 2,000 inspections citywide between Memorial Day and Labor Day, said Ilyse Find, the agency’s spokeswoman.

There were 202 registered block parties on the Island last summer according to statistics from the borough community boards. Block parties held on private streets are not registered.

“Consumer Affairs is licensing companies like mine and permitting each specific ride that we won, basically verifying that it is safe to operate for events.” said Scott Weisberg of Scott’s Magic and Entertainment. “It’s helping [customers] avoid people that are running things unsafely.”

Weisberg met with Pauline Toole, a Consumer Affairs assistant commissioner, earlier this month after contacting City Councilman James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/ Brooklyn)

“Safe fun, that is the aim here.” said Oddo. “We want these rides available, but we want to make sure they’re safe.”

“Block parties are a great chance for neighbors to spend time together and let their hair down a little bit.” he continued. “It’s classic Staten Island.”

The initial rules would have crippled the industry, according to Weisberg.

“Most of our clients only book a week or two in advance.” he said. “It would have literally put us out of business.”

Initial regulations also called for the rides to be set up by 8 a.m., a time operators took issue with. “What if my job wasn’t until 3 p.m.?” said Mickey Yodice, owner of Mickey’s Rides. What was I supposed to do in between? Leave the ride inflated when the street isn’t closed?”

Yodice said he was happy with the changes. “We all have the same goal here,” he said, “It’s the safety of the children.”

Ryan Heffernan is the news reporter for the Advance.
he may be reached at heffernan@siadvance.com.

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