Staten Island FerryFrom The Peopling of New York City
The Start of a JourneyAs the ferry takes off from Manhattan, you are greeted with one of the best angles of the city skyline. Framed simultaneously by water and sky, the city erupts before you as the boat pulls away. Facing the skyline, to your left you see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, immortal icons of New York City, a city of immigrants. On the right, Governor’s Island, a landmark prized for its use in the Revolutionary War and as a Coast Guard Base. In the distance you can see Brooklyn with the Verrazano Bridge connecting it to your destination, and, on the other side, New Jersey. As the boat approaches the end of its journey you are greeted with a lonely island, very quiet and, unlike the surrounding area, strikingly suburban. This is Staten Island, the end result of a comfortable, 25-minute ride on the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry (or ferries since there are a total of ten) is a major icon of its namesake and serves as one of Staten Island’s only distinctive features. It is also, however, a symbol of our isolation, since it serves as our only direct connection to Manhattan.   Ferry StatsThe Staten Island ferry has been in service since 1817 when the steam-driven Nautilus was captained by John Dr Forest. It only cost twenty-five cents to ride, a fare that has dwindled to zero in recent years. While it used to serve only a few hundred, it currently serves “over 20 million people a year” (Staten Island Ferry Information). The ferry was taken over by the DOT on October 25, 1905 and remains within its control to this very day. The ferry has undergone immense changes over the last few years and now has ten boats making the trip: the “Guy.V Molinari,” “John J. Marchi,” “Spirit of America,” “Andrew J. Barberi,” “Samuel I. Newhouse,” “John F. Kennedy,” “American Legion,” “Alice Austin,” and “John A. Noble,” all famous Americans and most famous Staten Islanders ranging from a borough president to a famous photographer (Coombs). The St. George Ferry Terminal is a well-built, modern facility, complete with huge, glass fish tanks completed in 2004. The Whitehall Ferry Terminal is similar, but the entire facility has walls of reinforced glass, looking much like an airport, and was also completed in 2004. Behavior on the FerryOn the ferry, individuals engage in a large variety of activities. Some read books and listen to music, some are outside on the observation decks taking pictures and experiencing the beautiful view. Others simply relax, taking in the sights. Although there are so many people crammed onto a boat, one feeling persists for the bulk of the journey, a feeling of calm. Even the people holding conversations keep themselves to a low volume, and the low hum of voices merge with the hum of the engines to create an almost meditative atmosphere.  Why It's FreeIn 1997, Mayor Giuliani reduced the currently 50-cent fare to zero, making the ferry free for the first time. It was an action that accompanied the introduction of free transfers between buses. For once, Staten Island had been remembered. “The Mayor [Giuliani] said it was only fair that people in all parts of the city pay the same amount to commute,” the change allowing commuters to transfer from bus to ferry to bus for free. (Sontag) This most likely led to happy commuters -- and even happier tourists -- who could enjoy the ride without thinking about the cost, however small. In Deborah Sontag’s New York Times article “On the Staten Island Ferry, Illusory 'Free Ride' Is Reality,” Tyron Muldrow believed that Staten Island is “too detached from the city” and that the free ride and “cheaper commute will bring it happily closer” (Sontag). If all the people visiting Staten Island on the ferries I was on, were any indication, Mr. Muldrow was absolutely correct. The free ride seems to be a huge draw, for tourists and NYC residents alike, to visit Staten Island, at least for the few minutes it takes to exit and re-board the ferry. It still remains an important change for Staten Islanders who want to avoid the eleven-dollar round trip commute to Manhattan. Rising fares for express buses has made things harder than ever for Staten Islanders to commute and get around. Mrs. De Stefano remarked that the ferry stands strong as the last respite for those needing to get into the city on a restricted budget. It serves as a connection to the city for residents of all income levels.
Tour of New York on the Back of the Ferry
InterviewsIn search of a public opinion of Staten Island I interviewed many people. Although not all interviewees could provide me with a video interview, every interview was useful. Rae De Stefano's interview, providing a great blend historical and modern context, was particularly useful, despite its conduction over the phone and not in person. Kwame Kyei declined to provide a video interview, but nonetheless provided an important perspective from the viewpoint of a student. I talked to several others on the ferry, but unfortunately they requested to remain anonymous. The following two video interviews were both very useful in their own ways: Interview with Mary BernardI was allowed an interview with Mary Bernard at the St. George Ferry Terminal. As a resident of the Bronx, her opinions of Staten Island and its ferry help to illuminate what people in the other boroughs think of the island. At least in her case, the viewpoint is a positive one.
Interview with Ricardo EscobarRicardo is a resident of New Jersey and had taken the ferry to meet his girlfriend. As a student in high school and someone who lives completely outside of NYC, his opinion is particularly useful in determining how Staten Island is perceived by the world outside of the city.
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