I was a NYC Lifeguard from 1959 thru 1963. From Coney Island, to South Beach, to Midland Beach to Ocean Breeze. I had multiple "saves" and some in the City Press. But to get the job I had to swim competitively against others and come out in top 400 in NYC. Then I had to take the course; first aid, rescue, even diving with a helmet. Over the five years I had the privilege to meet some of the smartest and hard working people I ever met. Future Billionaires, Doctors, Professors, lawyers, judges, and the like. Everyone of us was going to college, as professionals. For the most part we were all seeking the position for its "class" since as a Lifeguard we had to maintain the peace while insuring lives were not lost. We had to be respected, we were not California egoists, were were there for safety and security.
Now along comes the current Mayor in NYC, as the NY Times notes:
Then Mayor Eric Adams was asked about New York City’s lifeguard shortage at his weekly news conference, he seized the moment to make a point about potential migrant workers.Imagine if the city could quickly hire migrants for jobs that urgently needed to be filled, he wondered aloud, before asking: “How do we have a large body of people that are in our city and country that are excellent swimmers, and at the same time we need lifeguards?”His remarks on Tuesday drew criticism from all sides. Immigrant rights groups called the comments “racist and divisive.” Conservative leaders viewed them as an attempt to legitimize the hiring of noncitizens.Mr. Adams, unsurprisingly, saw things differently.On Wednesday, the mayor explained that he had visited migrant centers in the city and asked people there if they knew how to swim. He was “blown away” by the number of those who raised their hands.
Just being able to swim is NOT what a Lifeguard must be able to do. Swim 400 yards in competitive time, grab a flailing human, carry them back, provide first aid, etc. Also maintaining security. Not a simple task when 1 million people are at Coney Island.
Try it Mayor, you get to keep gangs apart with nothing more than a whistle! You must speak a bit of Spanish, Italian, even Russian. You are in effect a police officer in a bathing suit.
So the Mayor believes no English speaking people who have already disobeyed the law will be trusted to enforce it and keep people sage. A NYC Lifeguard at the beach is not some Delaware lifeguard at a pool. We would often go to Seaside Park and laugh at the wimpy lifeguards there.
Perhaps the Mayor should spend July 4th at Coney to see what is up.
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