2023: No One Jumped From the Verrazzano
Today, we were on 3rd Avenue and someone was talking loudly to his friends. He asked them to name something good that happened in Brooklyn this past year.
His friend couldn’t name anything, so the guy turned towards us and asked, “Can anyone name something good that happened in Brooklyn in 2023?” I could name several things, but I thought I would start with: No one died from jumping from the Verrazzano Bridge in 2023.
For years, hopeless people were jumping from the Verrazzano Bridge. I started recording it because the deaths were increasing. (See here)
A Staten Island Councilman, Steven Matteo, whose no longer in office, pushed for fencing around the Verrazzano Bridge for several years. Gradually the fencing was installed on the bridge. This fencing has deterred people and drastically decreased the deaths on the bridge. (Info)
On December 31, 2022, was the last time the news reported someone falling off the Verrazzano bridge. Fortunately, that man fell from the top level to the bottom level and was alright. (Source)
So that’s good news for Brooklyn, right?
Hugs,
marlene
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