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Schumer Wants Staten Island Ferry Named After Former Borough President

By Nicholas Rizzi | April 10, 2015 2:53pm | Updated on April 13, 2015 8:28am
 Sen. Charles Schumer is pushing for the DOT to name one of the new Staten Island Ferry boats after former Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro.
Sen. Charles Schumer is pushing for the DOT to name one of the new Staten Island Ferry boats after former Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro.
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DNAinfo/Nicholas Rizzi

STATEN ISLAND — Sen. Charles Schumer wants one of the two new ferry boats coming to Staten Island named after former Borough President James Molinaro.

On Thursday, Schumer urged the Department of Transportation to honor Molinaro's dedication to the borough and his work after Hurricane Sandy.

“Staten Island has had few warriors like James Molinaro and that’s why I am launching a major push to have one of the new ferries named in his honor,” Schumer said in a statement.

"The current Staten Island fleet is named for prominent figures both on Staten Island and across the country and, when the next ferry fleet comes sailing in, NYC DOT should make sure it includes a ‘James P. Molinaro’ ship.”

In September, Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced more than $190 million in federal funds for two new "storm resilient" ferry boats, flood-proof upgrades to the ferry's landings and facilities and upgrading of other landings across the city.

The two new boats — which can hold 4,500 people each — will be able to operate in extreme weather conditions and dock at other terminals in the city during emergencies, Schumer said.

The new ferries will replace the 33-year-old Andrew J. Barberi and Samuel I. Newhouse boats as well as the reportedly most reliable nearly 50-year-old John F. Kennedy.

Molinaro was first elected as Staten Island's Borough President in 2001 and left the office in 2013 after three-terms, being replaced by James Oddo.

The current ferry fleet has eight boats named after Senator John J. Marchi, Guy V. Molinari, Samuel I. Newhouse, Andrew J. Barberi, John F. Kennedy, John Nobel, Alice Austen and Michael Cosgrove, Schumer said.

A ninth boat, "Spirit of America," was named to honor the country's spirit after 9/11.