Eric Adams Cracks Down On Borough Hall Skateboarders, Continues Ignoring Placard Abuse

The city is cracking down on four-wheeled scofflaws outside Brooklyn Borough Hall—just not the ones who have multi-ton vehicles and jobs with the city.

In a bid to chase off local skateboarders, the NYC Parks Department has installed new concrete planters, metal barricades, and a turf carpet along the landmarked steps of the government building. The measures were installed this week in conjunction with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a frequent opponent of the skaters who often gather outside his office. [UPDATE below]

"Historically we have made it very clear that the plaza steps are not to be used by skateboarders, and that has been repeatedly flouted by some people," said Jonah Allon, a spokesperson for the borough president. "We've definitely explored how to address that in an appropriate and respectful way."

But kids on skateboards aren't the only repeat offenders in the high-traffic pedestrian area. Just a few feet from the new hostile architecture elements, roughly half a dozen vehicles, most belonging to Adams' staff, could be seen parked illegally in the public plaza on Friday afternoon. Despite the presence of NYPD officers, none of the cars received tickets—presumably thanks to the government-issued placards on their dashboards.

The issue of rampant placard abuse within the borough president's office was the subject of a tense public meeting this past summer. While Adams acknowledged the illegal practice, he insisted it would be unfair to hold his staff to higher standards than other city employees, who also frequently misuse their placards.

A spokesperson declined to say whether the skateboarding crackdown seemed hypocritical, given his office's own flagrant violation of plaza rules.

“I feel like they can park here because they’re privileged and they work here," said Samir, a 16-year-old who was skating on the plaza on Friday. "Most people don’t like skaters that much."

Several teenagers who'd come to skate at the plaza on Friday told Gothamist they were bummed out by the city's attempts at deterrence. "It fucks with the vibe OD, like the planters and stuff," said Miles, another 16-year-old. He said the spot was popular among local skaters because it's "super flat, and it's also just a place where you can meet new skaters."

That especially smooth surface is due to the plaza's bluestones, which were restored in 2017 thanks to a $10 million investment from Adams and Mayor Bill de Blasio. The project was meant to ensure that "bicycles, skateboards, and strollers [could] smoothly move across the park."

But the influx of skateboarders has damaged parts of the public plaza, according to the borough president. "The Parks Department’s findings show there is clear damage to landmarked steps and lamp pedestals due to skateboard grinding," Allon told Gothamist.

A spokesperson for the Parks Department did not immediately share those findings, but noted that skateboarding is prohibited on the steps and light poles. It is not illegal to skate on the plaza itself. They added that Parks Department patrol officers had been assigned to the area to educate and enforce the rules.

Asked whether the agency had any plans to begin enforcing the plaza's routine placard abuse, the spokesperson told Gothamist: "The parking policy is being reviewed."

UPDATE: The skaters have moved the planters and rolled up the carpet.