Long Beach shuts down beach to prevent senior cut day chaos

Long Beach got way out in front of this one.

With whispers of a multi-school “senior cut day” spreading on social media, the City of Long Beach on Friday morning closed off access to its beach and boardwalk — and stepped up law enforcement patrols in the city to head off potential chaos before it could get started.

“Hear us loud and clear — if you come to Long Beach to cause chaos, you will face the consequences. And we will do everything in our power to prevent that,” City Council President Brendan Finn said during a press conference Friday on the boardwalk.

Finn was joined by council Vice President Chris Fiumara, council members Michael Reinhart and John Bendo, Deputy City Manager Phil Ragona and Police Commissioner Richard DePalma.

The action came after Long Beach officials received intelligence that students from numerous school districts were planning to converge on the beach Friday for an unauthorized gathering.

“This is about safety,” Finn said. “This is about respect for our laws, for our residents, our first responders, and maintaining the peace to prevent the kind of chaos and violence that has happened in previous years.”

The city physically closed beach entrances, deployed extra police patrols, and worked in close coordination with the Nassau County Police Department, New York State Police and MTA Police, who had officers riding LIRR trains and stationed at the Long Beach train station.

Weeks of outreach

In the weeks leading up to Friday, the city organized outreach efforts to area school districts, with Long Beach police meeting with superintendents and principals to make clear that unauthorized gatherings on the beach would not be tolerated.

“Our peaceful way of life and the safety of our city is non-negotiable. And disrupting that safety will cost you,” Finn said. “The city will hold you accountable legally and financially, any time and every time our peaceful way of life is threatened with disruption.”

He added: “Last year at this time, promoters learned that lesson the hard way. We want to thank the LBPD, our law enforcement partners, and the CSEA and city workforce for doing their part to keep our city safe.”

The beach is expected to reopen Saturday, officials said.

_{Top photo: Via Facebook}