New York state and Suffolk County has recently placed a ban on boat ramps and marinas. They have deemed these places as non essential shutting them down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Source: https://parks.ny.gov/covid19/ We are writing to open up boat ramps and marinas as we do not feel that recreational boating is at risk of spreading this virus. 

Boating is the best form of social distancing as it allows one to get away from the public in a safe but entertaining manner. The only people that should be allowed on boats together are family members in order to satisfy the social distancing nature of boating. Boating should be viewed as the equivalent as driving cars. The marina is your parking lot and your boat is your car. Currently there is no restriction on driving or parking your car along with your passengers in your car. There should be no reason to place a restriction on boating when it is essentially equal to driving around in your car.

Currently beaches, and parks are still open where people are in much closer contact compared to being out on the open water. Boating is one of the luxuries that we have here on Long Island. It provides an escape from this current fear from the coronavirus. By shutting down boat ramps and marinas, now all those who love the water and the beach are swarming the beaches and creating even more population density in one given area.