Ocean Beach, New York
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Ocean Beach, New York | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.1 sq mi (0.4 km2) |
| • Land | 0.1 sq mi (0.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
• Total | 138 |
| • Density | 967.1/sq mi (373.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 11770 |
| Area code | 631 |
| FIPS code | 36-54430 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0959211 |
The Village of Ocean Beach is in the south part of the Town of Islip. During the summer season the population increases many times due to the influx of tourists.
Transportation
Most people get to Ocean Beach by boat. You can get there by taking your own boat, you can take a ferry or a water taxi. The ferry company operates out of the docks on Maple Ave. in Bay Shore, New York. You can also walk along the beach to Ocean Beach from Field 5 of Robert Moses State Park. Be advised - the walk is long and tough. It is a 4.5 mile walk each way in the sand.
Geography
Ocean Beach is located on western part of Fire Island between the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Ocean Beach is located at 40°38′52″N 73°9′28″W / 40.64778°N 73.15778°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (40.647743, -73.157729).Template:GR
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 138 people, 61 households, and 35 families residing in the village. The population density was 380.6/km² (967.1/mi²). There were 595 housing units at an average density of 1,640.9/km² (4,169.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.38% White and 1.45% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.17% of the population.
There were 61 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.6% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the village the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 126.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $48,125, and the median income for a family was $49,375. Males had a median income of $41,719 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $28,782. There were 15.2% of families and 11.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including 21.6% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Unusual Laws
There are a number of "funky" laws to the uninitiated in effect in Ocean Beach. This is why regular visitors and residents have affectionately dubbed OB the "land of No". Here are a few examples that may catch you off guard:
- Bicycle riding, while no longer banned outright, is restricted in the summer season to the hours of 5am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 5am to 7pm on Fridays. Bicycle riding is illegal on Saturday and Sunday.
- All bicycles must be equipped with a bell and a flash light after dark. Yes, biking after dark will get you a ticket, and not having a flash light will get you another one. The law also applies during the off-season, when bike riding is allowed at any time but the bell and light are still required.
- Bike riding in the commercial district, better known as "In Town", is not permitted at any time during the summer season.
- Scooters, skateboards and inline skates are restricted to the same area and time frame but are additionally only allowed by those 12 years old or younger. Helmets are required regardless of age.
- The ban on eating and drinking on the walks has been reduced as well. At one time you could not eat or drink anything on the walks anywhere in Ocean Beach. Now it is permitted in the commercial district, the opposite of where biking is allowed. Glass drink containers and alcoholic beverages are not allowed though. Littering is a big no-no too, and carries a hefty fine. Eating and drinking is also disallowed on the beach overpasses (wooden steps over the dunes to the ocean) and on the beach itself. However, the drinking of water is allowed on the beach if the water is clearly visible within a plastic container.
- A permit is required to barbecue. Propane only, flameproof base required, and the area must be inspected before you can receive your permit, which must renewed every summer.
- The toplessness laws apply to males when they are off the beach and in town.
- All trash put out for collection must be in bags which in turn must be in cans which in turn must have lids! Your cans also have to be removed from the walkway before 10am the next day!
- Dogs must be on a leash in public at all times (you'll note the locals' dogs which are on leashes but on their own). You also must have a pooper scooper with you at all times when walking your dog. A plastic bag in your back pocket will do, but some fecal conveyance is required.
- Dogs are not permitted on the beach between May 15 and Sept. 15
- Frisbees, ball playing, kite flying, radios without headphones, disrobing, and unattended minors are not permitted on the beach.
Police Force Controversy
On March 27, 2007, the Suffolk County District Attorney announced the arrest and indictment of four Ocean Beach village police officers, including acting Chief of Police George Hesse, on charges related to the beating of a visitor to the town in August of 2005.
According to the indictment, Samuel Gilberd had been questioned by the police for throwing a beer glass from a local bar into the street, and was issued a summons for littering. Gilberd, who had later admitted to being intoxicated, kicked or slammed the door to the police station when he left. According to the District Attorney, Gilberd was then brought back into the station house and severely beaten, with the most serious injury being a ruptured bladder.
In addition to felony assault charge against Hesse, the indictment contained charges of offering a false instrument, hindering prosecution, issuing a false certificate, falsifying business records, and conspiracy, which centered around an attempted coverup of the beating by Hess and the other three officers.
Shortly before the indictment was issued, five former village police officers filed a federal lawsuit against the village and its police department, seeking $325 million dollars for unlawful termination of employment. They claimed that they were fired for complaining about and refusing to participate in rampant corruption, including but not limited to: attempting to convince a woman not to file domestic abuse charges against a friend of acting deputy chief Hesse. Alcohol consumption by on-duty officers in the station and around town--claiming that Hesse designated preferred bands of beer to be confiscated from people on the beach. Using on-duty officers to transport Hesse for visits to a friend of his described as a known drug dealer, as well as to sexual trysts.
References
- Ocean Beach Chief and three cops arraigned on 18-count indictment
- Five Former Ocean Beach Police Officers Terminated for Breaching Blue Wall of Silence, Complaint Alleges
External links
- Ocean Beach Includes pictures, ferry schedule and marina information.