STATEN ISLAND -- Island commuters met face to face at Curtis High School for a town hall with the officials that keep the Staten Island Ferry running everyday.

Some, wanted to know why the ferry could not get better food, others, asked why some of the local buses do not appear to be syncing with the ferry as they did before.

About two dozen Staten Island commuters attended the event Thursday evening hosted by Borough President James Oddo. He was joined by officials from the New York City Police Department, the Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Parks Department.

The officials sometimes had answers for commuters, and other times, said they would follow up on Island commuters’ concerns.

WHY IS NO ONE ENFORCING THE NO SMOKING POLICY?

Island commuter Paul Kain said he often sees fellow commuters smoking right next to posted “no smoking” signs around the ferry as police officers stand by and do not enforce the policy.

He said officers have told him they do not have the manpower to enforce the no smoking policy, or have said they are not allowed to enforce the policy altogether.

“You cannot get on that boat without breathing the second hand smoke,” Kain said.

NYPD Deputy Inspector Robert Bocchino told Kain -- it’s true -- the agency does not enforce smoking signs around the city.

Bocchino said if a no smoking sign is posted somewhere outdoors, officers will not take action. But if someone is caught smoking inside, the Department of Health will enforce the policy.

Oddo vowed to get down to the bottom of why no one enforces the no smoking policy. He said he would try to advocate for legislation from the City Council if needed.

“If there is a rule that no one has the power to enforce, I will talk to my friends in the City Council to see if there’s a legislative [solution],” Oddo said.

TOURISTS GETTING IN THE WAY OF COMMUTE

Another Island commuter said she loves tourists, but not when they are in her way when she is trying to make her connection to the bus from the ferry when she reaches St. George.

Oddo said the issue of what to do with tourists on the ferry during the rush hour commute was tied to his push several years ago to study potentially charging tourists to ride the ferry.

The borough president said he believed one day tourists will be charged to ride the ferry and that with the more tourists expected to visit the Island with the opening of Empire Outlets, it’s possible that a separate boat for them may be needed in the future.

The ferry’s Chief Operating Officer Capt. James DeSimone said his crew has “tried everything under the sun” to get tourists out of the way during the rush hour commute.

But so far, he said although his team keeps “very close attention” to how to manage the flow of tourists, “there’s no real easy solution” to the issue.

WHEN WILL ST. GEORGE WATERFRONT BE CONNECTED TO FERRY TERMINAL?

Staten Island organizer for Transportation Alternatives Rose Uscianowski asked officials when the connection from the St. George waterfront to the ferry terminal would be complete.

DeSimone said the connection would likely open and be fully functional once Empire Outlets opens spring 2019.

THE PROBLEMS WITH PANHANDLERS, HOMELESS

Daily ferry commuter Marc Dell’Angelo said he wanted to know why the people often seen on subways around the city and on the ferry who ask for donations to feed the homeless and hand out free food to those who are hungry, do not get in trouble for soliciting money.

“They come and take over an entire section of seating with their chanting, and their antics, and their aggressive panhandling,” Dell’Angelo said.

But the Ferry’s Commanding Officer Lieutenant Michael Molinari said so long as they are only asking for donations, the people trying to help feed the homeless are free to ride the ferry just like anyone else.

Molinari said he would direct his team to watch the volunteers more closely. He said if they act aggressively toward other passengers or disorderly, they will be issued summonses.

WHY ARE THERE NO METROCARD MACHINES AT WHITEHALL?

Another commuter, Liam Daretany, wondered why there is nowhere commuters can refill their MetroCards cards at the Whitehall Ferry terminal.

MTA rep Melissa Farley said when the ferry terminal was under construction after Hurricane Sandy, the machines were moved.

Farley said with the new fare payment system on the way to replace MetroCards, the MTA does not have extra machines to set up at the Whitehall terminal.

She said Island commuters would have to continue to use machines to refill their MetroCards at nearby subway stops.

Oddo urged Island commuters to continue asking his office questions or raising concerns about the ferry by emailing his staff or getting in touch with them on Twitter.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated MTA rep Melissa Farley said additional MetroCard machines could not be placed at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal because of the city’s “fair fares” initiative. The article has been updated to reflect that Farley did not mean the “fair fares” initiative, but the MTA’s new fare payment system to replace MetroCards.

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