Manny Payano has worked for North Ferry for nine years, and he is about to receive his captain’s license, just in time to get the kind of seniority that might help if there are layoffs. His brother Carlos and nephew Mike also work for North Ferry, and the Payanos are one of at least nine families with more than one person working for a ferry on Shelter Island. “We’ve been living here so long, we know everyone,” Mr. Payano said. “Although some can’t tell if I’m Manny or Carlos.”

The year-round population of Shelter Island is around 2,200, and 128 of them work at either North Ferry or South Ferry. In summers, the population balloons to about 10,000. “This year, we got to 10,000 a lot earlier,” said Mr. Siller. Unfortunately for the ferries, islanders don’t seem to be going anywhere. Every event that brought traffic onto and across the island was canceled, and of the handful of inns there, three didn’t even open.

Revenue at North Ferry was down 52 percent at the end of May, and though things have improved since then, the high season is about to end. To make matters worse, North Ferry and South Ferry each purchased new boats last year, increasing their capacity by about 25 percent, but also increasing their debt by millions of dollars.

In meetings with Suffolk County legislators Mr. Siller urged lawmakers not to think of aid to the ferries as a bailout. “Picture it as a bridge collapsing,” he said, “and we have to get residents to the mainland.”

Source: New York Times

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