“We need to figure out ways to create public-private partnerships — educate ourselves on all the tourism attractions that exist — and see how we can maximize the state dollars that are put toward all of the programs and facilities that we have here,” he said.  

The tour, however, consisted mainly of walking along Emmons Avenue and discussing how to better utilize Sheepshead Bay’s marina looking forward.  

Sheepshead Bay local Fred Ardolino, captain of the luxury yacht Atlantis, pointed out that the reason tourism is not what it should be is “because the only thing you can do on these boats is fish; there’s no other avenue of recreation.

“The restaurants are great,” Ardolino added, “but there’s really nothing for people to do on the water here. Sightseeing via sailing would be a fantastic idea; I’d put that on the top of the list. There’s also water sports — sailboats, rowboats, paddleboats — with all that added to the tourism mix here, it would be over the top!” 

“We need to do better, and significantly utilize our Sheepshead Bay marina, which we are really not doing at all now,” Novakhov said. “We need to figure out how to bring business back and make our neighborhood more of a tourist attraction.”   

Richie Barsamian, chairman of the Kings County Republican Party, who was also in attendance, noted that while each borough in New York City has incredibly interesting and attractive things to bring tourists, Brooklyn is literally a city unto itself.

“We have such an amazing array of sights,” Barsamian said. “There is Sheepshead Bay and Emmons Avenue, which is where we are now; and across from there, you have the beauty of Oriental Boulevard; there is Coney Island behind us; and then, of course, Brighton Beach.

“What we need to tell people is, ‘Please come to New York City; please come to Manhattan; but don’t forget about the outer boroughs. It is essential that people understand that there is more to New York City than just Manhattan.”

While Maher did say that post-pandemic, tourism in Brooklyn has definitely been on the rise, specific statistics on behalf of the New York State Tourism Task Force pertaining to South Brooklyn and the tourism industry year-over-year were unavailable at press time.