So I decide to hit LGA today, being I haven't been there in months, and had a very wierd encounter with the parks department staff. The day started off with arrivals on 4/departures on 13, so I was at Plainview Park from 10am until 1130 when the winds changed and they went to a arrivals on 31/departures on 4 configuration, so I relocated over to the World's Fair Marina. It must be noted, while at Plainview the NYPD drove past the park twice, and both times a friendly wave was given during their driveby. I staked a bench out at the west end of the marina across from the Mets new home, and I was there a good 90 minutes. At least twice one of the park workers drove by in his little GEM car without saying a word to me. The third time though, he stops right next to me and asks if I am taking pictures of the planes. I say yes I am. He immediately proceeds to inform me that "Taking pictures of airplanes is illegal." So, I smile, and say, "actually no it isn't." That one short statement from me seemed to catch him off-guard because he now didn't know what to say. He kept stumbling over his words saying, "ummm, yes it is. They told me so." I asked who "they" were and he could not give me an answer, he countered with, "look that's what they tell me, it's illegal and you shouldn't be doing it." I politely replied, that I was not breaking any laws, and he quickly shot back, "well dude, when the cops come to check you out, dont say I didn't warn you." So at this point, I already had my US Airways PSA shot & the Air Canada E175 & E190, so I figure, why ruin it for everyone else. He was about to drive off when I said, "So, are you asking me to leave?" He then said, "No, you dont have to leave, but you cant say that I didn't warn you." And off he went. I stayed about another 20 mins. and decided to leave so as to be ahead of the rush hour traffic home. Needless to say, no cops came by, no ID check was done, etc. The funny thing to me was, he said nothing to the nice Jewish family who were throwing all their lunch garbage over the railing to the seagulls in the water. Nothing to the 3 teenagers fishing on the water side of the railing, and drove past the same "exploded" burrito, all 3 times, on the pathway without a hint of trying to clean it up. Just a head's up to those who frequent the area, I guess this guy is used to people getting all freaked out and saying "oh, ok, I'll leave then" and when I actually replied friendly & factually he all of a sudden had to figure out how to backup his story.
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