Elizabeth Leacock struggles to secure swim lessons for her son Xaire in Flatbush, a neighborhood lacking public pools. Recent drownings, including that of local teen Elyjha Chandler, heightened awareness about swim safety and led to city and state initiatives aimed at improving pool infrastructure. In 2023, a legislation was passed to mandate swim classes for second-graders, but broader access to swim instruction remains a pressing issue as drowning rates climb, emphasizing the need for systemic change in how swim education is approached.
If you look at the drowning rates, they're going up, and we're not actually doing anything different than we've done since like, 1970. In fact, we're doing even less - and what I mean by that is we took [instruction] out of the schools.
At least I'd have some comfort that he'd survive on his own if he were to get himself into trouble.
Brooklyn is home to 23 of New York City's 90 public pools. But City Council District 40... doesn't have a public pool.
The deaths spurred calls for action from community leaders and elected officials, and the city and the state pledged their commitment to improving pool infrastructure.
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