Removed Wayspot - Decomissioned Fire Call Box #6604

Wayspot Appeals
1

[Removed Wayspot - Decomissioned Fire Call Box #6604]

  • Wayspot Title: Decomissioned Fire Call Box #6604
  • Location (lat/lon): 40.71483020589853, -73.78702930577973
  • City: New York City, NY
  • Country: USA
  • Additional Information (if any):
    Red call boxes are New York City property and, by law, may not be altered or removed. These permanent structures are each over 100 years old. Although they no longer function to summon First Responders, these decommissioned historical relics are reminders of how New Yorkers communicated in the age before cell phones. Many red call boxes in the area and throughout New York City are already Pokéstops. This POI is in good condition and can be easily and safely reached from the public sidewalk. For these reasons, this Wayspot should be restored. Thank you.

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2

Where have you verified that these are not operational? I researched these a while back and found that by court order they must be either operational or removed. I just found an article in “untapped New York” that states that less than 20% are non-operational and FDNY will repair them when discovered.

3

From Untapped New York: "Many of [the red call boxes] have been in the streets for over a century and for more than a decade, several initiatives have emerged to reassess their utility in today’s cell phone age.

The FDNY reports that only 2.6% of calls that they receive come from these boxes, which connect callers directly to their local fire dispatcher, as opposed to the 911 system which acts as a middle-man to the appropriate emergency services. However, 88% of calls from the City’s 15,000 fire boxes are false alarms." New York City emergency services advise residents against using red call boxes in an emergency and tell everyone to call 911 instead.

While New York City is required to keep a small percentage of call boxes operational for the benefit of the hearing impaired, many of the red call boxes are simply historical relics at this point. Niantic has recognized this by approving many red call boxes as Pokéstops throughout New York City, Jersey City, and other parts of the tri-state area where they were once commonly used.

4

But we do not know if it is a call box that will never be used again. Maybe it should be repaired and made usable. And the street call box system is an important emergency call system for the hearing impaired. The article provided also states that it can be an important call system in case of a power outage or other phone outage. Communication infrastructure is fragile in the event of a major disaster. All methods of contacting emergency services should be made available.

5

The burden is on the submitter to prove that it is not and should not be operational. My concern it that and the court ruled similarly - if I use one to report a fire how do I know it worked. If it’s there it MUST work. I’m from an era where this was the major way to report a fire.

Form the Wayfarer side - what criteria do they meet? A place to exercise - no. A place to explore - no, A place to socialize - no. Old and/or historic is not an automatic acceptance.

3 Likes
6

I have seen some in review which have been refitted as art pieces, along with an accompanying link for proof. Those are the only ones I have seen that I have accepted. I don’t see any evidence presented yet for this removal appeal confirming that it meets any criteria.

1 Like
7

Thanks for the appeal, @BlueVersusRed! We have taken another look but stand by our decision to retire the Wayspot in question.

8

A bit late to this thread, but you can find this box on

Moreover, that Q6604 box is located NOT where the OP gives the coordinates. So at best misplaced, otherwise falsifying location of the wayspot.