WABC TV Reports On Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Brutality Allegations - New RIOC President Charlene Indelicato Says She Is Moving Quickly To Assess Situation And Will Properly Address It As Soon As Possible

WABC TV reported today on the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department brutality allegations made by some residents of our community. According to WABC TV:

Some young, minority males living on Roosevelt Island say they're being targeted for doing nothing wrong by the very people who are supposed to protect them....

and:

... In an attempt to find out more about the 37 Peace Officers who patrol the Island, we filed a Freedom of Information request for disciplinary records. The documents reveal that many of them have been suspended repeatedly. Ten of them have more than 7 suspensions each. Suspended for "sleeping on duty," "excessive lateness," "tampering with evidence," and "illegal or unethical behavior." Two of the officers have more than 20 suspensions. Yet none has been fired....

Click here for the entire WABC story.

Newly appointed Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato issued the following statement this afternoon:

I am very aware of residents’ complaints regarding the Public Safety Department and take these issues very seriously. Addressing residents’ concerns is my top priority. We have an ongoing AG investigation and have hired our own consultants to investigate operations at PSD. In my eight days at RIOC, I have initiated a top-to-bottom review, started to meet with residents and local groups to discuss PSD, and have instructed the consultants to fast-track their investigation. I am moving quickly to assess the situation and will properly address it as soon as possible.

More on RIOC's response to the brutality allegations including previous statements from Board Directors as well as information on the Public Safety Audit, Inspector General's Report and body cameras for Public Safety Officers available at previous posts. The initial report of the Anthony Jones brutality allegation is here and only public statement (from February 15) of Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra here.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Reschedules May 23 Board Meeting To May 30 - Agenda Item Includes Amendment To Resolution Approving New RIOC President Charlene Indelicato

Reported on April 4:

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Of Directors today approved Governor Cuomo's selection of Charlene Indelicato (former Mount Vernon Commissioner of Planning and Development Department) as the new RIOC President/CEO. The vote was 5 for approval and 3 abstentions....

Ms Indelicato began her new position as RIOC President last week.

Ms Indelicato (seated on right) with RIOC Board Members and Staff At 5/15 Real Estate Comm Meeting

I noticed this Agenda Item on the schedule for the May 23 RIOC Board of Directors Meeting regarding Ms. Indelicato's appointment as RIOC President:

 6. Amendment of Resolution Appointing Charlene Indelicato to Position of President/Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation (Board Action Required)...

and yesterday sent the following inquiry to Ms. Indelicato and the RIOC Board Directors:

What is the reason for this amendment and what will the amended resolution say?

Have not received any response to the inquiry.

The full RIOC Board Agenda for May 23 meeting below:

MAY 23, 2013 MEETING OF
THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE MANHATTAN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER,
8 RIVER ROAD, ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NEW YORK
5:30 P.M.

AGENDA

I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes
1. April 4, 2013 Board Meeting (Board Action Required)
IV. Old Business
V. New Business
1. Authorization to Enter into Contract with Local 32BJ (Materials to Follow - Board Action Required)
2. Presentation of the FY 2012-2013 QTR 4 Procurement Report
3. Authorization to Enter into Contract with Gandhi Engineering, Inc. for the Engineering Design Services in
Connection with the Roosevelt Island Helix Ramp Rehabilitation Project (Board Action Required)
4. Authorization to Enter into Contract with KS Engineers, P.C. for the Structural Evaluation and Feasibility Study of
the Sportspark Facility (Board Action Required)
5. Ratification of Contract with Hill International, Inc. for Owner's Representative Services (Senior Project Manager)
(Board Action Required)
6. Amendment of Resolution Appointing Charlene Indelicato to Position of President/Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation (Board Action Required)
7. President�s Report
8. Committee Reports
a. Audit Committee
b. Governance Committee
c. Operations Advisory Committee
d. Real Estate Development Advisory Committee
9. Public Safety Report
VI. Adjournment

Earlier today, RIOC rescheduled tomorrow's Board Meeting to next week:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Directors meeting previously scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2013 has been rescheduled and will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at the Child School (Legacy High School) Auditorium, 566 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Will update if an explanation is received regarding the amended resolution appointing Ms. Indelicato as RIOC President.

May 30 is also the meeting date for Manhattan Community Board 8's Roosevelt Island Committee.

Meeting Date:
Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 6:30pm
Meeting Location:
Manhattan Park
4 River Road, Community Room
Roosevelt Island, NY

Introduction of co-chairs and committee members.
Discussion of role of Community Board 8 and the formation and role of this committee
Review of recent island issues reviewed by CB 8 and its committees
(a) Cornell-Technion Project/Cornell-Technion Task force
(b) MTA Q102/ Transportation Committee
(c) Queensboro Bridge Bike Access/Transportation Committee
(d) CitiBank Bike Share Program/Transportation Committee
(e) Relocation of Goldwater Residents/Health, Seniors and Social Services Committee
Volunteers to be public member
Public Session – open discussion

Jeffrey Escobar and Laurence Parnes, Co-Chairs

It would be beneficial for RIOC and CB 8 to coordinate with each other to avoid such scheduling conflicts.

American Cancer Society's Relay For Life Roosevelt Island Update - Still Time to Join, Start A Team Or Perform

Here's an update from the organizers of the June 15 Roosevelt Island Relay For Life

Roosevelt Island Relay For Life Organizers Meeting At Nonno's

What is Relay?



 
Relay For Life is the signature event of the American Cancer Society and is the largest non-profit movement in the world. Its goals are threefold and simple – to raise funds to END cancer as a national health concern, to CELEBRATE SURVIVORS, and REMEMBER those that we have lost to cancer. Everyone has a personal reason to stand up to cancer and FIGHT BACK. Relay is a non-competitive walking event in which people form teams and commit to having one person from their team walking a track at all times throughout the event. Relay will be a family friendly event with something for everyone. There will be all kinds of food, activities, and entertainment the entire time – for kids, teens, and adults. Find more info here: relayforlife.org/rooseveltislandny

Interested in starting a team?
Anyone of any age can start a Relay team! You can have a team of any size, and you can even include people that can't attend the event on June 15 but want to help you fundraise. Once you register your team on the Relay website the rest of your friends and loved ones will be able to join. Register here: relayforlife.org/rooseveltislandny

Residence Building Teams
Almost every residence building complex has a team registered. Feel free to join the team of your residence building! Click the link for your building to join the team:

Westview
Riverwalkers!
Rivercrossers
Manhattan Park
Island House Fights Back!
The Octagon Makes Cancer Gone

Sponsorship Opportunities for Businesses
There are sponsorship opportunities that range from $100 - $3500. Contact me if you are interested: greg.murray@cancer.org

Business Hours
I'm holding "office hours" on the Island twice a week. As long as Alphonse will let me hang out, I'll be at Nonno's enjoying the Spring weather with my laptop on Tuesdays from 4:30-6:30 and Fridays from 3-5. Stop by to ask any question you'd like.

Entertainment
Do you know a talented musician? Are you a teenager in a garage band? Are you in a middle school glee club? Perhaps you are a child prodigy with the voice of an angel?
 
If you know anyone that is interested in performing at Relay and helping us make the day fun, give them this link:  http://bit.ly/16n5ASc

Thanks Roosevelt Island!
Greg

So far, Roosevelt Island Relay For Life has 22 teams, 63 participants and raised more than $8 thousand. More on Roosevelt Island Relay For Life from previous post.

NYC Alzheimer's Association Blondes Vs Brunettes Charity Football Game Played Saturday At Roosevelt Island's Octagon Field - Over $122,500 Raised For A Great Cause

The New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association played its third annual “Blondes vs. Brunettes” Powder Puff Charity football game last Saturday at Roosevelt Island's Octagon Field to

 raise funds and support for the New York City Alzheimer’s community. The mission of the NYC Alzheimer's Association Chapter is to:

... create and promote comprehensive and humane care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, to provide support for their families and professional caregivers, and to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research. The Chapter meets this mission in the community through increasing public awareness, providing education, creating and encouraging replication of model programs, collaborating with research centers, and undertaking advocacy.

The New York Chapter provides information, assistance and support to patients, caregivers and professionals, throughout the five boroughs of New York City....

The Blondes vs Brunettes Roosevelt Island football game raised $122,500 for the NYC Alzheimer's Association.

Final count from GameDay is in. Congratulations ladies, we are officially over $122,500! You're all athletes to end Alzheimer's!
— BvBNYC (@BvBNYC) May 18, 2013

The action on the field was well played and intense as shown here by the Brunette Team Quarterback running in a touchdown



and the Blonde Team Quarterback throwing for a touchdown.



The final score was:

Final score 52-13, brunettes!But everyone's a winner today, since you raised an amazing amount of money and awareness for the cause.
— Junior Committee NYC (@alznycjc) May 18, 2013

Here's some more highlight's from Saturday's NYC Alzheimer's Association Blondes vs Brunettes Charity Football game at Roosevelt Island's Octagon field (Click video to enlarge)



and info from WPIX

NYC Alzheimer's Association programs are listed here.

Beautiful Roosevelt Island East River Sunrise This Past Weekend Reason Why One Resident Lives Here - Manhattanhenge 2013 Coming May 28, Let's Get Some Roosevelt Island Pictures

Roosevelt Island resident Lynn Strong-Shinozaki shares this photo taken last Saturday night of a beautiful Roosevelt Island East River sunset looking north (Click on photo to enlarge)

Image From Lynn Strong-Shinozaki

and adds:

Why I Live Here.

(oops- there's a correction. The picture is of Sunrise, not Sunset).

There are many great Roosevelt Island photographers. Resident David Kraut suggested this idea for Roosevelt Island photographers.

"Manhattanhenge" is a reference to the twice-a-year phenomenon when the cross streets of Manhattan line up with the setting sun. Roosevelt Island is an ideal location to view this phenomenon because we can see across the west channel right up the streets.

In fact, I took this picture from the top of the helix by the garage, in 2009

Image From David Kraut

Neil DeGrasse Tyson of the Hayden Planetarium was the guy to name the thing. Here's the wiki:

Manhattanhenge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It might be interesting to see what kind of pictures Roosevelt Islanders can come up with. 

Manhattanghenge 2013 is coming May 28 at 8: 16 PM. According to Neil DeGrasse Tyson:

What will future civilizations think of Manhattan Island when they dig it up and find a carefully laid out network of streets and avenues? Surely the grid would be presumed to have astronomical significance, just as we have found for the pre-historic circle of large vertical rocks known as Stonehenge, in the Salisbury Plain of England. For Stonehenge, the special day is the summer solstice, when the Sun rises in perfect alignment with several of the stones, signaling the change of season.

For Manhattan, a place where evening matters more than morning, that special day comes twice a year. For 2013 they fall on May 28th, and July 13th, when the setting Sun aligns precisely with the Manhattan street grid, creating a radiant glow of light across Manhattan's brick and steel canyons, simultaneously illuminating both the north and south sides of every cross street of the borough's grid. A rare and beautiful sight. These two days happen to correspond with Memorial Day and Baseball's All Star break. Future anthropologists might conclude that, via the Sun, the people who called themselves Americans worshiped War and Baseball....

Let's get some good pictures Manhattanhenge pictures from Roosevelt Island!!!!

Report From Cornell NYC Tech VP Cathy Dove, ULURP Application Approved By NYC Council - Cornell Intends To Adopt Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 And Minimize Construction Impact As Much As Possible She Says

Ms. Dove Speaking at May 8 NYC Council Approval of Cornell NYC Tech ULURP Application

Cornell NYC Tech Vice President Cathy Dove sends this report to the Roosevelt Island community.

I am so pleased to report that last week we reached a significant milestone – the completion of the formal land use review process (ULURP) for Cornell NYCTech.

We are very grateful to so many members of the Roosevelt Island community for the constructive and meaningful input throughout the process. Ultimately, your great support for the vision and mission of the campus set the tone for the entire process, reflected in very strong endorsements from the Community Board, the Borough President, the City Planning Commission and finally the City Council. We all owe a special thanks to Council Member Jessica Lappin for her tireless work in ensuring community needs were addressed.

We worked diligently throughout the public review process to incorporate feedback from the community into our approach – your input resulted in a more meaningful set of commitments from us. As a result of this constructive process, we were able to understand and address those topics that are most important to Islanders, resulting in a plan that maximizes the campusʼ benefit for all. The faculty, staff and students of Cornell Tech are looking forward to being an active partner in so many ways: researching ways that technology can enhance the lives of the many Island populations; providing computers and training to senior center members and the disabled community; providing a tech fair to advance technology education for the disabled; and working with the community to program outdoor space for children, among many others.

Many of you know that one of our primary goals is to help advance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in New York City public schools. Of course, the Roosevelt Island school is of special interest. Recently, Council Member Lappin made a wonderful suggestion during the land use review process that we embraced immediately – we will “adopt” PS/ IS 217! That means that we will engage with teachers and students in many ways, such as providing training and support, after school programming, tech events, career day options, and hardware and software programming development.

We canʼt wait to start this relationship and engage the Islandʼs young people in embracing innovation and tech. Itʼs just one piece of a larger commitment to working with schools around the City on exciting new programs. Our initial focus will be on middle school students. We will kick off the effort this summer with an immersion program for middle school girls (including some from PS/ IS217) to learn coding, web design, robotics and mobile development under the mentorship of some of the industryʼs top engineers and entrepreneurs. Classes will be held on Roosevelt Island, with special thanks to our friends at Urban American for providing space at Roosevelt Landings and logistical support for this great program.

In addition to hearing a great deal about ways our programs can benefit the community, throughout ULURP we were asked to find ways to minimize the impact of construction as much as possible. I appreciate your patience as we worked through the analysis around some very complex issues, as we did not want to disappoint the community by committing to approaches that we would later discover would not be feasible. One of the most challenging topics was to identify methods for reducing the number of trucks – especially the heaviest trucks – in order to limit the impact of construction on residents and on the Islandʼs infrastructure. Consistent with Cornell Techʼs focus on innovation in everything we do, Iʼm very proud to announce that we will be undertaking the most aggressive voluntary barging program in New York City. As a result, we expect to reduce truck trips by more than half as compared to traditional building techniques. The barging will specifically target the heaviest materials, further lightening the load on Main Street and the Helix .

Soon we will be creating a construction task force with residents and other stakeholders to keep the community updated during construction, to answer questions, and to discuss topics that arise. We will also launch a website with project and construction information as we get closer to our start date, and will provide contact information so all community members can reach us directly with questions and comments. We are committed to being accessible throughout this process.

Thereʼs still a lot of work to do before we break ground in early 2014, but we are on schedule and building momentum toward a real presence for Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island. We canʼt wait!

Below are questions and answers following May 8 announcement of NYC Council Cornell NYC Tech ULUPR approval.

Here We Go Again, No Queens Bound Roosevelt Island F Train Service From Manhattan This Weekend

According to the MTA:

F Jamaica-bound trains run via the E after 47-50 Sts to Roosevelt Av

Weekend, 9:45 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon, May 17 - 20

No Jamaica-bound service at 57 St, Lexington Av/63 St, Roosevelt Island and 21 St-Queensbridge.

More information on subway service disruptions this weekend from the MTA's Weekender.