New York City Cooling Center Available At Roosevelt Island Senior Center & Public Library - It's Still Pretty Hot Out There!

You Tube Video From PBS Newshour

As we all know, the weather outside this past week has been unbearably hot. According to the July 6, NY Times:

A record-breaking heat wave tightened its grip on New York City on Tuesday, as triple-digit temperatures tested Consolidated Edison’s power supply, threatened the health of the elderly, and tried the patience and resilience of anyone who dared to venture outside...

and:

... In New York, the heat’s effects were unsparing: Some city pools were filled to capacity within an hour or so of opening, sending seekers of respite to libraries, cooling centers and other public havens from the heat. Hospitals set out jars of ice water as their waiting rooms filled with wheezing elderly patients and exhausted firefighters.

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said that the Police Department was mindful that crime sometimes increased in the extreme heat of night, and was also prepared to send extra officers to places that had lost power...

It's not quite as sweltering hot today as it has been all week but it's still very hot. According to NY 1:

Temperatures will not be as hot today, but records were shattered again yesterday as the mercury hit at least 100 degrees for the second day in a row....

Yesterday, I inquired of RIOC's VP of Operations Fernando Martinez:

Are there any cooling centers available on Roosevelt Island for those who may not have access to air conditioning during current heat spell?

Mr. Martinez replied:

RI does not have any cooling centers. Residents without AC should go to the centers provided by NYC.

I learned from Roosevelt Island Disabled Association President Jim Bates that:

The Senior center is a cooling center

The Senior Center is located at 546 Main Street.

According to the NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM):

When the heat index is predicted to be dangerously high, New York City opens cooling centers in air-conditioned public community centers, senior centers, and public libraries to offer people relief from the heat. Individuals who have no ready access to a cool environment, and particularly those at risk for heat-related illness, should use the cooling centers during a heat wave.

Call 311 (TTY: 212-504-4115) during a heat emergency to find the location of a cooling center or pool, or use our online finder to choose a cooling center near you...

The Roosevelt Island Public Library at 524 Main Street is also listed as a Cooling Center by OEM. Additional cooling centers on or near Roosevelt Island can be found here.

STAY COOL!

UPDATE 2:50 PM - The OEM must be out of their minds if they think the Roosevelt Island Public Library is fit to be used as a NYC Cooling Center for relief from the heat wave. I walked into the Library today and the air conditioning is barely working, if at all, and am told that it hasn't been adequately working since the beginning of summer. It was hotter and muggier inside the library than outside. Maintenance crews have been at the library trying to fix the air conditioning but with no success. This is not a new situation since I recall the same problem existing last year as well.

The air conditioning at the Roosevelt Island Public Library needs to be fixed right now. It is a health hazard to the elderly, young children and others who use this precious resource.

UPDATE 10:40 PM - I sent the following message to NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin's office.

I was wondering if Council Member Lappin is aware of and can help with the following situation at the Roosevelt Island Public Library.

According to the NYC Office of Emergency Management, the library is one of the designated Cooling Centers located on Roosevelt Island and available for those without air conditioning to seek relief during heat waves like the one we are currently experiencing.

Unfortunately, the air conditioning at the Library is not working and the Library is of no use as a Cooling Center. In fact, it is hotter and muggier inside the library than outside. Is there anything Ms. Lappin can do to get this situation fixed...

and received this response within several hours:

We contacted the library and evidently repair people have been on site and tomorrow they are coming back with parts.

We reported the problem to OEM and they are looking into the situation and trying to find an alternate site. OEM is taking the library site off line so that 311 doesn’t direct people there.

Will keep you posted.

Good job by Ms. Lappin and her staff in addressing this issue. Will continue to follow up.