Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Board Of Directors Nominee Election February 7, Meet The RIOC Candidates February 2 and Read The Candidate Statements Now

If you are concerned with how Roosevelt Island is governed and services provided to the residents, here is your opportunity to contribute to the community by voting in the February 7 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Director Nominee Election. According to the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA):

In February 2012, Roosevelt Islanders will go to the polls in a continuing effort to bring democratic governance to Roosevelt Island. Residents will nominate three of their own, by secret ballot. Those names will then be presented to Governor Andrew Cuomo with the request that he fill term-expired seats on the Board of Directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) with the candidates chosen in the election

The polls will be open from 6 AM to 9 PM Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Voting Locations
The Octagon, for Octagon Residents
455 Main, for Southtown residents
Good Shepherd, for all others

ELIGIBLE TO VOTE:All Roosevelt Island residents who are at least 18 years old:
   no duration-of-residency minimum

   no requirement of US citizenship or registration to vote on RI

PROOF OF IDENTITY AND AGE:

Photo ID

PROOF OF RESIDENCY IF THE VOTER’S NAME ISN’T ON THE BUILDING LIST:

RI address on photo ID, or

RI address on a bill or other mail, or

RI lease or income certification with the voter’s name

Octagon residents can vote at their building from 6 - 10 AM and from 5 - 9 PM. They can vote from 10 AM - 5 PM at Good Shepherd. Southtown residents can vote at 455 Main Street from 6 - 10 AM and 5-9 PM. They can vote at Good Shepherd from 10 AM - 5 PM.

There will be a Meet the RIOC Nominee Candidate Night Thursday February 2, 8 PM at Good Shepherd Community Center. Come with your questions. RIRA President Matt Katz explains the process:



and here is a video of current resident RIOC Board members discussing what is involved in being a Director.

Below are statements from RIOC Board nominee candidates submitted to Roosevelt Islander for publication in the order they were received.

From Dottie Jeffries:

First and foremost as a RIOC Board member, I will be serving the residents of Roosevelt Island. I’m a staunch supporter of the island’s diversity as well as the legacy of its namesake, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. As a Board member, I intend to further all that the Island stands for.

As a resident of Roosevelt Island for more than three years, I have become an ardent fan of the island’s vibrant community life. As a result, I’m running for a position on the RIOC Board. I’m eager to leverage my experience in public relations, my communications work in the fields of urban planning, my knowledge of the built environment and healthcare; my knowledge of Roosevelt Island and its community affairs to further the quality of life on the island and the island’s amenities My resourcefulness, energy, strategic thinking, analytical skills, and networking will be invaluable assets to the RIOC Board and in turn to the island’s community, New York City, and the State of New York.

I’m particularly interested in serving at this juncture in RIOC’s history. With Hudson Related on board to reinvigorate the retail component of the island as well as the development of the NYC Applied Sciences and Engineering School through the partnership of Cornell University and Technion (Israel Institute of Technology), extraordinary opportunities lie at hand for RIOC and the community of Roosevelt Island. With my first career having been in retailing, I am supportive of RIOC’s endeavors to work with Hudson Related. My understanding of the value of a healthy retail sector in the community will help move forward this project.

The island has long sought democratic representation and I am dedicated to furthering that representation. I intend to support the various communities on the island including seniors, the disabled, parents and families, and the youth of the island. I also believe that the many residents who work at the U.N. are a vital, even though often transient, part of Roosevelt Island. They are advocators of the island, often recommending the island as a residential community to colleagues who are posting from other countries to New York City. The possibility of seeking office tenants among the smaller divisions of the U.N. is one that I will put forward. Considering the number of U.N. employees and dignitaries on the island, the U.N. may well consider locating some of its smaller offices to the Roosevelt Island.

My involvement on Roosevelt Island is broad. I serve on the Southern Development Subcommittee of the Planning Committee of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA). I’m also a member of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society and play in the Roosevelt Island Tennis Association (RITA). I frequent Sportspark and support its offerings wholeheartedly.

I’m an avid supporter of the Island’s Post Office as well as the Roosevelt Island branch of the New York Public Library.

Outside of Roosevelt Island, I serve on the Board of the Science Writers of New York (SWINY) and the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC). Some of my relevant clients (past and present) include the American Institute of Architects, Alan Wanzenberg Architect (New York), Congress for the New Urbanism, the Ceiling and Interior Systems Construction Association, Bartlett Tree Experts, the New York Center for Children, and Park Avenue Christian Church.

From Howard Polivy:

I am in my eighth year as a Roosevelt Island resident. I am an actuary with the financial expertise of over 30 years’ experience, specializing in long range planning for employee benefits. As a RIOC director, I am running to seek continuing confirmation from my neighbors. Having directors nominated through the communities’ approval means there will be directors deeply invested in attending to ideas and opinions in current circulation.

I serve as chair of the RIOC Audit and Real Estate Advisory Committees, serve on Governance,and attend most RIOC committee meetings but alsoattend virtually all RIRA functions and participate actively in many organizations.

Different issues speak to different residents’ special concerns, which are sometimes at cross-purposes. RIOC Board members must weight these concerns but settle on a course of action. I have supported open community forums and discussions toallow RIOC staff to become sensitized to complex concerns and to build partnerships with the residents to improve our quality of life.

Infrastructure: RIOC’s capital rehabilitation planprojects include Motorgate, Blackwell House Interior, the Lighthouse, and the Island’s railing and seawall. Part of the driving force for these projects has been the need to catch up after years of relative neglect due to budget issues. I now chair the Audit committee, and have served during a time when the statements, reporting, and controls have beenexemplary. As an actuary, I look at the financialplan’s long-term viability.

Technology and Transportation: Roosevelt Island was designed to demonstrate new possibilities in urban design. I am pleased to have been an active member of a Board of Directors, bring useful and interesting technology into play. Most importantly, and with an eye to the changes coming through the Cornell-Technion project, RIOC must create amodernized strategic plan and vision. Our residents must be assured that safe and secure transit to and from the Island and an improved transportation and service infrastructure, ready and in place before beingstressed by the anticipated new arrivals.

Affordable Housing: We have been in a transition as the Mitchell-Lama program sunsets. RIOC’s operations and services, benefitting all residents, arelargely financed by the buildings’ ground rents and related fees. I was appointed to the Real Estate advisory committee after Jonathan Kalkin was dropped from the board. As committee chair, I have strived to represent all the residents’ interests with expenses structured to permit ongoing affordable housing.

Responsiveness to the community has grown during my Board term. For example, meetings are now all scheduled for a 5:30 start time, so that moreworking residents are able to attend. I serve onRIOC’s Governance committee, and we will be creating evening open topic meetings for residents to have an additional venue to begin to resolve their concerns. But, our Island brings a wonderful opportunity for any interested party to do much more than raise complaints. Ways can be found to harness energy and expertise.

I have the vision, desire, and financial expertiseto finish building a firm foundation during this time of transition. I bring an ability to work constructively with all parties - community interests, RIOC staff, and concerned politicians, to accomplish the agenda of developing and operating Roosevelt Island as a model urban community.

Thank you for the opportunity to be of service.

From Grace Bernstein:

To everything there is a season... I am privileged to have been part of the Roosevelt Island Community for 30 years. Now it is my time to give back. I love the Island's diversity, its energy, and its supportive environment. My children and grandchildren grew up here. I welcome the opportunity to serve the residents of Roosevelt Island as a member of the Board of Directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. I embrace the progress and expansion of the Island.I hope my experience as an administrative law judge, attorney, teacher, and mother gives me the wisdom to address the myriad and complex issues facing the Island in an independent and fair minded way.

As the Island grew, its expansion brought individuals with new ideas. I look forward to to the Cornell complex and the influx of about 2500 creative individuals. I look forward to the revitalization of Main Street and the increased revenues that will benefit the people and organizations of the Island. I promise to work towards creating an Island that serves all its people, taking into consideration economic status, age and interests.

I applaud the many organizations of the Island; they are the life of the community and will continue to be so as long as they have the residents' support. It is the committed individuals and the camaraderie that makes this Island such a desirable place to live. I think of this Island as a growing organism, fueled by bold government experiments and by individual start- up groups, like start -up companies, that have a vision. I ask that all residents look to the future and be active and creative in improving our Community (including those who only plan to live on the Island a few years).

I ask for your vote so I can use my ability, time and energy to make this Island a place that I love to call home.

From Jonathan Kalkin:

When I first came to the Island I saw a place with unbelievable potential, but also a place with difficult and complex issues to overcome. There were small problems - from the Red Bus not having a schedule to big problems like Main Street’s vacant stores and long-term affordable housing plans were always out of reach. When I was one of the first members elected to the board in 2008, I made it my goal to fix these problems.

I was the first board member to tackle the problem of Main Street’s vacant storefronts. I designed and completed the Retail Master Lease for Main Street with Hudson/Related. This secures the present revenue stream for RIOC and shares profits above that, benefits the community with a competitive and vibrant retail environment, and takes government (and the long and onerous RFP process that goes with it) out of the business of retail management for the Island. This revenue and multi-million dollar revitalization will create jobs and give RIOC the funds it needs to preserve housing affordability.

I had RIOC meet with technology startups and large companies from Google to Verizon and commissioned studies from Columbia and Cornell Universities to develop solutions to these issues. We developed a bus schedule, hired a transportation manager, commissioned a ferry dock study, and installed a GPS bus tracking system so residents/RIOC could use mobile apps to track bus arrival. We installed a smart parking sensor and meter pilot to track and automate parking enforcement which led to greater availability, enforcement and revenue. This smart parking plan will be deployed Island wide. I had the RI 311 issue tracking system installed that not only allows resident to report, vote up, and comment on non-emergency issues on Island, but for RIOC staff to respond/fix them. All these initiatives gave RIOC the data to monitor and operate the Island in a more efficient way and be more responsive to its residents. As a result of these initiatives, New York State named RIOC the Empire 2.0 Showcase Agency of the Year.

However, the most important work is still yet to be done. Affordable housing must be preserved. I led the effort to protect affordability by approving the Rivercross ground lease, passing the first RIOC resolution in favor of preserving affordability, and arranged meetings at City Hall with all the agencies involved to finally complete the decades long privatization/affordability plans that are now reaching completion. I want to finish this work, but also collaborate with Cornell University on an Island green energy plan to ensure that residents can not only afford their homes, but be able to heat them as well. Nobody should lose their home because of their electric bill.

I believe RIOC, the community, and Cornell University can work together on a community benefit agreement to ensure the University and the Island mutually benefit from the project. I began this effort first by having RIOC and RIRA draft a resolution in favor of the university before the RFP and have begun meetings between the University, political representatives, and community groups to develop this agreement. The City and the University have said they are excited to work with the community and RIOC on this project. Make no mistake, this is our moment. As we transform from Roosevelt Island to Silicon Island we need to continue our record of reform and innovation. I would be honored to help make that possible.

I offered to publish statements from all of the candidates. Will publish statement from other candidates if they wish as updates to this post.

UPDATE 2/3 - Video of RIOC Board Nominee Candidate's Night here.

UPDATE 2/4 - Candidate Statement from Lydia Tang:

My name is Lydia Tang and I've been a Roosevelt Island resident for the last 17 years.

Being part of the solution and not part of the problem – that’s the only legitimate reason I have for running for the RIOC Board of Directors. Complaining about the state of affairs only goes so far, but stepping up to improve the state of affairs can be more effective if there exists the correct qualifications and experience. I believe that I have many of the correct qualifications and experiences.

I’ve been an active member of the Roosevelt Island community, having taken on official positions in my building’s tenant’s association, our public school’s PTA and as advocate for our branch of the Public Library. I’ve also helped out in community events orchestrated by RIRA and RIOC, as well as volunteering with the after-school Beacon Program. My professional experience includes 10 years in the financial industry and, most recently, 14 years as a college math professor. My undergraduate and graduate degrees are in Operations Research from Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. My limited exposures from my summer college internships include working for the MTA in Staten Island (SIRTOA), Con-Edison, and CE-Lummus, an engineering firm.

I urge all Roosevelt Island residents to vote in the elections, especially the ex-pat population and new voters. Participate by using your voice to select your community leadership. Then consider how else you can be part of the solution.