Though there are countless ways New Yorkers took action in 2020, we’d like
to thank the volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and community partners who
shared their experiences with us.
The Roosevelt Island Senior Center and a group of Roosevelt Island Food Panty
volunteers were among those recognized for their efforts helping others during
the Covid 19 Pandemic.
Roosevelt Island Food Pantry was an awardee in the NYC Mayoral Volunteer Service Recognition on Thursday, which awarded New Yorkers with significant volunteer efforts (note: NYCEM CERTs were another organization who were awarded, too).
Please find some photos from yesterday's food pantry - it
was extremely busy!
CERTs doing food deliveries (that's Paul) to people who are
infirm or have mobility issues - still about a dozen deliveries
a week
Paul Curiale, Tricia Shimamura (holding Fresh Direct bag),
Frank Farance - Trish is currently Vice Chair of Manhattan
Community Board 8 (Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island) and
candidate for City Council Member (Ben Kallos's seat), and she's
a regular weekly volunteer
Paul Curiale, Dimaura Cole, Frank Farance in the Senior Center
garden - Dimuara is a Girl Scout Troop Leader (Girl Scouts also
support the food pantry), and she's already entered for CERT
training and awaiting her slot
Paul Curiale, Millie Reyes, Mary Coleman, Wendy Hersh, Frank
Farance - Wendy and Mary run RIDA (Roosevelt Island Disabled
Association) who run the food pantry, and Millie is a volunteer
who knows all the families and does check-in for the food pantry
Public Safety is at the door, managing the crowds in the
lobby, and the crowds outside
A couple photos showing the excellent food and the main food
pantry departments (yes, they have departments!):
meat
dairy
cereals
pasta and sauce
rice and beans
baking goods
and the far room has
fresh fruits and vegetables
canned goods
breads
Trish is helping set up the food display for the photo
Paul is delivering to a client - she is unable to get food,
she uses a walker (photo is redacted / de-identified)
Frank delivering in Eastwood/RL, excellent groceries visible
in the box - for these home-bound clients,Mary and Wendy shop
for them according to their requests, and then CERTs, Boy
Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc. make deliveries to their homes
(no-contact, social-distancing, and other health guidelines in
use)
556 Courtyard: the photo doesn't capture how beautiful,
relaxing, and lush this place is - a wonderful gem in the
heart of Roosevelt Island
During the April 20 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Safety Committee virtual Zoom meeting last evening, RIRA President
Rossana Ceruzzi asked Roosevelt Island
Public Safety Department
Chief Kevin Brown about the newly reserved parking spots across from 475
Main Street and the Rivercross Lawn that had previously been public parking
spots.
PSD Chief Kevin Brown answered that the spots will be reserved for
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp
(RIOC) President Shelton Haynes and his guests.
As previously reported,
Mr Haynes will soon be moving his offices "temporarily" to Blackwell
House....
Reactions from community members included:
The arrogance of this new RIOC leader is astounding. He can park and so can
his visitors... Listen if Tish James or the Governor come, they will park
wherever the want. No one else 'merits' a free parking space. This type of
behavior defies the very values this community was build on. Does anyone in
that office know our history? Parking spaces are just another indication of
the much greater problem!
RIOC treats us like we are a guest in our own home. This is just straight up
rude.
I am curious though, if the spaces are for RIOC employees, why wouldn't they
park on the garage roof top like all other employees and business owners who
work on Roosevelt Island?
That is a shame. Blackwell House always used to be a "community" space for
resident gatherings, celebrations, etc. RIOC really knows how to take the
"community" feel out of a community. (And now they are taking parking spaces
away from residents too).
In response to my inquiry seeking comment on the removal of public parking spots, RIOC
Public Information Officer Amy Smith replied and her answer below was included in the April 21 story:
RIOC remains committed to being a good neighbor and community partner through
thoughtful attention to island life. As to not interfere with the flow of
traffic, prevent the possibility of vehicles inadvertently parking illegally,
or create unwanted disruptions to surrounding businesses, an area on Main
Street has been designated to accommodate visitor, vendor, and Roosevelt
Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) vehicles pertinent to RIOC business
operations.
During the April 22 RIOC Board of Directors Meeting Public Session, Roosevelt Island residents expressed their disapproval of removing the 4 public parking spots to be reserved for use by RIOC, asking for example:
Please share with the community why parking spaces have been reserved for RIOC President and his guests. In other words, what makes this job so extraordinary that he and his visitors will not abide by the parking rules that apply to all other businesses and employees and their visitors?
Mr Haynes replied there was a false narrative being reported to the community. Mr Haynes added to what Chief Brown said during the April 20 RIRA Public Safety Committee meeting by saying that the parking spots were reserved for RIOC employees, vendors and visitors during the hours of 7:30 - 4:30 and then open to the public.
Nothing Mr. Haynes said contradicted the reporting of what Chief Kevin Brown said during the RIRA Public Safety Committee meeting. There was no false narrative in the reporting. RIRA President Rossana Ceruzzi, Vice President Erin Feely-Nahem and
Common Council Member Frank Farance, who all attended the PSC meeting,
confirm the reporting of what Public Safety Chief Kevin Brown said.
Also, note that Mr Haynes did not answer the question of Roosevelt Island residents asking why RIOC employees, vendors, visitors and guests receive special parking privileges that nobody else receives.
Mr Haynes, please tell community members why can't RIOC use public parking spaces, the Motorgate Garage or use public transportation as everyone else does instead of privileged reserved parking spots? Maybe the docile RIOC Board can answer that question too?
Here's portion of the RIOC Board Public Session discussion of the reserved parking spots including RIOC Board members David Kraut and Jeffrey Escobar accepting Mr Haynes version of events without asking questions or challenging the need for RIOC special parking privileges not available to the public and attacking local Roosevelt Island media.
Following the April 22 RIOC Board meeting, I sent the following email to PSD Chief Kevin Brown and Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso:
During the April 20 RIRA Public Safety Committee virtual zoom
meeting, in response to a question from RIRA President Rossana Ceruzzi
asking about the 4 newly reserved parking spots between 475 Main Street
and the Riverwalk Commons you responded that the reserved parking spots
were for RIOC President Shelton Haynes and guests for his new temporary
office space at Blackwell House.
Please confirm that is an accurate reporting of what you said.
If my reporting of what you said is not accurate, please tell me what you did say.
Receiving no response, I resent the email yesterday noting that the original email incorrectly said Riverwalk Commons instead of Rivercross Lawn..
Shortly thereafter, RIOC sent out this advisory:
It has come to our attention that there is a narrative circulating through the
community that the parking spots on Main Street, which have been designated
for use by vehicles pertinent to the operations of Roosevelt Island Operating
Corporation (RIOC), were reserved for our President and CEO, and his guests.
This narrative is false. To be clear and in an effort to maintain
transparency, RIOC is reiterating that these four parking spots are designated
for use by contracted vendors, visitors, and RIOC vehicles germane to
efficient operations of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. These parking
spots are reserved only during RIOC business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
Again, there is no false narrative circulating through the community about the parking spots being reserved for RIOC. Whoever wrote this statement on behalf of RIOC is misrepresenting what was reported and not answering why RIOC receives special parking privileges not available to the public.
Chief Brown's name is not associated with this statement because he knows what he said and will not lie.
It is interesting to note that the RIOC Communications Team, supported by Mr Haynes, will not allow Chief Brown to answer questions from the Roosevelt Island media. Up to a few months ago, Chief Brown and before him, Chief Jack McManus provided very valuable information to the Roosevelt Island community through local media. But no more.
According to Frank Farance, who attended the RIRA Public Safety Committee meeting:
I watched the presentation at the RIOC Board meeting, including David
Kraut's criticism of Rick's reporting in the Roosevelt Islander blog.
First, Rick accurately reported what was said: Kevin reported
Shelton would be having meetings at Blackwell House, and Shelton would need
the spots for himself and visitors (meeting attendees).
Second, David Kraut should know better: David Kraut was not
there at the PSC meeting, he has no authority on reporting what happened at
that meeting. Surely if the roles were reversed where I were saying
something false and David and Mike Shinozaki were first-hand witnesses,
David and Mike would be complaining loudly in public. So why not the
same standard when the roles are reversed?
Third, as one executive to another, I can completely understand that your
messaging in the board meeting might be different. And I'll give Kevin
the benefit of the doubt that he attempted to present it honestly and
correctly in the RIRA PSC meeting, but there might have been a word or two
imperfect - an honest mistake. And
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you, as CEO,
discovered you needed some clarification and precision on what a staff
member said. Really, that's no problem and all of us understand that -
and please don't punish Kevin or Anthony as they do good work for the
community.
Meanwhile, I've been doing my own investigation and reporting on the
reserved parking situation, and I see Rick has got a story coming up, so I
will provide my findings to Rick (whether they agree with Rick or
not). Myself, as the Island's authority on the parking here, there are
50 spaces from the school to Rivercross and that covers about 6300
residents, i.e., half the Island's population. Meanwhile, there are on
average 50-60 spaces PER BLOCK over the bridge in LIC with a population of
about 300 per block, i.e., 1 spot per 5-6 people in LIC compared 1 spot per
125 people on Roosevelt Island.
Thus, parking is scarce, and losing 4 spots (about 10% of our street
parking) is significant.
And that doesn't even get into the question that residents and elected
officials might have on the propriety of RIOC consuming yet another space
that is unavailable to Island organizations - RIOC has consumed the
community center, the youth center, Blackwell house, etc., i.e., RIOC has
lots of available space already.
So why does the RIOC President need a fancy office in Blackwell
House? Does this mean that the public purpose of Blackwell House - which
spent so much money from multiple sources on renovation - is no longer
accessible to the public because the RIOC CEO's offices are there?
Regarding those visiting contractors, why is 680 Main (with large
facilities, infrastructure, renovations, and immediate parking) or 591 Main
or Sportspark (with all its infrastructure and renovations) no longer viable
for meetings with contractors? I think the public needs to understand
why the RIOC CEO office is moved to the fancy Blackwell House (yet RIOC
complaints about loss of money in the pandemic) and why that location is
necessary for contractor's visits and the President's parking spot?
Maybe there are reasonable answers to those questions, and conveying
your rationale to the community would be helpful
... which means talking Rick, David, and RIRA.
Ya know, the New York Post doesn't like de Blasio, yet their reporters
aren't excluded, right?
Fourth, there are many good things going on right with RIOC, RIRA, and
the community:
the collaborations with Public Purpose Funds, the Bike Safety efforts,
ongoing efforts with Public Safety, RIOC/PSD's collaboration at the Food
Panty, and such as a welcome resurgence for RIOC-RIRA collaboration - last
collaborations were 2008-2010 (RIOC Pres: Shane, RIRA Pres: myself) and
2013-2014 (RIOC Pres: Indelicato, RIRA PSC Chair: Feely-Nahem).
Shelton, you and your team are doing good work with the community now,
and I **consistently defend you** and talk about your successful
efforts, and many of us have a desire to support your fresh
approaches. Full stop ... no "but's" or qualifications to that statement.
Several of us are concerned about retaliation from RIOC when expressing
differences:
Rick gets cut out of regular communications that he used to
get from RIOC, e.g., public safety blotter, access to RIOC staff
Rossana is rudely dis-invited and humiliated by Erica's
crew, as reported by several people
And so on.
Do you think the Island feels like they can disagree with RIOC without
retaliation or excommunication? Of course not, and that's Erica who sets that tone. Why does it
make sense to exclude the RIRA President from a Grand Opening? How does
that help RIOC? The Island community has a long memory on this kind of
RIOC tactic, you can search for "RIOC bunker mode" and you'll find
two-decades-plus reporting on this, for most RIOC presidents going back to
Jerry Blue in the 1990s. It never works, and for whatever disagreement
RIOC was trying to deny or cover up, the long-lasting memory of the community
is: RIOC's bunker mode, cover-up, and ex-communication.
Regardless of what Erica says, it is in YOUR (Shelton's) best interest to
communicate consistently and transparently, even with those who write
critically (e.g., David Stone).
I urge you to rethink this, prohibit retaliation, and take charge of
your communications for the benefit of the corporation and its
constituents.
Fourth, I don't believe Rick is perfect, I don't agree with him many times,
but he does his Professional Best, he is a Good and Honest Reporter, and he
will gladly make corrections and do it promptly.
Rick is the Authority on Roosevelt Island as City, State, and
Federal officials and major news organizations see Rick's work as
authoritative. Rick has consistently published about a dozen articles a
week for over a decade.
Again, why is it in RIOC's interests to ex-communicate the Island's trusted
news and information source? How does that help RIOC?
Shelton: Rossana, Erin, I, and others wish you success as RIOC President, and
we wish success to RIOC, too.
Candidates running to represent Roosevelt Island in the NYC Council want to know why RIOC gets special parking privileges not available to the public too.
Yes. I can’t imagine there’s a good reason for this. Public officials should
not have special parking privileges — whether it’s designated parking or
placards.
— Billy Freeland 🚴♂️🚠 (@BillyFreelandNY)
April 27, 2021
Public parking must remain first and foremost for public use, never for
political purposes. I urge
@RIOCny to
revisit this decision and return these parking spots to public use
immediately.
While we continue to follow social distancing and align our operations with
New York Forward guidance, we also continue to incrementally increase the
number of passengers permitted on the Tram. Tram capacity will increase on
Monday, March 8th, from 35 to 55 passengers per cabin, and we will continue to
assess and gradually increase ridership in phases. We understand the need for
this mode of transportation, however, the health and safety of our riders and
operators are our priority. We appreciate your cooperation.
A Roosevelt Island Tipster reports walking in Lighthouse Park this morning about 7:45 and was stunned to see this:
In 30 years living on Roosevelt Island, I have NEVER seen anything like this.
I reckon either visitors or transient residents. Either way, the men and women who work so hard to keep this island clean are not the personal cleaners for these slobs..
Funny I looked for alcohol and beer bottles NONE. They did this sober.
The race to become Manhattan’s next district attorney is shaping up to be one of the most important in decades, a watershed contest that is likely to fundamentally change the mission of the prominent office and may affect the future of former President Donald J. Trump.
Yet the eight candidates are all relative unknowns, and, with no public polling, there is no clear front-runner. The victor is likely to win the general election in November without having received a majority of votes in the Democratic primary.
...
Diana Florence began her career as a prosecutor 25 years ago in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, putting people first. There she fought for people who never thought they’d win, going after powerful interests and large scale corruption. She won landmark convictions against companies and individuals for defrauding 9/11 charities, terrorizing the elderly, domestic violence, wage theft, and deadly work conditions. She held powerful interests accountable by prosecuting developers and construction companies for cheating workers and taxpayers. In a historic case against Harco Construction, she ultimately secured justice for the family of a 22 year-old construction worker, Carlos Moncayo, who was buried alive at work....
Ms Florence was at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market last Saturday speaking with residents about her run for Manhattan District Attorney and local issues. I spoke with her too. Here's what Ms Florence had to say.
Learn more about Ms Florence's campaign for Manhattan District Attorney, experience and views on issues at her website.
I am launching my campaign for Manhattan District Attorney! We need a DA who puts people first. 📺 WATCH MY CAMPAIGN VIDEO 📺 pic.twitter.com/qKhY1ApNxH
You know about the Mediterranean diet. The owner of this takeout shop in
Queens thinks you should know about the West African way of eating, too.
https://t.co/W1I3qwgJhV
Congrats to Roosevelt Island resident and Farmers Market vendor Beatrice
Ajaero for the wonderful write up of her West African restaurant
Nneji received from
NY Times Food columnist Pete Wells
today.
The last time I picked up dinner from Nneji, a small shop in Queens that sells African products and food for takeout, something new was hidden under one of the steel lids that cover steaming pans of marigold-yellow wilted onions, glossy red tomatoes stewed with a cow foot or two, lumps of goat that have taken in by osmosis the sweetness and power of several different peppers, and other long-simmered West African pleasures....
Roosevelt Island resident Rodica Miller thought she hit the jackpot when she
learned her lottery application for an apartment in the Roosevelt
Island
Hudson Related Riverwalk Park
affordable housing building was selected. But there was a problem - getting
out of her existing lease recently renewed this summer at
Roosevelt Landings....
... C+C typically does not allow mid-term lease breaks, but Ms. Miller now has
an opportunity to live in affordable housing, which we won't deny her. Due
to the unusual nature of her lease-break request, we are happy to grant an
exception to our policy so Ms. Miller can move into her new apartment and
avoid any undue financial hardship."...
... I just received a phone call and an email from C+C Management and they
agree to terminate my lease early. I’m so excited and relieved! Thank you
so much for your help!
Also, Rebecca Seawright’s office responded right away and offered me a
free legal clinic. I was impressed by their prompt follow-up. The person
from C+C Management who contacted me was Doryne Isley. She was super nice
and she wrote me a lovely email. So happy it all worked out!...
Yesterday, The NY Times featured Ms Miller's story in the Renters column.
from the Cornell Tech campus to Good Shepherd Plaza where they took a knee in
silence for 9 minutes.
Taking a knee for 9 minutes at Roosevelt Island March For Justice. Residents
of all colors together. NYPD officers too. Fantastic job by the young
Roosevelt Island youth organizers. Very proud of them.
pic.twitter.com/noAh1ZtULu
— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland)
June 3, 2020
Roosevelt Island Residents Association
(RIRA) Children, Youth & Education Committee Chair Adib Mansour was one of
many very impressed with the young Roosevelt Island March For Justice
organizers.
Thalia St. Hubert, 20, organized the peaceful demonstration Wed. night on Roosevelt Island, NY. "To bring my small community together, to fight for something we believe in, is just so powerful." pic.twitter.com/NzVPANZC09
I was very touched to see the youth of the island react to the racial
injustice in our country; I was brought to tears to see the youth and the
community taking the knee for 9 minutes on June 3rd during the March they
organized.
I was born in Lebanon during the civil war there and I know what it feels to
fear being in the wrong place at the wrong time, to feel fear in my bones
when leaving the safety of my house. The March reminded me of a pledge I
took long ago… to fight for freedom, peace and love. I see a lot of
parallels in current times, where black people are targeted and killed, even
by the authorities that are supposed to protect them. I took the pledge
again after the June 3rd March, and that this committee I chair will always
be learning on how to bring change and increasing racial equity in our
community and our city. As the chair of RIRA’s Children, Youth &
Education Committee I am making the commitment that we will be engaging in
activities and actions that support our black youth and make sure that we
are addressing systematic racial injustices.
Following the April 20 conviction
of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George
Floyd, Mr Mansour adds:
This view of the Tram from Roosevelt Island is pretty terrific too as it soars over the spectacular Cherry Blossoms just south of the Tram Station and Queensboro Bridge.
Take a look at the Roosevelt Island red and yellow Tulips planted by the Riverwalk buildings.They are spectacular too, but please don't pick them out of the flower beds as some are doing.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
