According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)
Dear Roosevelt Island Community:
Due to the on-going air quality issue that is affecting our region, we have decided to move Roosevelt Island Day back one week from this Saturday, June 10th to Saturday, June 17th.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Though we are disappointed in having to move the event back, it is our responsibility to always prioritize the health and well being of the Roosevelt Island community.
We hope you will still be able to join us for all the fun on June 17th!
And for now, we are encouraging everyone to please limit outdoor activities.
If you must go outside, wear an N95 mask if possible.
As reported yesterday, Roosevelt Island residents Ben Fhala, Michal Melamed and Lydia Tang were
appointed to the RIOC Board of Directors filling the 3 vacant seats.
Yesterday, I asked Mr Fhala:
... Please let me know if you would like to make a written statement to the
Roosevelt Island community on your nomination/appointment to the RIOC Board to
include in Roosevelt islander story.
Why do you wish to be on the RIOC Board and how do you see your role as a
RIOC Director? Are there particular issues you would like to see addressed?
What was the process by which you were asked to become a RIOC Director? Who
initially approached you about the appointment?...
Mr Fhala replied today:
When I moved to Roosevelt Island several years ago, I knew it was a unique
and special place and wanted to be involved in preserving and enhancing this
beautiful island that was now my home. Quite soon, I had the privilege of
joining the Board of the
Roosevelt Island Disabled Association
as its Executive Vice President.
I have served since 2022 under the guidance and support of President Wendy
Hersh and Mary Colman. Working closely with Vice President Nancy Brown, we
have coordinated various activities for the disabled community throughout the
island. Collaborating with Lisa Fernandez, the Program Director of the
Roosevelt Island Senior Center, we have jointly created activities to benefit
our disabled and senior communities, including off island cultural and
recreational bus trips including two scheduled for later this summer and
October. Additionally, I was closely involved with the Food Pantry that serves
almost two hundred local families with food insecurities. Here, too, I worked
under the guidance of Ms. Hersh and Ms. Colman.
Initially, I had no intentions or aspirations to join the RIOC board,
primarily due to concerns over the negative feedback the board has received
over the years. Nonetheless, I believe that our island is an extraordinary
place, and despite the "scandals" that have plagued RIOC, it remains the
best place to live in New York City. I would like to contribute to
maintaining this status for years to come.
Leaders within the community made me realize that the people were prepared
and eager to revitalize the current board. Although individuals had reached
out to me, the pivotal moment came when Lisa Fernandez strongly recommended
passing my information to State Senator Liz Krueger's office. I agreed, and
as a result, I engaged in numerous conversations with other island leaders
who guided and encouraged me to pursue the opportunity.
A few weeks after my agreement, Audrey Tannen of Senator Krueger's office
reached out to me. She had an awareness of the work I had done at RIDA.
Senator Krueger's office endorsed my name to the Governor's office, with the
aim of injecting new perspectives and revitalizing the board. There were
many further discussions with other island leaders who shared the same
sentiment, emphasizing the need for change and offering their support as I
embarked on this path.
As for my envisioned role as a RIOC Director, I am inspired by the
conversations I had with each person. It became evident that the board has
required a fresh perspective for quite some time. Governor Hochul's and
State Senator Liz Krueger's vision of our island as a thriving place for
both older and younger generations resonates with me. I would work to ensure
our island remains an enviable place, while also striking a balance between
the quality of life we enjoy and the affordability necessary to include our
existing communities.
I hope to find a way to fulfill these two needs: preparing our island for
the next generation so that my husband and I can build our future family
here, while simultaneously safeguarding the quality of life for our seniors,
disabled individuals, and lower-income families who call this island home.
Are there specific issues that I would like to see addressed? Absolutely.
Among the many pressing matters, the two areas that currently hold the most
interest for me include:
1. Revitalizing the northern side of the island: At present, the heartbeat
of our island resides predominantly in the south-central area. I would be
delighted to collaborate with RIOC in expanding and transforming the
northern side (the parking lot area) into a central hub for our residents.
With the RIOC office relocating to the new building currently under
construction in the center/south side, this presents a significant
opportunity to reinvent the existing area and create a new community focal
point.
2. Managing tourism impact: While we attract a substantial number of
tourists to the island, the current situation has inadvertently diminished
our quality of life due to subway/tram disruptions and street congestion. It
is important that we find ways to benefit from these visitors, both by
increasing island revenue and improving our quality of life. I aspire to
lead a team in exploring viable options, such as introducing food carts on
the south side where many visitors congregate or implementing different
payment schemes for public transportation for residents versus visitors. I
have several ideas, but I would like to gain a better understanding of
viable options before sharing them.
These two points, among many others, are areas where I would work to
initiate conversations and find effective solutions.
... On May 25, prior to a RIOC Board of Directors meeting, Roosevelt Island
resident Lydia Tang told me that she was a Mayoral nominee to the RIOC Board
of Directors....
It was confirmed today that the other 2 nominees to the vacant RIOC Board
Director seats are Roosevelt Island residents Michal Melamed M.D, and Ben
Fhala.
Doctor Melamed has been active in local Roosevelt Island organizations
including the Food Pantry, Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance and PS/IS
217 PTA.
Adib Mansour, Director of
The Citizen Project's
Children, Youth & Education Initiative reports:
ROOSEVELT ISLAND VENDORS' APPRECIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
I am pleased to report, that the students I have been working with have
learned so much about Roosevelt Island, the people around us, and our local
store owners.
It brings me joy to see our young people flourish. The Children, Youth, and
Education Initiative's aim is to connect the Island's youngsters with their
communities while preserving the environment. As part of our initiative to
introduce our youth to the Island's businesses, they are learning about the
vendors’ childhoods, their educations, and their families, as well as
recognizing and appreciating their dedication to the Island's residents.
They are grasping the complexities of how each business operates and then
providing eco-friendly solutions that benefit our community. In the process,
they are also learning to be journalists.
A big shoutout to the team at the
Child Center of New York, and Foujia Abida - Outreach Specialist- for her assistance in this
initiative. As I coach soccer to the students, I take 20 minutes to discuss
with them varied subjects ranging from the Roosevelt Island community as a
whole to world events and solutions to global warming on a local level.
Aristotle once said, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no
education at all”.
Over the past few weeks, we've identified all the Island vendors and we’re
in the process of interviewing them. We've already interviewed
Roosevelt Pups,
then
Fusion Salon, and
ME Mediterranean Eatery.
Our fourth interview was with
Jax Schott, a Roosevelt Island resident and
owner of the Island OM Yoga Studio. The interviewers were fourth-grade students from the Child Center of New
York’s after-school program at PS/IS 217. They are:
Sadie,
Klaudia,
Constanza,
Aiden, and
Phuc Anh.
The student journalists experienced the physical aspect of yoga through
exercise and stretching, as well as meditating and relieving themselves from
daily stress.
They asked Jax many questions about her family, her business,
Yoga
and improvised follow-up questions for additional details.
Upon entering the Island Om Barre Studio, the students became very intrigued
about the definition of Barre Yoga. Jax explained and they all participated
in a few moves. Barre class is a workout technique inspired by ballet, yoga,
and Pilates. Each class is a full-body, muscle endurance workout. It targets
smaller muscle groups using light weights, body weight, resistance bands,
and high repetition.
Students reporters learned about Island Om merchandising with Jax. She
showed them t-shirts, sweatshirts, oils, and other health products. Jax
brings joy and happiness even in the merchandise using amusing slogans. Even
the bathrooms are rigged with comical phrases (mostly for adults).
Jax showed the students reporters how to find ‘your balance” and get ready
to use the Blue Blocks. They enjoyed the hands-on experience.
The students reporters learn firsthand how to relax and expand their energy
all over Roosevelt Island and beyond. One student described it as a “Pearl
of Happiness”.
Watch the full interview.
Here the interview transcript with Jax Schott owner of Roosevelt Island's yoga
studio Island Om.
Sadie: Hello Jax, we are very excited to interview you and find out about
your childhood, your family, and how you came about opening a Yoga Studio on
Roosevelt Island.
Here are some of the questions that would help us in our Interview:
Klaudia: Please tell us about your childhood and where did you grow up?
Jax: Long Island. Has anyone been to Long Island or have family there?
Jayden: I think I did before.
Jax: So on the South Shore of Long Island -maybe about 10 minutes away from
Jones Beach- and it's called Merrick, Long Island. I could give you a little
tidbit of information: Lindsay Lohan is from Merrick; she's one of the only
celebrities I really know that are from Merrick. I grew up there; my whole
life in a Suburban house and I moved to the city when I was about 21 years
old. I loved living in the suburbs as a kid.
Constanza: How long have you been on Roosevelt Island and where were you
before you moved here?
Jax: I lived on Rosevelt Island for 14 years -almost 14 and a half years-
and before that, I lived in Chelsea in the City -downtown- for about 12
years or 13 years.
Jayden: What did you study and did you ever think you’d be a Yoga Teacher?
Jax: I did not think I would be a yoga teacher; it wasn't something on my
radar but I loved to dance as a kid. I was always doing dance classes. I was
on the dance team. I did ballet Jazz and modern dance and so when I found
yoga in my early 20s it seemed very natural to me. A lot of the poses seemed
familiar. But the mindfulness part of it, the spiritual and the mental part
of it was something I really absorbed. I remember actually doing a yoga
class in the gym in high school through social studies and I remember the
teacher putting me into a relaxation pose -what we call a Yoga Nidra- they
kind of talk you through meditation and relaxation in your body from one
part to the next and I remember loving it in high school. I think that
answers your questions.
Phuc Anh: Are you married and do you have children? Does your family
practice Yoga?
Jax: I'm married. My husband’s name is Martin. We're almost at our 16-year
anniversary and we have two girls some of you might know them: Sienna is 14.
I came here when I was very pregnant with her and I haven't left. And then
Niana -or Naya- is 11 and a half; she's a sixth grade at Middle School. Oh,
and when my children were younger they loved to practice yoga with me, and
during the pandemic, it was actually very helpful to them; they really
wanted to sit down and do meditations and do some stretching; and they
helped me do some videos for people, for YouTube and for my students. Now
they're a little older, they're very into dance. I try to encourage them to
do yoga for flexibility, you know, and balance. Sometimes they'll do it and
sometimes they won't. My husband takes classes between yoga and he likes
bar; so he'll take bar classes.
Klaudia: What’s your YouTube Channel?
Jax: My YouTube channel name is Jax Schott so you can look me up on YouTube
if you want. I have some videos; I put lots of videos there during the
pandemic to inspire people to stay fit and to keep moving.
Sadie: What made you want to start a Yoga school?
Jax: I was teaching on Roosevelt Island for about 13 years or at the time,
it was probably about 11 years. I taught at Four Freedoms Park, I taught at
Island Kids, I taught at Manhattan Park, I taught at Main Street Theater and
Dance Alliance. I really wanted to grow my teaching.
Also I was what we call a birth Doula. Does anyone ever hear that word? I
was assisting women having babies and it was getting a little tiring and I
was worried about missing events with my family like my children's concerts
or plays.
I thought how can I help people through all phases of their life? Find
wellness and balance and be their own Advocate and take care of their bodies
the proper way. Then, Hudson Related heard I was a teacher and they called
me up and said “are you interested in seeing a space?” I just did it for fun
thinking that I'm not gonna do this! I can't do this! What are they crazy? I
spoke with the president there, who's David Kramer, and he was very
passionate about wanting a yoga studio on Roosevelt Island to bring the
community all together; not just one side of the community, but the North
which is the Octagon and Manhattan Park, and then all the way to the South,
which is Cornell campus and the South Town buildings.
So we talked and I found some people to help me and here I am today. And the
most important thing, which I think I forgot to answer your question, is I
originally studied fashion in College and I worked in fashion for 10 years.
It drove me crazy. So fashion was really stressful; it was a stressful type
of business or work and I couldn't do it anymore. I was feeling a little
burned out and my husband -who was my boyfriend at the time- said “you
always talked about going on a yoga retreat and getting certified as a
teacher. Why don't we do that now, take a break and I did. When I came back
I didn't want to stop so I kept taking courses and finding places to teach
and and that's it. I wrote in my journal on my last business trip that I'm
going to go to the ashram.
An ashram is a place where you study yoga and it's almost like a camp or
sleepaway Camp. I said who knows maybe one day I will open up my own yoga
studio and help others and when Mr Kramer came up to me, or after we met, I
found that old Journal insert just randomly. I was cleaning something out
and I found it and I kind of felt, well the universe is trying to tell me
something. So at that moment right there, I said I think this is meant to
be. Here we are a year and a half later, yeah.
Sadie: Why was fashion really stressful?
Jax: My position was what I like to call a thankless position. I tried to
make everybody happy. I was called the Merchandise Manager. I had to take
care of three different departments: Sales, Production and Design and make
all of them really happy about their projections, and getting the goods out
and getting it sold into stores, delivering everything on time. I was young,
I was I guess when I stopped I was 30 and I just realized that this is
something… I was traveling a lot. I was being asked to go back and forth to
California like at least three times a month. I just said, you know I don't
want to do this when I have kids; I don't want to do this as a lifestyle.
This is not a healthy lifestyle; I was doing very unhealthy things to get
through the stress and I decided I needed a more holistic way of helping my
body.
Sadie: That does sound very stressful!
Klaudia: What is Yoga? Is it exercise, breathing, or meditation?
Jax: Yoga is all of it and for some people they come here for exercise or
they come here to be more flexible or to learn how to breathe better or to
de-stress and. Sometimes they wind up finding different parts about yoga
that they had no idea would resonate with them in a really lovely and
organic healthy way. Then they want to get to learn more. They want to take
more workshops or, what we call yoga becomes their way of life.
I say everything is about yoga. When you lose your temper, you can scream
and have a temper tantrum. And maybe run into a wall like I did when I was
six. Or you can learn to sit there and take three deep breaths and after
those three big breaths… is it a big deal? is it a medium deal? Is it a
little deal? And you look at it in a more calmer way.
A lot of times yoga is about removing your ego. Does everyone know what an
ego is? It's like your higher self but not really higher self. It's actually
your lower self. So when you show your ego or when you let your ego make
decisions, meaning I need that shirt because it's a popular shirt and if I
don't have that shirt no one's gonna like me. That's ego-ish. Or I'm getting
big muscles so I'm gonna be big and strong and I'm so cool I've got these
great muscles. I'm gonna play basketball and I'm gonna do all these things.
That's the ego. When you have great big muscles but I don't. I'm good with
that! That is removing the ego. That's being happy with your true self and
not letting your conscience… I'm sure you've seen this in cartoons, you have
an angel and a devil. The ego is devilish; the ego can help you make really
bad decisions, like the temper tantrums. Or saying something mean to
somebody because you're upset. When you're upset is it your fault or the
other person's fault?
Klaudia: Your fault.
Jax: Wonderful but have you ever admitted that it's your fault?
Sadie: Probably no. Sometimes.
Jax: Exactly. Sometimes you need to step back and say wow, I didn't get a
lot of sleep last night. I did not eat well today and I'm in a bad mood and
I am sorry. Apologizing sometimes is the biggest form of removing ego. Does
that help? But, yes it is exercise. You get strong, you get flexible and you
learn to use your breath in order to handle things in a different way. Also
breathing -which we're gonna do- is.. everyone thinks they know how to
breathe, but the yoga breath is much more powerful and when you learn how to
use it it's like your super breath. It's like your superpower!
Constanza: If you're very upset how are you gonna tell people to calm down?
Jax: Absolutely.
Jax proceeded to get the students running in place, get crazy , shake it
up, shake it out. Then asked them to sit in a large circle format. She
counted to ten then at zero she asked the students to get into a “child’s
pose” also known as “the wisdom pose” -because children are the smartest
teachers. She then asked them to bring what we call “our inner eye”, the
truth seeker, bring their hands down and take a deep breath.
Pop up your back, let that breath come all the way from your belly
towards your back and then let it out. I'm gonna watch you do it two more
times… in through the nose out through the mouth, in through the nose, out
through the mouth. Now stay there, let your arms relax by your sides or
behind you whatever feels better. Stay there and just focus on your
breath. Let the breath go back to its natural rhythm or natural speed. Did
that help you calm down? Did that help you slow down? That's how you
balance and calm your mind.
Jayden: I feel like I slept for three hours.
Jax: I love that. That’s exactly what we’re aiming for. To take you from the
“ughhhhh”. That's what New York City life’s like sometimes. Or school can
sometimes be like that. I know I used to pick my daughter up after school
and I have to go into the school to pick her up and it was chaotic. I used
to get like “this” when I had to pick her up. And then the minute we walk
outside it'd be like – Jax takes a deep breath. You're gonna try to let that
go. So that's what breathing and exercise can do. We get our heart rate up
and we start moving and then we slow it down and we come down to our place,
find a relaxation pose where we can really just let go.
Do you know that 15 minutes of meditation is equivalent to one hour of
sleep? So when you're having a hard time sleeping, like my daughter was a
bad sleeper sometimes and I tell her to just lay in bed and to trace her
body with her breath. That usually 1) makes her fall asleep, but 2) laying
there and being mindful of what your body's feeling. Are you holding tension
in your shoulders? Let It Go. Are you holding tension in your feet? Let it
go. That whole idea of relaxing your body fully without sleeping is
equivalent to sleep.
Klaudia: Wait. So if you like if you like meditate for like a long time you
can survive the day without sleeping?
Jax: Yes. Yes. I'm an I am a proven example of that. My whole life I was a
bad sleeper, and when I went to the ashram I had to cut out a lot of bad
things out of my diet because the ashram was vegetarian. There was no “mommy
juice”, no wine, no caffeine - only tea, only green tea was the only
caffeine we could have and no sugar. Yeah, and I was in a very uncomfortable
cot, you know to sleep in, and because it was like a camp I could not sleep.
I would just lay there all night doing what we call the Yoga Nidra, tracing
my body and making sure I'm not holding tension anywhere. I would wake up at
5:30 in the morning to meditate and then take two classes that day and go to
an evening meditation I still couldn't sleep but I was surviving for a
month. So, yes.
Adib: My father used to do yoga also and before going to bed he would sit to
meditate and guess what? after half an hour we would pass by and he's deep
asleep sitting up. Relaxed.
Jax: I do that every night. I do a sleeping meditation. I lay in bed and I
listen to music. Most of the time not really talking but just music and
usually, I fall asleep before the music is done and that's how it’s been the
best way for me to find sleep. Who sleeps with the sound machine here?
Anyone? It's okay you can admit it. I mean we all like… even the air
conditioners sound. It's okay. My kids need something. My daughter has a
sound machine and my other one was using her fan, and now she found a
meditation app. She uses that. Uses ocean sounds because they grew up on
ocean sounds.
Klaudia: I listen to my sister screaming and crying and the cars going by.
Jax: That's why you need to find your yoga, right? That noise… you need to
just remember that's just OM and you just need to send good energy towards
her and just hope she falls asleep.
Constanza: Sometimes I listen to the sirens go by. My brother thinks I am
crazy.
Jax: When you hear a siren what do you want to do? It's okay, be honest.
Klaudia: Like if someone might be dying.
Jax: Someone might be dying right? So maybe just put out some good thoughts
for that person because I used “ooooh” until I realized “Wow, that's an
emergency; someone could be hurting.” Let's just send good thoughts out and
then all of a sudden the sound doesn't bother you much Anymore.
Jayden: Are you satisfied with how your business is going?
Jax: We could always do better; I'm not gonna lie. We're a new business, a
new yoga studio, especially with yoga studios, but any new business, it
really takes them a few years to grow and to really prosper. But what I've
created here so far, I am super happy! If you talk to any student of ours,
and I not just mine because we have seven other teachers, everyone has been
so grateful for the Studio for everyone on the island. What I've created and
seeing relationships form within the studio, people who didn't know each
other, people of different ages. And now they're becoming very good friends
really just warms my heart. So I feel like what I set out to do is happening
and it can only get better from here.
Adib: And now that you guys are doing this interview part of it is so that
you can learn what the business is, then go outside and talk to your friends
about it, talk to your parents, talk about the business that you learned,
talk about the meditation, talk about the exercises and everything that
we’ve learned today. This will help.
Phuc Anh: What’s your favorite part about being a Yoga teacher?
Jax: Honestly, the best part of it, actually there is a two-part thing: 1)
the connections I make, the people I connect with them sometimes I feel like
we were destined to meet. I've made some of my best friends as they were my
students and now we're super close and we're like a family and, 2) it's
inspiring to watch people who have come with injuries or with ailments and
they literally start getting younger as they keep coming. Watching them make
progress, being able to touch their toes, being able to balance without
using the wall right. That for me, that's the reward. Seeing that I'm
improving other people's lives in a healthy holistic way.
Sadie: How much does it cost to take Yoga classes? Do you charge by class or
in a subscription?
Jax: We do a lot of different ways; we have a drop-in-class for $24. Then we
have new student specials, so if you're a new student you can get three
classes for $50, meaning you're basically getting one class for free. Or you
can get a month of unlimited classes, meaning you can take as many classes
as you want whichever classes in the studio, and it's $150. And then after
the new student specials, we have class packs and we have unlimited
memberships so the more you buy the less price. The more you come the less
it will be so, it's a way to give people an incentive to show up. I always
say if you can come once a week great but if you can make it three times a
week you're going to feel a difference; and if you make it four to five
times a week you're gonna see a difference.
Klaudia: Where do you see your business in the future?
Jax: It's a big question because I'm starting to dabble in some things. We
are a Wellness Community or, we are our Wellness Center, and I really want
to bring some Wellness, therapeutic Wellness practices into the studio
meaning “Reiki”, meaning a massage therapist, or a few massage therapists.
I’m looking at some red light therapy which is a very new thing but it's
been proven to be very healing for achy joints and inflammation. Because our
student base is so different, we have people who are in their 20s up to
people who are in their 70s, there's a need for it for every age. Also we,
as humans as adults or kids, both through different phases in our lives. I'm
going through a different phase in my life and I really want to start
talking about it with the community. Having people do a woman's Circle, and
then eventually inviting men too, but this one specific subject is just
really more for women. There will be things at times when we might have a
speaker for men about things that are going to help in your life and your
lifestyle and phase. Work for you and educate you in a more holistic way.
When I say holistic I mean without medicine. Sometimes you need medicine; I
do I take medicine but finding that balance between medicine and therapy.
Constanza: What do you love the most about Roosevelt Island?
Jax: I love the community. I love how I feel I know almost everybody and now
that I've met all of you I hope you say “hi” to me when you see me on the
street. My kids think I'm a celebrity because when I taught at the Youth
Center everyone passed by and said “hi Miss Jax”. I love making those
connections with different people and I love being on the water. Water for
me is very healing. I have a puppy now -she's one and 1.5 years old- and I
love taking her for walks around the island.
Jayden: How does Yoga help your personal life?
Jax: It's a good question. Sometimes I'm not so Yogi, I'm not such a yogic
scene. We have our our dark and light sides and that's okay. It's me
honoring that dark side of me seeing; when that side comes out and being
aware of it, and saying oh okay; you know it's kind of like seeing that ego
and saying “oh okay” you know what? You might have gone a little too far. Or
you might not want to go to this thing because you're not in the mood today.
It makes you very aware of my mind and my mindfulness and what's going on in
my body.
Phuc Anh: What are your hobbies, besides Yoga?
Jax: I love to dance; I still love to dance. I love to do karaoke. I'm
terrible at it but it's just even more fun because I sing my heart out and I
don't care. That's the yoga in me. Years ago I would have never sung in
front of everybody and sounded terrible. I would have been completely
mortified. Now, you can ask my friends, I sing with pride, and I sing it
loud, and I scream it loud and it brings me joy. It really brings me
happiness when I can just let myself be who I want to be.
Sadie: Do you and your family care about the environment? Do you teach your
Yoga students about Yoga and the environment?
Jax: Sure we always talk about how we can do better for the environment; how
we are human beings, not human doings. Sometimes we have to be and we have
to be conscious of what we use. I got a water cooler for the studio because
I was trying to reduce the use of bottles; plastic bottles. I'm probably
going to add reusable water bottles to the retail space; Island OM water
bottles so people who don't have it can buy the water bottle and then fill
it up with water here. I participated in Earth Day even before the studio
was open. I would always team up with RIOC and participate and do a class
for Earth Day and talk about how important our Earth is right now. In fact,
yoga also is connected to Seasons and the weather right and the moon, the
moon cycles. All of that really; like I said, life is Yoga. All of that
affects our moods, affects our energy, affects how we feel and I bring it to
class and I talk about it with the students so they can have set their
intentions, and they can be aware of what they're doing when they get off
the mat.
Adib: Thank you so much! I have a request from you, now that we learned
about what yoga is, and meditation and how it helps her -Jax-
I want you to challenge yourselves and start doing meditation as many times
as you can during the week. Then I want you to come back next week and tell
me if you saw a difference.
I used to do yoga a long time ago. But today after I did the running and the
relaxation with you guys, I nearly fell asleep. It relaxed me so much.
During the interview, I looked at you and were smiling because it relaxed
you. So, when we're playing soccer and sometimes you get in a mood, I want
you to think about yoga, take a deep breath and be nice to your
teammates.
After the interview, Jax conducted a quick mindfulness exercise, and the
students got more relaxed and their smiles overtook the studio!
Island Om is located at 521 Main Street. Email address is
info@islandomnyc.com or call
917-675-7583.
Roosevelt Island residents have been worried about a possible F Train subway service disruption transportation nightmare with the upcoming MTA 63rd Street Line Direct Fixation Track Rehabilitation Project scheduled to begin soon. As reported last March 24:
Roosevelt Island Escapes Transportation Nightmare, For Now - MTA Announces Proposed F Train Subway Service Disruptions For 63rd Street Tunnel Rehab Project Pushed Back To At Least July And Maybe Longer
July is approaching soon, but it appears that a revised MTA plan may avoid many of the problems caused by the F Train not running to Roosevelt Island in one direction or the other during work on the 63rd Street Track Rehab Project.
According to the revised MTA plan, the project will begin in August 2023. The plan is for no Roosevelt Island F Train service in either direction during the project.
Instead, the Roosevelt Island F Train will be replaced by a Shuttle Train service operating between 21st Street/Queensbridge, Roosevelt Island and 63rd/Lexington on weekdays and weekends running every 20 minutes. The Shuttle service is suspended during late night when Shuttle busses run between Roosevelt Island, 21st Street/Queensbridge and Queens Plaza subway station. It's not known at this time how long the project will take or what are Late Night hours.
The MTA will be presenting this revised plan to the Manhattan Community Board 8 Transportation and Roosevelt Island committees on Wednesday June 7 conducted via Zoom.
The MTA deserves a lot of credit. They saw that the original plan was too confusing and onerous for people. They took this on board and came back with a significantly cleaner plan that will be more straightforward to live with.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) announced May 29 that the AVAC (Automatic Vacuum Collection) underground garbage removal system was out of service until further notice and followed up on May 30 with:
This is an update to the notice sent out yesterday concerning the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s (RIOC) east side line of the AVAC System.
The east side line of the AVAC System is out of service until further notice. RIOC continues to work with the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to address the issue. Until the service is restored, RIOC has provided property managers an alternate area to dispose of the garbage. RIOC has an agreement with DSNY to have garbage pickup services available to mitigate buildup during the AVAC service disruption.
RIOC will continue to send updates via email, text, and social media as information is received.
Thank you for your continued cooperation as we work to restore the service.
The Roosevelt Island AVAC service interruption was fixed May 31:
Dear Roosevelt Island Community,
The RIOC AVAC East side system is now operational.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
During an October 23, 2022 tour of the Roosevelt Island AVAC facility I asked Sanitation Department worker TJ about crazy items that were placed in the AVAC chutes.
TJ answered that bed frames and TV sets have been thrown down the AVAC chute and also confirmed that the AVAC was shut down a few weeks before the Tour by a lightning strike.
Watch full video of the fascinating tour of the Roosevelt Island AVAC facility.
I asked residents on Instagram if there were any problems with crowding at the Tram last weekend.
Among the response were:
I tried to get home after a 14 hour work shift and was told by PSD the platform was full so I couldn’t even go up to take the tram home. Ended up having to pay $35 for a cab home.
exact same thing happened to me !!
... What irritates me the most is all those tourist running for a seat, to end up standing up and moving around, than pushing and shoving to get a shot from every window and the worst are the ones putting their elbows on your back, shoulders and head and then getting upset cause you do not allow it.
Tourist are the worst!
Most of them have no manners. Even when there is a senior, a person with a disability or a parent with a stroller trying to board the tram, they show no respect. They just don't care. They are like charging bulls. The only thing they care about is getting a seat or the best view. Not to say that all tourists act like this, some are actually very nice, but I would say the majority for sure.
At 6:45pm the line was stretched almost to 59th Street. (Mostly people waiting to buy a ticket) I always carry 4 with me.
Line was fine if you metrocard was loaded. Skip the lines. Cars were crowded.
nope, Sunday PM they wouldn’t even let you up if you had your metro card ready
Never, they will never learn. The complete lack of awareness on public service and poor sense of priorities has resulted in many of us who love(d) RI to move away.
Last evening the line at Tramway plaza was scary..that was at 7pm...I went straight to elevator and had money on my Metro card...The platform was jam packed and scary. I had to wait with severe back pain.. fought my way on.. fought for a seat.. tram is also over capacity.. my Sister had to get free shuttle bus @ 7:30pm with a few other residents...RIOC has to do something....it is semi dangerous.. it will be like that all Summer. The shuttle should be earlier in the day....
It was awful . a lot of people were in trouble
This has to stop. We are paying a lot for this island and we shouldn't wait on stupid lines with the tourists.
It was awful, my daughter and her friends (all island residents), we’re told by NYPD officers that because two of them did not have a metro card they had to wait in a very long line that were mostly tourist.
There was no Queens bound F trains, so they had to take an alternate route into queens to get home .
I do not feel that island residents should have to be inconvenienced by standing in a long line of tourists, to get home.
UPDATE 6/2 12:15 PM - The NYPD 114 precinct informed me a few minutes ago that the Roosevelt Island Build The Block meeting is being rescheduled for 5 PM Thursday June 8 at Cornell Tech.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
In recent weeks on Roosevelt Island there's been an increase in criminal
activity including:
On Saturday, May 27, 2023, at approximately 8:24 PM, the Roosevelt Island
Public Safety Department (PSD) responded to a report of a group of juveniles
harassing adults to the rear of 500 Main Street at the Blackwell House Park
basketball courts. PSD arrived on the scene at approximately 8:26 PM and spoke
to a male victim who stated he was involved in a physical altercation with one
of the juveniles following a verbal dispute. The victim sustained minor
injuries and was able to identify the perpetrator, who fled the scene of the
assault before PSD arrived. On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at 9:38 AM the
perpetrator was arrested by PSD without incident at 550 Main Street. The
perpetrator will be processed as a juvenile.
Residents are asking "what's going on" with recent crimes on Roosevelt Island
which has previously always been thought of as
one of the safest neighborhoods in NYC.
You can discuss these incidents as well as any other Roosevelt Island Public
Safety issue with
NYPD 114 Precinct Neighborhood Coordination Officers Friday June 2 at Cornell Tech
Bloomberg Center.
Sparks Fly At May 2 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Community
Engagement Meeting - Residents Tell RIOC PSD And NYPD 114 Precinct About
Assaults, School Bullying, Harassment & Fire Setting By A Group Of Teens
Here's video of the May 2 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department meeting which had been a typical Roosevelt Island meeting until :
... interrupted by Roosevelt Island father who stood up, said he loves Roosevelt
Island and then reported his son had recently been "jumped, beat up, filmed
and put on Instagram", and is "scared to death". ...
On May 22, I asked Mayor Adams press representative:
I'm following up regarding the list of Roosevelt Island community concerns
that were previously addressed to Mayor Adams during his visit to RI and to
First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright during a community/ethnic media roundtable.
Among those community concerns were Mayoral appointments to the Roosevelt
Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors.
I have been told that Mayor Adams has selected a person to be appointed to
the RIOC Board Of Directors.
Is that true? Who is that person?
Please provide details about the nominee and reasons for the person's
appointment.
Thank you.
Mayor Adams press spokesperson replied:
We don’t comment on pending appointments.
I learned of at least one RIOC Board nomination.
On May 25, prior to a RIOC Board of Directors meeting, Roosevelt
Island resident Lydia Tang told me that she was a Mayoral nominee to the RIOC
Board of Directors. (Ms Tang is pictured below at the May 25 RIOC Board meeting standing
next to RIOC Board member Howard Polivy).
I asked Ms Tang:
Do you have any comment to the Roosevelt Island community on your
nomination... ?
Why do you wish to be on the RIOC Board and how do you see your role as a
RIOC Director?
Ms Tang replied:
Being part of the solution and not part of the problem – that’s the only
legitimate reason I have for wishing to be on 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, RIRA, MSTDA, the Living Library (LifeFrames Inc.) 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, 25 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.
Ms Tang's Mayoral nomination to the RIOC Board is subject to appointment by
Governor Hochul and confirmation by the NY State Senate Finance
committee which is chaired by Roosevelt Island's
State Senator Liz Krueger.
Will Ms Tang have smooth sailing through the vetting process, if any, of Governor Hochul and the State Senate Finance committee?
As a Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) member, Ms Tang was
co-chair of the RIRA Cherry Blossom Committee.
As reported March 28, 2019:
... The preparation, financing and organization of the 2019 Cherry Blossom
Festival has not been without the RIRA behind the scenes controversies as have
also occurred in past years.
Prior to the March RIRA Common Council meeting to approve a budget for the
Cherry Blossom Festival, four Common Council Members, including the RIRA
Treasurer, resigned over concerns related to the large sum requested that RIRA
commit to raise ($25 Thousand) and a perceived lack of transparency by RIRA
Cherry Blossom Committee organizers.
Following much discussion and email exchanges, the RIRA March Common Council meeting approved a much smaller budget of $9,520 for the Cherry Blossom Festival...
It is unclear precisely what caused the concern and resignations by RIRA members over the Cherry Blossom Festival fundraising. Ms Tang responded to my inquiry at the time saying;
... Prior to RIOC agreeing to assume the Homeland Security requirements for
our growing event, the Cherry Blossom Festival subcommittee distributed
fundraising appeals for our best estimate of what projected costs would
be. After RIOC’s agreement, we revised our estimate.
The Cherry Blossom Festival embarked on fundraising efforts that RIRA unanimously approved, in the following motion:
Motion: “RIRA authorizes the expenditure of up
to $9,520 for the Cherry Blossom Festival, based upon the budget of
$9,520. RIRA encourages fundraising and in-kind contributions to
minimize out-of-pocket expenses.”
A donation incentive,
based on recommendations by FFP and in consultation with RIOC, includes a
new promotional opportunity. In keeping with prioritizing promised
donation incentives, the Cherry Blossom Festival Subcommittee set a
policy of an opportunity to share a display table to previously
grandfathered organizations. The new promotional opportunities
supersede previous fundraising documents that some Council Members
viewed as malfeasance.
We are currently collecting donation commitments from Amalgamated Bank,
Hornblower and Manhattan Park, among others. Some donors choose to
remain anonymous.
The approved budget is up to $9,250. We currently have committed
donations of that will cover most of our expenses and are hoping to
receive additional commitments.
There are no financial improprieties, as no money has been spent or collected.
There are a total of 9 RIOC Board seats. According to the NY State governing statute regarding RIOC Board members:
2. The board of directors of the corporation shall be composed of nine
members. One member shall be the commissioner, who shall serve as the chair;
one member shall be the director of the budget; and seven public members shall
be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Of the
seven public members, two members, one of whom shall be a resident of
Roosevelt Island, shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the mayor of
the city; and four additional members shall be residents of Roosevelt Island.
Each member shall serve for a term of four years and until his or her
successor shall have been appointed and shall have qualified, except that the
commissioner and the director of the budget shall serve so long as they
continue to hold their respective offices. Any action taken by the directors
of the corporation shall be taken by majority vote of the directors then in
office. The elected public officials who represent Roosevelt Island shall be
representatives to the board of directors of the corporation entitled to
receive notice of and attend all meetings of such board but shall not be
entitled to vote. Failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of
any action taken at a meeting of such board....
What does a RIOC Director do?
In theory, the RIOC Board of Directors sets policy, approve the annual budget, an annual capital spending plan, hires and fires the President/CEO and oversees the operations of the corporation. In practice, many of the important decisions about Roosevelt Island are made by the Governor's office as explained by RIOC Director Fay Christian during a May 8 community meeting with Congressman Jerry Nadler.
RIOC Board members are volunteers and do not get paid.
The NY State Legislature is in session until June 8. The State Senate Finance Committee met May 30 and May 31 to consider various NY State nominations. RIOC board appointment was not on the Agenda.
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Learn how Cornell Tech's Clinic to End Tech Abuse helps survivors navigate technology abuse and empowers their use of technology.
As our lives becomes increasingly reliant on digital technologies such as smartphones, email, and social media, the threat of their being used against us looms large. In this talk, Thomas Ristenpart will discuss a context where weaponization of technology against people is tragically routine: intimate partner violence (IPV).
Ristenpart is part of a research group that has studied the role technology plays in IPV situations. Via interviews with survivors and support professionals, online measurement studies, and investigation of malicious software tools purpose-built for abuse, they have documented how abusers exploit technology to control, harass, stalk, and otherwise harm their current or former partner. To help survivors, they work with technology companies and lawmakers to affect positive changes and, more directly, have put into practice a new interventional approach that they call clinical computer security.
Their Clinic to End Tech Abuse works in partnership with the New York City Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence to help survivors navigate technology abuse and, ultimately, empower their use of technology.This talk will cover joint work with a large number of collaborators and clinic volunteers.
Here's a June 2022 presentation on Mitigating Technology Abuse In Intimate Partner Violence by Professor Ristennpart.
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.
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