State Senator Jose Serrano on Roosevelt Island, Tuesday 2-6:PM

Roosevelt Island 360

State Senator Jose M. Serrano will be holding office hours for constituents on Roosevelt Island tomorrow, Tuesday December 4 from 2 to 6:PM at the RIOC office 591 Main Street.

A letter in the November 17 issue of the Main Street WIRE criticized Senator Serrano for not fulfilling a campaign promise to hold regular office hours on Roosevelt Island once elected. The writer states:

During your campaign, you promised Roosevelt Island that you would set up office hours in the community. Though you’ve been in office for a full year and more, we’ve seen neither hide nor hair of you or any of your representatives, except at our blood drive in the June Roosevelt Island Day event. Assemblyman Kellner has office hours every Thursday, 3-7 p.m., in the RIOC office conference room. You could probably make a similar arrangement.

In the December 1, 2007 issue of the Main Street WIRE (PDF File), State Senator Serrano responds to the letter writer by detailing his concern and involvement regarding issues of concern to Roosevelt Island. He recounts his participation in a Mitchell-Lama housing forum, support of Eastwood building residents and his presence on Roosevelt Island for the Fall for Arts Festival, Senior Day and the Fourth of July celebration. Serrano's letter also states that:

... members of my staff have spent substantial time on the Island this year meeting with tenant associations, public safety advocates, environmentalists, RIOC representatives and the RIRA Common Council.

What is troubling about his letter however is that he believes that:

I have sat down with representatives from groups including the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute...

is performing a service for residents of Roosevelt Island when in fact the Louis Kahn/FDR memorial advocated by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute is opposed by most of the residents of Roosevelt Island as indicated by the Trust for Public Land survey recounted here. Has Senator Serrano sat down with Roosevelt Island residents who oppose this memorial at Southpoint Park as he has with the supporters who do not live on Roosevelt Island.

Senator Serrano should be congratulated for joining his colleague Assembly member Micah Kellner in holding office hours for his constituents here on Roosevelt Island. I hope Senator Serrano makes this a regular practice. Perhaps Roosevelt Island's other elected officials such as Council Member Jessica Lappin, Borough President Stringer and Congresswomen Maloney will join their colleagues Kellner and Serrano in visiting Roosevelt Island and holding regular office hours here.