Friday, February 20, 2009

Things To Do This Weekend In New York City & Roosevelt Island- NASA's At The Intrepid, Winter Waterfowl Ferry Tour, Apollo Theater & RI Tour

Image of Apollo Marquee from Apollo Theater Foundation

Looking for fun or interesting things to do on Roosevelt Island or in some other part of New York City this weekend? Here are some suggestions.

Friday through Sunday, NASA visits the Intrepid Museum for Kidsweek and you can too.
NASA sets up interactive exhibits displaying equipment and technology used to send astronauts into outer space. Quizdom Trivia contests will take place at 12pm & 3pm, expert demonstrations and talks from astronauts will stimulate children of all ages! Please join us as we welcome a real Astronauts!
On Saturday afternoon, take a Winter Waterfowl and Seals Audubon EcoCruise with NY Water Taxi.
Attention hardy New Yorkers! Take an exciting winter cruise around New York Harbor to discover some of the amazing wildlife that can be found here only in the colder months. We will explore the waterways and shores of New York Harbor in search of gulls, ducks (such as mergansers & scaup), geese, loons (common and red-throated), grebes, cormorants (double-crested and great), and even harbor seals. Our craft will be a NY Water Taxi, which provides both an outdoor deck and a luxurious heated cabin. Hot drinks will also be provided. Meet at South Street Seaport. Come equipped with binoculars, warm winter clothing, and a sense of adventure.
On Sunday, Free NYC suggests learning about the history of Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater with a free Open House Tour. NYC Arts reports:
Visit the legendary Apollo Theater, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, for an entertaining and informative tour – including onstage, backstage and more. Learn the history of Harlem’s iconic jewel and enjoy a mock Amateur Night show, film screenings, discussions, and information about the remarkable community that surrounds and enhances the Apollo.
On Roosevelt Island this weekend, the Farmers Market will be open as usual on Saturday as is Gallery RIVAA, the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association which is exhibiting Emergence, by Bogdan Borgovan. Also, RIOC has produced a great self guided tour map (PDF File) of Roosevelt Island for any visitor or resident looking to stroll the Island and learn something more about it.

Good weekend transportation news. The MTA is reporting normal Roosevelt Island F Train subway service in both directions and RIOC is not reporting any Tram service advisories either.

Check out some other ideas on what to do in New York City this weekend from the NY Times Urban Eye, NY Post Weekend Calendar and Newyorkology.

Winter Ice Skating May Be Coming To Roosevelt Island Next Year, FDR Memorial Construction Phasing and Other Notes From 2/19 RIOC Board Meeting


At last night's RIOC Board Hearing, RIOC President Steve Shane reported that the operators of the Bryant Park Skating Rink have expressed an interest in setting up a facility on Roosevelt Island.

Image of Bryant Park Skating Rink from Time Out NY

The Roosevelt Island location for the Skating Rink mentioned was Firemen's Field.

Image of Firefighters Field from Bridge and Tunnel Club

I think a better place for a skating rink would be the southern tip of Southpoint Park which has these fantastic views of the NYC Waterfront and Skyline but is the controversial site of the proposed Kahn/FDR Memorial Boondoggle.

The supporters of the Kahn/FDR Memorial gave a presentation at last night's RIOC Board Meeting on their proposed construction phasing and of course they said that they had to build the granite room first despite the overwhelming objections of Roosevelt Island residents as expressed in the referendum held last November. (830 votes in favor of building the park before the granite room memorial and 247 against the resolution)

Some good news is that the RIOC Board will have another vote sometime this summer, probably in June, on the proposed construction phasing so there is still an opportunity to stop this unwanted and out-of-date project. Also, approvals/permits still need to be obtained from the NY State Department of Conservation, the Army Corp of Engineers, Coast Guard, NYPD, Homeland Security among many others, and there is time to register our objections with these agencies. Much more on this soon.

Other highlights of the RIOC Board meeting include:
  • approving the deferral of certain payments due from Hudson/Related, developers of Riverwalk Buildings 5 & 6, due to slow condo sales and rentals
  • approving of the building renovation for the Public Safety Department and
  • disclosure of a "temporary" parking lot for the customers of the Roosevelt Island Tennis Club to be located adjacent to the Riverwalk Sales Office in Southtown during the time of the Tram outage.
The web cast of the 2/19 RIOC Board of Directors Meeting is available here. The Kahn/FDR Memorial construction phasing presentation is the last item on the agenda

Oops - $20 Million Transcription Error In Roosevelt Island's Proposed 2009-10 Fiscal Year Budget

Magnifying Glass on Budget Image from Piper Report

RIOC President Steve Shane provides an update on the the proposed 2009 -10 RIOC fiscal year budget:
Be advised that on review, through a transcription error, the 5 year Cash Flow Statement, All Funds for fiscal years through FY 2013/14 (p.3) has been overstated by the Depreciation Expense in each year, plus the interest (at an assumed 2%) thereon. Therefore, the cash balance as of 3/31 of each year would be as follows:

08/09 $29,917,210
09/10 $27,432,627
10/11 $25,412,074
11/12 $46,021,119
12/13 $59,589,161
13/14 $60,353,760

The difference of $20,927,963 being the sum of Depreciation Expense (a non cash item) in each of the 6 years, starting with the current actual + 5 projection years with interest at 2%.
Similarly, the Budget Risks statement for the same period has been revised and the cash balance at the end of FY 2013/14 would be $19,278,668.

The revised schedules (pp3,5 & 6 of the previously distributed materials) are attached to this e mail.

Sorry for the confusion. Always best to get it right.
More on RIOC's budget here.

UPDATE - 8 PM - Here is a link to the revised 5 Year Cash Flow and Budget Risks.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Getting a Parking Ticket in Front of Roosevelt Island's Riverwalk Building

Filed under the category of things to avoid. I noticed a Roosevelt Island Public Safety Officer issuing parking tickets outside of Riverwalk Buildings this morning. If you are going to park on Roosevelt Island's Main Street, remember to get your parking stickers from the dispensing machines..

Tear Down The Iron Curtain On Roosevelt Island's Main Street - Bring In A Master Lease For Retail Stores!

Image of Main Street retail corridor beneath Eastwood/Roosevelt Landings

Roosevelt Island's Main Street Retail Store Corridor has often been compared to resembling East Berlin before the fall of the Iron Curtain. According to the Real Deal:
"It looks like East Berlin before the wall fell," said Andrew Oliver, executive vice president of Cushman & Wakefield Sonnenblick Goldman. For years, there was only one chain store, a Gristedes grocery, and much of the remaining retail was service-oriented: a diner, a Chinese takeout joint and a thrift shop, among others.

Main Street Thrift Store Beneath Eastwood/Roosevelt Landings

Much of the cause for the shoddy and worn out appearance of the existing retail stores as well as the depressingly long time vacant stores can be attributed to the ownership of the premises by RIOC, a state owned corporation, that has no expertise in leasing and managing retail stores.

Main Street Orphans International store space

A previous RIOC administration admitted in this 2/24/07 Main Street WIRE article:
RIOC has long privately acknowledged that it is not equipped to handle the leasing of the Main Street storefronts. "There’s no one on staff who is a retail management professional," said RIOC spokesman Bob Liff. "RIOC does not necessarily have the expertise in-house to run the retail [element], and that’s why they’ve gone out for an RFIP," or Request For Initial Proposals
In this earlier post, I reported being told that the RIOC Board of Directors are now prepared, subject to a final vote of the Real Estate Committee and full Board, to remedy this situation by removing RIOC from the burden of leasing and managing these stores with the issuance of a Request For Proposals seeking a private sector real estate developer to take over the retail stores as a Master Leaseholder. The Master Leaseholder will then sublease the individual stores to individual tenants.

RIOC President Steve Shane responded to this post by indicating that nothing has been decided yet regarding any Master Leaseholder. I inquired of Mr. Shane what could be the possible objection to a Master Leaseholder for the Main Street Retail stores and Mr. Shane replied:
The issue is one of service to the community. Rental income to a master leaseholder(now RIOC, but in the hands of a commercial real estate operator?) is not the overriding consideration. So, retaining control of use, both kind of service and income group serviced, with rent adjustments for necessary providers not otherwise able to afford competitive rents (see, for instance, difference between nail salon servicing market rent ladies and one servicing Section 8 ladies, a bread store or a fish market probably can't make it here) (see the last big dustup over chain stores vs. mom & Pop stores), etc, etc, wherein the quality of life as perceived by the Island residents (and of course as effectuated by dedicated RIOC with the advice and suggestion of RIRA)) is the highest priority, not the return to a commercial real estate operator.

The usual market place dynamics are not applicable here because When faced with the reality that there is less than 20,000 sf of vacant space, hard to imagine the master leasee who would want this problem for the sandwich profit it might make of $1-2/sf/year. No one can break the Gristede's lease or any of the other existing leases. I doubt the community would want RIVAA Gallery to be ousted from its space. Boy Scouts, batting cage, Thrift Store, etc.

We would have to go through the same PAAA routine of appraisal and FMV determination before RFP for master leasee, with all of those conditions or others as the community would ultimately surface. Assigning the existing leases only substitutes for the existing tenant's credit and credit is not the issue. It is not a simplistic problem.
During a March 2007 interview with the Main Street WIRE, Mr. Shane had this to say on the topic of a Master Leaseholder for the Main Street retail stores:
...when you’re dealing with small merchants and the economics of collecting rent from them is miserable because they quite often can’t pay, to get them out of their space, if they choose to be recalcitrant, is almost impossible. You then run a deficit operation for a long time. You spend a lot of effort and legal fees and build up a lot of ill will. [Main Street] is not a big enough operation to support one person [on staff at RIOC to handle it]. It’s not a big enough job. It’s not a big enough deal, and yet you need that expertise to deal with the people you do have because it is an important part of life on the Island. Again, it’s a critical-mass kind of issue.

One of the reasons for Mas’s suggestion [to have one mall-type operator rent out all the spaces] is to just avoid all that. Deal with a big-time person who is experienced in that. RIOC is really not – I mean, they have a lawyer on their staff, or two sometimes, but not one of them is really equipped to go to civil court to deal with these issues on a current basis and in any way with real expertise, and it becomes a problem. That’s why one of the bases for Mas’s suggestion was to master-lease it and let somebody who knows what they’re doing do it, which is an interesting proposition. It needs to be thought about and talked about. It certainly would simplify life for RIOC. Whether it simplifies or makes better the life for residents is something else again; and that needs to be thought about and talked about....
You would thing that two years from the date of that interview is a reasonable enough amount of time to think and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of a Master Leaseholder - wouldn't you?

You would also think that the former Fish store evicted in February 2007, the former Capri Pizza store evicted in February 2006 and the former bakery evicted sometime before that would have been rented by now if an experienced private sector real estate developer with retail expertise controlled the premises - wouldn't you? Who knows when the recently vacated Flower shop and the soon to be vacated New York National Bank space will ever be rented again?

A reasonable question would be whether a qualified real estate developer would want to take over the Roosevelt Island Main Street Master Leaseholder. A reader asks about the Master Leaseholder idea:
Would be a great way to solve the problem, although with commercial real estate going in the tank like everything else who knows what developer would want to step up to the plate.
I asked David Kramer of the Hudson Companies, developer together with Related of the Riverwalk complex in Southtown, if his company had any interest in becoming the Master Leaseholder for the Main Street retail stores and he responded this way:

“The improvement and upgrade of the Main Street retail is one of the most important issues for us as developers of Riverwalk. We eagerly responded to the previous RFEI and were disappointed that it didn’t go anywhere; our excitement and interest in playing a role in Main Street retail is unchanged. We think the retail we’ve developed and operated in Riverwalk shows what is possible throughout the entire island, and we’re encouraged that the issue is back on RIOC’s radar.”
The issue is not complicated. RIOC is simply not qualified nor does it have the expertise to be a retail landlord. Turn the property over to a private retail developer who knows what it is doing and Roosevelt Island's Main Street will finally have some decent stores. That is what happened at Riverwalk Commons. We now have a Duane Reade, Starbucks, Pizza Place, Japanese Restaurant and a soon to be open Sports Bar & Grill as well as a Bagel Place. Free enterprise - Ain't it Great!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Celebrity Signage Included At Proposed Kahn/FDR Memorial But No Recognition Of Disabled - Another Insult To FDR & Roosevelt Island Community

Image of Freedom Trees for Roosevelt Island from FDR Four Freedoms Park

In addition to destroying the beautiful NYC skyline and waterfront views from Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park, the proposed Kahn/FDR memorial also fails to acknowledge FDR as a man and a President of the United States who achieved greatness despite a disability that forced him into a wheelchair. The absence, in any meaningful way, of FDR's use of a wheelchair or crutches is particularly shameful given the large disabled and handicapped community at Roosevelt Island's Coler-Goldwater Hospital complex.

A similar controversy arose at the FDR Memorial in Washington DC. According to this 1/11/01 LA Times article:
... Advocates for the disabled objected strongly when the memorial opened 3 1/2 years ago with its centerpiece FDR statue only hinting at Roosevelt’s polio affliction. It shows a cape-covered Roosevelt in a straight chair with two tiny wheels....

... Four-year-old Hannah McFadden, an Albanian immigrant born with a leg deformity, didn’t need her mother to explain the significance of Wednesday’s unveiling of a statue depicting President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a wheelchair.

“It means people on crutches and in a wheelchair can do anything,” said Hannah, sporting hot-pink crutches for the ceremony in which President Clinton dedicated the statue...
The National Organization of Disability wrote of the importance in recognizing FDR's use of a wheelchair and incorporating it into the Washington DC memorial.
President Clinton dedicated a new statue of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a wheelchair at the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C. on the morning of January 10, 2001. The statue, the first to depict a world leader using a wheelchair, will be located at the entrance to the seven-acre Memorial site in Potomac Park, between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. "This dedication represents a great victory for people with disabilities. FDR's Memorial finally will acknowledge his significant disability experience, which forged his leadership qualities-courage, determination, and compassion-that enabled him to successfully lead the nation through the worst crises of the 20th century," said N.O.D. President Alan Reich. "This magnificent statue will be an inspiration to people worldwide, disabled and non-disabled alike."...

Image of FDR Memorial Wheelchair from Ability Unleashed

A great idea for an appropriate and honorable FDR Memorial on Roosevelt Island was suggested by Roosevelt Island's Doctor Jack Resnick who treats many of our disabled residents.
Somebody designed a memorial to FDR on Roosevelt Island that completely ignored the man’s physical disability. Franklin Roosevelt spent much of his adult life in a wheelchair. The polio virus, which infected him in 1921 at the age of 39, left him with almost no use of his legs. Twelve years later he became President of the United States. He went on to save the country from economic calamity and the world from Hitler....

...Roosevelt Island is a living, breathing memorial to FDR. And when we celebrated FDR Day here each year, it was clear that we were focused on FDR as an icon for the disabled.

The FDR Memorial on this Island should focus on the President’s strength in conquering his disability. Many possibilities come to mind. For instance, he should not be memorialized with a bust. We should see a greater-than-life-sized statue of him sitting in a wheelchair – and he should face north toward Goldwater and Coler Hospitals...
The Chris Reeve home page includes the Congressional House and Senate resolutions in favor of a FDR Wheelchair Statue for the Memorial in Washington DC. Shouldn't such a representation of FDR really be just as appropriate, if not more so, here on Roosevelt Island.

Unfortunately to date, it is more important to the supporters of Roosevelt Island's incorrectly labled FDR memorial to honor the projects architect, Louis Kahn, than it is to honor FDR and the disabled community here on Roosevelt Island and elsewhere.

Roosevelt Island Only Bank Branch, New York National Bank, May Be Closing

Image of New York National Bank from Roosevelt Island 360

A reader sends in the following message:
A letter has been sent to depositers at NYNB announcing the branch is scheduled to close this June.

This would be a terrible loss for the island since:

It is the only bank here with full service
It serves the island businesses, seniors, disabled and those who cannot leave the island
If the store is vacant RIOC would not be able to rent it.
THE BRANCH MUST BE SAVED OR another bank must be found to take over the site.
Of course, if the New York National Bank branch on Roosevelt Island does close, in the absence of a Master Leaseholder for the RIOC controlled retail premises, the space will probably remain empty for a very long time just like the former Main Street Pizza and Fish stores.

Roosevelt Island 360 has more on bank closing here. More on Master leaseholder soon.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

RIRA Town Hall Meeting On Wednesday 8 PM - Discuss Proposed Construction Phasing of Kahn/FDR Memorial and other RIOC Board Meeting Agenda Items

Image of Kahn/FDR Memorial from NY Times

RIRA President Frank Farance invites RIOC President Steve Shane and sends a message to RIOC Directors and staff as well as all Roosevelt Islanders to attend this Wednesday's RIRA Town Hall Meeting:
The next RIRA Town Hall meeting will be on Wednesday, February 18, at 8-9:30PM at the Church of the Good Shepherd -- upper floor.

The meeting will be a Q&A session for residents to interact with RIOC Board members and RIOC Staff. The discussion will involve 3 areas:

(1) Discussion of agenda items on the February 19 RIOC Board meeting agenda.

(2) Discussion of results from the January 15 RIOC Board meeting.

(3) Any other topics.

If I receive questions in advance, I will forward them to you as soon as I receive them.

As always, thank you, your staff, and your directors for participating in the Town Hall meetings.
One of the agenda items on the 2/19 RIOC Board of Directors Meeting is a presentation by the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (FERI) on the proposed construction phasing of the Kahn/FDR Memorial in the event the building of this boondoggle ever actually starts, which may still be in doubt.

In the unfortunate event that the Kahn Memorial does move forward, the views of Roosevelt Island residents on the construction phasing of the project were demonstrated in the referendum held last November. The Referendum questions asked:
Question #1: Building the FDR memorial park before the monument
FOR THE FDR MEMORIAL AT SOUTHPOINT PARK, SHOULD FERI COMPLETE THEIR PORTION OF THE LANDSCAPING PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE FDR MONUMENT?
Background: There are two components in developing the southernmost 3 acres of the Island -- general landscaping and construction of an FDR memorial. Given that, particularly in these economic conditions, funding may be too limited for a full implementation at this time, do you favor developing the general landscaping before the monument is built?
The Roosevelt Island residents election results on this referendum question were overwhelmingly in favor of the landscaping portion of the park be completed prior to the granite memorial room by a vote of 830 to 247.

Supporters of the Kahn memorial and RIOC President Steve Shane previously claimed that despite the votes of the Roosevelt Island residents, the granite room had to be be built first because the $4 million allocated for the FDR memorial by the City of NY cannot be spent on landscaping but must be spent on the granite foundation and room since only capital expenses can be funded with the City money. We now know that this is not true and that according to City Council Member Jessica Lappin's office:
The money is available for the entire project and does not specify in what order the project should be completed.
The RIOC Directors should require the building of the park before the Memorial so that Roosevelt Island does not get stuck with a granite room at the tip of Southpoint and no park when, as they have always done in the past, FERI fails to raise the necessary funds.

Of course, FERI's plans to build the granite room first before the park landscaping. By doing so, when they run out of taxpayer funds and continue their 35 year failure to raise sufficient private donations at least they have the mausoleum room and can wait for a later time to build the rest of the park. Perhaps another 35 years. Here are FERI's initial construction plans.
While interdependent, each major component of the Park has its own series of challenges and demands specific types of construction equipment and building methodologies that must be logically sequenced and coordinated so as not to disturb finished work, disrupt building process, increase cost, or impede progress.

Phase 1 – The ‘Room’

The ‘Room,’ defined on three sides by 6’ x 6’ x 12’ high granite “columns,” requires a carefully implemented sequence of steps to deliver and erect the components. The granite blocks for the walls of the ‘Room’ each weigh 36 tons, not including the weight of a delivery truck. Due to the maximum weight limitation of 36 tons on the bridge connecting Roosevelt Island to Queens, this granite must be barged to the site.

The current shipping route requires a deck barge be used to transport the stone along the ocean route from the north to Roosevelt Island. We anticipate the stone will arrive at Roosevelt Island in November 2009.

Just before the arrival of the granite, a 330-ton crane will be delivered to the site via barge and lifted on to the island with the use of a floating crane mounted on that barge. The 330-ton crane will be assembled on the southern end of the island in the area of the ‘Room.’ This 330-ton crane will be used to move the granite from the staging area and to set the large stones in place. At maximum lifting capacity, this crane has a reach of approximately 100 feet. [Exhibit 8a: Crane and Barge Specifications]

The floating crane will stay to meet the stone barge, unload the granite blocks for the ‘Room,’ and place them in the designated stone staging areas. When all of the stone has been unloaded, the stone barge and floating crane will leave, and the 330-ton crane will begin setting the stone in its final location.

The barges will anchor temporarily in the East Channel as close to the eastern edge of the island as allowable. The rock outcropping off the southern tip of the island prevents staging the work in that area.

Upon completion of the setting of the stone for the Room, the 330-ton crane will be disassembled and removed from the site, and work will continue with Phase 2 and Phase 3.

Phases 2 and 3 – Stone for the Paved Promenades and Landscaped Garden

The stone to be used in Phases 2 and 3 is smaller blocks of granite, which can be trucked to the site via the bridge from Queens to Roosevelt Island. While these blocks are smaller than those for the ‘Room,’ they do require the use of a crane for setting. A smaller 35-ton crane will perform this work. This crane can be driven to the island via the bridge, and will move around the site as necessary to install the larger stones that are part of Phases 2 and 3, finish capstones, sloped granite, stair treads, etc.
Here is the proposed construction schedule.

UPDATE - 2/18 - RIOC has posted the proposed construction phasing of the Kahn/FDR Memorial submitted by FERI for the 2/19 Board of Directors meeting. (it is a large PDF File).

Propose Creatively on Roosevelt Island Tram, Then Wed In Front of Great NYC Waterfront Views at Southpoint Park -Before It's Destroyed By FDR Memorial


You Tube Video of Empire State Building Wedding Proposal

Are you looking for that unique place in New York City to get down on your hands and knees and ask for that special someone's hand in marriage? The blog Healthy Soez is looking for suggestions because:
...A friend of a friend of mine is taking his girlfriend to New York City in December. It's their first time. And he wants to propose while there. My friend asked me for proposal spots and hotels....
The blogger has 22 brilliant ideas for popping the marriage question and one of those brilliant ideas under the category of "creative" is the Roosevelt Island Tram. Other categories include Proposals With A View, With her Mouth Full, Old Classics, Touristy and All in One Awesome Idea.

Another idea for a New York City marriage proposal with a great view of the NYC skyline and East River waterfront is the southern tip of Southpoint Park on Roosevelt Island where this marriage ceremony took place last August.

Image of Southpoint Park Wedding from Jerry Yoon Photography

As fellow blogger Roosevelt Island 360 wrote:
If pictures like this alone do not justify stopping the FDR Memorial from destroying the views I don't know what will. Can we convince RIOC that if it continues to rent out Southpoint Park for weddings perhaps they will see that the space is more valuable than any old FDR memorial can possibly be to the community?
Love, romance and marriage - Another reason to stop the Kahn/FDR memorial boondoggle from destroying the wonderful panoramic 360 degree views of the New York City Skyline and East River Waterfront from Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park and turning it into a mausoleum.

From Village Voice Runnin Scared blog

Above image of Kahn/FDR Memorial granite room (some call it a "death box) is a portion of what is proposed to replace the current existing open panoramic views at the Southern tip of Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park where the wedding photo was shot. What a shame if these one-of-a-kind views are destroyed in the name of President Franklin D Roosevelt.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Board of Directors will be holding their monthly Board of Director meetings on Thursday and the 9th agenda item is the proposed construction phasing of the Kahn/FDR Memorial.

A Quilt Tribute To The Roosevelt Island Tram

Image of Roosevelt Island Tram Quilt from Linda Edkins Wyatt

Here's a creative way of being inspired by your commute. Fiber and Textile Artist Louise Edkins Wyatt has been making a Roosevelt Island Tram journal quilt from a photograph as a tribute to a new job and the Tram itself.
... I take the red tram back and forth from the isle of Manhattan to the wee isle of Roosevelt, three days a week. It hasn't been stitched and edged yet, but I liked the way it looked so far. Hopefully I will have time to finish it soon....
More on Quilt Art can be found here.

Monday, February 16, 2009

RI Public Safety Reports 1/29 thru 2/16 - Dog Bites, Electricity Shocks, Feces on Door, Nude Female on Main Street & Man Unresponsive after Drinking


You Tube Video of Dog Bites Man did not happen on Roosevelt Island

RIOC is posting the most current Daily and December 2008 Monthly Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident reports on their web site. Also, available is a breakdown of Roosevelt Island Public Safety incidents by location and category for the month of January 2009. Below are the Roosevelt Island Daily Public Safety Reports for January 29 - February 16, 2009. Incidents included:
  • Noise coming from underground transformer (1/29)
  • Identity theft (1/30)
  • Person stuck on Motorgate elevator(1/31)
  • Man bitten by dog (1/31)
  • Women bitten by dog (2/1)
  • Dog received electric shock by light pole (2/1)
  • Man unresponsive after drinking alcohol (2/2)
  • Reckless driving by bus driver (2/3)
  • Unsecured door to postal room (2/4)
  • Feces at door of Octagon tenant (2/6)
  • Report of Nude Female walking down Main Street (2/6)
  • Smoking Electric Plate ( 2/7)
  • Rocks thrown from 425 Main Street (2/9)
  • Dispute between cab driver and passenger (2/11)
  • Renwick Ruins Trespass (2/15) and
  • East Seawall under RI Bridge damaged (2/15)
1/29-09-7:00 AM to 1/30-09-7:00 AM

Possible Hazardous Condition - Report of noise coming from underground transformer. Con Ed was notified.

Aided - PSD and NYPD responded to apt for possible aided. Aided stated he was fine and refused medical attention.

Aided/Investigation - PSD officer observed male fall in lobby. Aided sustained bump on head. EMS responded and transported aided to hospital.

0700hrs 01/30/09- 0700hrs 01/31/09

Aided/ Investigation- PSD officer observed a male on the floor intoxicated with a large bump on his forehead. Aided transported to hospital.

Graffiti- Super reported in stairwell of 4th floor. PSD responded, a search was made with negative results.

Aided- PSD officer observed EMS. Female was having chest pains aided was transported to hospital.

Aided- Friend reports female tenant slide out of her chair. She got up an reports no pain, refused EMS.

Property Damage- Driver of Regency School bus#703 causing damage to glass, a picture was taking.

ID Theft- Victim enters PSD to report unknown subject opened eight different credit cards and sent them to different apartments. NYPD took report.

Aided- PSD officer responded to bus stop RIOC bus driver stated trying to get inside bus female subject was intoxicated, subject escorted to and identified by doorman.

Trespass- Southgate guard notified PSD of two subjects inside fences area. Two male subjects escorted out of park. Parents notified summoned and released.

1/31/09-7:00 AM to 2/1/09-7:00 AM

Aided- An intoxicated. Sister came and took her home. EMS refused.

Trespass- 2 Subjects at South Point park. Subjects arrested by PSD.

Aided- Person stuck in Motorgate Elevator. Central Parking Employee took him out with the emergency key. EMS refused.

Aided- Male adult was bitten on leg by a dog. Owner stated the dog had all shots. Aided left and later came back. EMS transported him to the Hospital.

Aided/EDP- male with a mental history stated he took too much of his medication. EMS transported him to the Hospital.

2/1/09-7:00 AM to 2/2/09-7:00 AM

Aided- Female fell and assisted up in apt. No injuries and refused EMS.

Aided- female was bitten by a dog. EMS responded and determined that the injury was minor. EMS transport refused by aided.

Hazardous Condition/Animal Aided- A dog received an electrical currant from a light pole. The dog was transported to an Animal Care facility. It was checked and released. RIOC personnel on scene. Con Edison shut off electricity to the light pole.

2/2/09-7:00 AM to 2/3/09-7:00 AM

Aided - Female reports male friend non-responsive after drinking alcohol the night before. EMS responds and transports aided to hospital.

Carstop - Male stopped for a U-turn, Male forgot his wallet with Driver's License. License was checked and all paper work was valid. Driver summonsed and released.

Verbal Dispute - Between Motorgate Attendant and a monthly customer. Upon PSD arrival, customer left location without incident.

Found Property - Bike Found on seawall. Area Checked and no owner found. Bike secured at PSD.

Aided - EMS on Main Street transporting a male youth to hospital for mental evaluation. Mother of youth accompanied him to hospital.

Lost Property - RIOC Red Bus driver turned in a Goldwater Hospital ID. ID was returned to hospital police at Coler Hospital.

2/3/09-7:00 AM to 2/4/09-7:00 AM

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Lost Property- A Wallet. It was secured in PSD and later the owner came and retrieved it.

Lost Property- A Goldwater Hospital Employee ID card. It was dropped off to Goldwater Hospital Police who turned it over to the owner.

Smoke Alarm- Smell of burnt food. Windows opened and hallway aired out.

Graffiti- In building. Search for the subject yielded negative results. UA notified.

Reckless Driving- A Bus Driver quickly moved into the opposite lane and almost struck a PSD vehicle. No injuries and no property damage.

Unsecured Premises- Visiting Nurse Office was found open. A defective lock
also found. The porter changed the lock. The Office was in order. Visiting Nurse personnel notified.

Trespass/Open Container- 2 subjects in the Motorgate Garage were arrested by PSD.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

2/4/09-7:00 AM to 2/5/09-7:00 AM

Alarm- At 591 Main Street. PSD responded. RIOC personnel inside. ADT notified.

Lost Property- Resident lost her wallet and keys. She will go to NYPD on her own and file a report.

Criminal Mischief- Broken window in a vehicle. search for the subject yielded negative results. No record of the owner per Central Parking.

Disorderly Youths- PSD escorted the youths to the subway to leave the Island.

Unsecured Door- Postal Room to one of the buildings. Postal Service notified. PSD checked it periodically.

Lost property- A purse. It was secured in PSD. Later the owner retrieved it with all contents accounted for.

0700 hrs 02/05/09 - 0700 hrs 02/06/09

Aided - PSD and EMS responded to apt. for sick resident. Aided transported to hospital.

Lost Property - Female found purse on Main St. and turned it into PSD. Owner was contacted and retrieved it.

Family Court Papers - Served to male resident by PSD.

Shoplifting - Store employee observed male subject take three beers and attempted to leave store. Trespass Notice was filled out and subject was advised that he can't come back into store or will be arrested.

Aided - Youth hurt his hand playing basketball. EMS responded and transported aided to hospital. Youth was escorted by Youth Center staff member.

Criminal Trespass - PSD and NYPD responded to roof alarm. Male and female were observed on roof. NYPD arrested both subjects and transported to 114 pct. for processing.

0700 hrs 02/06/09 - 0700 hrs 02/07/09
Aided- Male not feeling well transported to hospital.

Investigation- Octagon tenant reports feces at door, Search made with negative results.

Property Damage- Vehicle hit in both the driver's side and passenger side, no witnesses. Search made with negative results.

Verbal Dispute- Husband and wife having a loud disagreement, no physical injuries.

Investigation- Anon female reported a nude female walking down Main St. PSD conducted search with negative results.

Aided- Male not feeling well, EMS responded and refused.

Unsecured Vehicle- While patrolling motorgate PSD observed drivers side window down and doors unsure. Owner notified.

0700 hrs 02/07/09 - 0700 hrs 02/08/09
Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Criminal Mischief- Broken lock at South Point Park. RIOC personnel notified. Lock replaced.

Hazardous Condition- smoking electric supply plate. RIOC personnel notified. Con Edison notified.

Alcohol/ Open Container- 5 subjects arrested by PSD.

Unsecured Door- PSD responded. Door unsecured. Other doors secured. Area in order.

0700 hrs 02/08/09 - 0700 hrs 02/09/09
Investigation- Report of youth who was walking on edge of ramp to a rear building. Youth fled into building. Search for the youth yielded negative results. No property damage.

Investigation- Resident reported that a youth broke a window in the building. Youth was escorted into PSD. Reporter changed her report and stated the window was already damaged prior to youth appearance. Youth left PSD.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.
Criminal Mischief- Eggs thrown onto apt door and youths ran away. Search for the youths yielded negative results. UA notified.
Hazardous Condition- Lights in South Town. RIOC notified.

0700 hrs 02/09/09 - 0700 hrs 02/10/09

Aided- A Male fell due to a crack on the curb. He complained of pain. EMS transported him to the Hospital.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Minor Vehicle Accident- Between 2 private vehicles. No injuries. Both motorist will work it out between themselves.

Investigation- A report of suspicious youth in the hallway of a building.

Youths escorted to PSD to confirm ID. Both reside on the Island and stated they were on their way to school. They left PSD.

Reckless Endangerment- Rocks thrown from 425 Main Street. search for the subject yielded negative results.

Criminal Mischief- Scratches on apt door. Search for the subject yielded negative results. UA notified.

Graffiti- In building. Search for the subject yielded negative results. UA notified.

Domestic Dispute- Between Son and Father. Son wanted to leave and go to a brother's residence. No injuries. NYPD prepared a report. The matter was referred to Family Court.

0700 hrs 02/10/09 - 0700 hrs 02/11/09

Investigation- Steam coming out of a pipe across from the power plant. RIOC personnel and Power plant personnel responded. Per Power Plant personnel this is done 3 times a week to reduce water pressure.

Larceny- Access gained into a vehicle possible with a unknown tool. Radio on dash and satellite radio were taken. Search for the subject yielded negative results. NYPD refused.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

2/11/09-7:00 AM to 2/12/09-7:00 AM
Domestic Dispute- Between Aunt and Niece. No injuries and NYPD refused.

Open Complaint for Domestic Assault- PSD assisted NYPD who arrested subject.

Verbal Dispute- Between Cab Driver and customer over fare. PSD responded and customer paid the fare.

0700 hrs 02/12/09 - 0700 hrs 02/13/09

Domestic Incident - Between mother and grandmother over child custody. Issue was referred to Family Court by NYPD.

Verbal Dispute - Between cab driver and passenger. PSD responded and passenger paid fare.

Aided - Elderly male fell and sustained laceration to head. EMS responded and transported aided to hospital.

Grand Larceny - Tenant reports necklace missing from apt. NYPD responded and made report.

Aided - PSD and EMS responded to apt. for aided. Female reported sharp chest pains. EMS treated aided on scene and aided refused transport. Aided stated she will go to see her own doctor.

Verbal Dispute - Between two females. PSD responded and both parties left scene without further incident.

Investigation - Anonymous female called PSD because of unknown male who made strange statements to her. PSD responded and male was gone on arrival. Female refused to give any information.

Criminal Mischief - PSD responded for broken window to vehicle. Search of the area was made with negative results. NYPD responded and made report.

Unsecured Premises - PSD Officer observed open window at RY Management. Condition corrected by employee.

0700 hrs Saturday February 14 2009
Aided- male stopped by nypd on main st due to a cut above his right eye psd on scene. Aided states doesnt know how cut got there. Ems on scene. Aided transported to NYU hospital for stitches.

Aided - male entered psd and stated he cut his right hand trying to gain entry to inner lobby door of 546 Main st. that is off the door frame. Ems refused cuts were treated at Psd. Roosevelt landings super notified.

Lost property - tram worker hands over property to psd that was left on the tram by unknown subject. property was locked and secured in Psd.

VEHICLE ACCIDENT - A vehicle backed up into a delivery truck driver causing injuries to his left leg. Psd and Ems on scene. aided transported to mount sini hospital NYPD on scene for report.


2/15/09-7:00 AM to 2/16/09-7:00 AM

Aided- Coler Hosp Patient in malfunction wheel chair. Coler Hospital notified and could not pick him up. EMS transported him to the Hospital.

Damaged Property- The gate on East sea wall under the R.I. Bridge on one side where it was welde broke. Dept of Bridges and Welsbach Electric was notified. Dept of Briges to do repairs.

Trespass- At Resnick Ruins. 3 Subjects arrested by PSD



You Tube Video of Law & Order Doink Doink

Roosevelt Island Grandparents Day On Wednesday February 18 At The Seniors Center

Grandparents Safety Day Image from RIOC

RIOC Public Safety Director Keith Guerra sends the following message:
I just wanted to continue getting the word out about the Grandparents Safety Day that the Public Safety Department and SafeKids NYC are co-sponsoring. It will be held on Wednesday, February 18th from 10:00-2:00 at the Senior Center. Safety technicians will be on hand providing the Seniors with tips on how to keep their grandchildren (and themselves) safe. Refreshments will be served. Thanks.
According to RIOC:
  • Get information that will help keep you and your grandkids safer at home and on the road
  • Take a safety quiz and win a prize
  • Location: R.I. Senior Center
  • Date: Wednesday, February 18th
  • Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
The Senior Center is located at 546 Main Street.

UPDATE - 2/23- Mr. Guerra provides the following update on Grandparents Safety Day:
Grandparents Safety Day held at the Senior Center on Wednesday, February 18th was a success. The Seniors enjoyed spending time at the various Safety Stations receiving goodies and Safety Tips from several agencies. Besides the tables of the Public Safety Department and SafeKids NYC, we also had a table from the Fire Department which provided Fire Safety tips. The Visiting Nurse Service also was present and even provided Free Blood Pressure readings. Refreshments were served throughout the day and a good time was had by all.