Roosevelt Island On The Web Links

Roosevelt Island on the Web Links as appearing in the November 7, 2009 Main Street WIRE.

Roosevelt Islander - What Kind of RI Parks Do You Want
Roosevelt Islander - Westview Illegal Subletter
Roosevelt Islander - Scenes From Halloween Parade
Jonathan Kalkin Tweets - LCD Screen For RI Subway Station?
Lateral Window - Halloween Pictures
RIOC - 2009 Public Purpose Funding Information
Zagat - Recommends Riverwalk Bar & Grill For Roosevelt Island Marathon Meal
Craigslist - Looking For RI Match On F Train
Curbed - Nobody Likes RI's Main Street
Just Means - Help Angelica Volunteers Serve Coler Goldwater Patients
NY Times - RI Resident Recalls First Yankee/Phillies World Series
Brooklyn Daily Eagle - Roosevelt Island Granite Used For B'klyn Bridge Park
Daily News - Hate Crime Victim Seeks Coler -Goldwater Bed
Brooklyn Daily Eagle - Coler-Goldwater Volunteer Passes Away
Twitter - NYC Marathon Runners Pee On Roosevelt Island From Bridge
Judith's Gallery - Blackwell Park Photos
You Tube - Roosevelt Island Halloween Parade
You Tube - Marching Band Perform At Roosevelt Island Halloween Parade
Mama Robot - Only Halloween Chili Pepper Baby
Manhattan Style - Profiles Roosevelt Island
You Tube - Going To Goldwater Hospital
You Tube - F Train From Lexington Ave To Roosevelt Island
You Tube - Searching For RI's Lighthouse Park
Legs & Lilly - NYC Bike Trip Stay On Roosevelt Island
Twitter - Living On Roosevelt island Social Suicide?
Queens Gazzette - Al Cahn, Coler Goldwater Volunteer Passes Away
Kinetic Twitter - Sunday Jam On Roosevelt Island
Crains - Lawsuit Filed Against Former Eastwood Owner
Roosevelt Islander - Riverwalk Residents Complain About Odors & Noise From New Restaurant
Roosevelt Island Dogs - Adopt A Dog

Theeeeeee Yankees Win 2009 World Series - Celebrate At The Parade And Outside Stadium

You Tube Video of John Sterling's Theeeeeeee Yankees Win Call

Congratulations to the New York Yankees - 2009 World Series Champions.

If you did not make it down to the Canyon Of Heroes for the Victory Parade here's a sample of what it was like.

You Tube Video of NY Yankees Victory Parade

You Tube Video Of Yankee Victory Parade

And what it was like outside Yankee Stadium after Game 6 victory over the Phillies

You Tube Video Outside Yankee Stadium After 2009 World Series Win

No Roosevelt Island Manhattan Bound F Train Service From 12 AM Saturday Thru Noon Sunday - No Late Night Queens Bound Service 11/9 - 11/13

Image from MTA

Be aware that there will be no Manhattan Bound F Train Subway Service from Roosevelt Island beginning 12 AM Saturday until Noon Sunday this weekend. According to the MTA:

F Coney Island-bound trains run on the E from Roosevelt Av to 5 Av/53 St
Weekend, 12:01 AM Sat to 12 noon Sun, Nov 7 - 8

For service from 21 St-Queensbridge and Roosevelt Island, take the F to Roosevelt Av and transfer to a Coney Island-bound F.

RIOC is not reporting any Roosevelt Island Tram advisories for this time. Be prepared for crowded Trams going into Manhattan.

RIOC is advising that there will be no Queens Bound Roosevelt Island F Trains starting Monday November 9 thru Friday November 13 during the hours of 10 PM - 5 AM.

Northbound F via 53rd St, nightly from 2200 to 0500 from Mon, Nov 9 to Fri, Nov 13. No northbound trains at Roosevelt Island

The MTA reports that these service interruptions begin at 12:01 AM Tuesday.

F 179 St-bound trains run on the V from 47-50 Sts to Queens Plaza, then express to Roosevelt Av

Late night, 12:01 AM to 5 AM Tue to Fri, Nov 10 - 13

Maybe we have to bring back the Roosevelt Island Slingshot for transportation off the Island?

You Tube Video of Roosevelt Island Shuttle

Problems With Roosevelt Island Next Bus Red Bus GPS Tracking System Today - Not Working

A reader sent in the image above indicating that there were problems with the Roosevelt Island Next Bus Red Bus GPS Tracking System this morning at 9:53 in front of the Good Shepherd Chapel. It was not working.

I tried the Next Bus prediction for the same stop at 1:30 PM and it still is not working either at the Good Shepherd Chapel or for any of the Roosevelt Island stops.

In order for the system to be of use, it must be absolutely reliable and so far today it is not.

More here on the Roosevelt Island Red Bus Next Bus GPS Tracking System.

UPDATE 2:30 PM - RIOC Director Jonathan Kalkin looked into the problem and reports:

Already notified NEXTBUS about the problem. Notified RIOC as well. Please inform your readers that if they see any problem to email website@nextbus.com I am working with them on a number of issues before we go live with the LED signs.

and:

System is now back online. Problem solved.

Wow - if only all our problems were so easily solved!

RIRA President On Roosevelt Island Subway Problems, Ferry Service, Blackwell Park Planning And Red Bus Scheduling

November RIRA Meeting Image From Jonathan Kalkin

Roosevelt Island Residents Association President (RIRA) Frank Farance sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents.

1. Meeting with MTA soon on subway. Thank you to residents for contacting the elected officials. I contact the offices of Stringer, Lappin, Serrano, and Kellner: all support the our concerns about Island transportation. Kellner's office is taking the lead in arranging the meeting with the MTA. Still, can you help? Yes, if you haven't called, please call their offices:

— Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President, +1 212 669 8300, bp@ManhattanBP.org
— Jessica Lappin, City Councilmember, +1 212 980 1808, Lappin@council.nyc.ny.us
— Mayor Michael Bloomberg, +1 212 788 9600, ksheekey@cityhall.nyc.gov
— Jose Serrano, State Senator, +1 212 828 5829, NYSsenate28@gmail.com
— Micah Kellner, Assemblymember, +1 212 860 4906, KellnerM@assembly.state.ny.us
— Governor David Paterson, +1 518 474 8390, http://www.state.ny.us/governor/contact

If a meeting is already being arranged, then why should you still call? In my discussions with each of their offices, I received a uniform response: they keep track of the number of calls from us. The number of calls makes a big difference when the official discusses the "weight" of their constituents' concerns.

Why will we need this "weight"? We will be presenting several options to the MTA for increasing service to Roosevelt Island, including: extending the Q service from 57 Street and 7 Avenue out to 21 Street - Queensbridge; reserving the first car for Roosevelt Island; swapping V and F lines (F to 53 Street, V to 63 Street); and several others. Previously, the MTA has dismissed our suggestions. The "weight" (that means YOU making a 6 phone calls ASAP) will put much more pressure on the MTA to look harder at the proposed solutions. If 1 out of 15 of you call, that's a thousand calls -- a strong response. As they say, we get the government we deserve ... please make the calls.

We are posting information about this effort and general transit information about Roosevelt Island on http://RITransit.org.

2. Ferry Service. At RIRA's November 4 Common Council meeting, we approved the following resolution:

The RIRA Common Council supports the creation of commuter ferry service on Roosevelt Island and urges the choice of a ferry docking site to best expedite the start of service and that could potentially become a permanent service.

RIOC is investigating ferry service during the tram outage.

3. Blackwell Park planning. For the first time in 30 years on Roosevelt Island, I experienced something absolutely new and unexpected: watching a large group of strong-minded residents (including several RIOC Board members) collaborate and come to consensus on a substantial topic with no bickering and histrionics . This happened a week ago Tuesday (Oct. 27) and again this Monday (Nov. 3). As I reported previously, the previous approach, led by RIOC's Rosina Abramson, involved six people that meet infrequently, didn't exchange/share information, and was designed/destined to merely rubberstamp Abramson's plan. Residents started asking good questions: Why do we need a master plan, if we just need to move the tot lot? Why are we urgently developing a master plan when the new Southtown buildings are at least 3-5 years off? Why don't we know how RIOC's intended budget range? Something isn't right here.

So residents have started their own planning and have come up with great ideas. Wants: retain the basketball courts, retain the trees (don't move them), adjust steps/hills for better disabled access, co-locate kids and tots areas, durable equipment, low-maintenance costs. Don't wants: old tram cabin, education-themed park (i.e., heavy content), a clear view of the power plant. Residents want planning coordinated for all the parks, not just worrying about Blackwell. The residents have taken the lead and are forming their own plan to present to RIOC and the architect Lee Weintraub. More on this soon.

4. Red bus scheduling. Met with Buddy, the bus service supervisor and traveled the Island to understand service issues in the AM rush: (1) hospital shift changes near 7AM cause congestion across from Manhattan Park; (2) commercial vehicles, deliveries, and school buses at 7-9 AM between Motorgate ramp and Blackwell house; (3) northbound Access-A-Ride parking in WIRE buildings corridor; (4) short bus dock at M&D Deli backs up traffic; (5) potential improvements at southbound stop at subway. First understand the problems (not completely there yet), then work towards solutions. More in next issue.

Verizon FIOS WIFI Plan Like Nothing Else Coming To Roosevelt Island - Parks, Bus/Tram Signals and Endless Possibilities

Bryant Park Wi-Fi Image From New York Portraits

RIOC Director Jonathan Kalkin Tweeted:

Met with Verizon team to start FIOS Roosevelt Island plan like no place else. Park/Island Fiber WIFI. Net powered Bus/Tram signs!

I asked Mr. Kalkin for additional details and he responded:

... I had a meeting at RIOC with one of Verizon's top executives. I had previously contacted their VP about a comprehensive fiber high speed internet plan for the island. The meeting was very successful. We are developing a plan to offer high speed free fiber WIFI in the parks and possibly common areas of the island. This will also power the GPS LED time clocks for the Red Buses (so you can see when the next bus is arriving). As you know you can currently access this on an IPhone or Blackberry or internet phone/computer via NEXTBUS.COM. We even discussed high speed internet to power LCD signs at the Tram to indicate when the next Tram/Bus is arriving. Southpoint Park WIFI internet would also be part of the plan and camera security powered by the same system. Also all island businesses vacant or not will be FIOS ready. They are deploying a team specifically to work on this and the possibilities seem endless. Really nothing like it and it will put us back at the forefront of technology.

Roosevelt Island at the forefront of public use of modern technology. Who would have thunk that?

Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Fund Grant Application And Guidelines Now Available - Deadline For Submission December 31

Pile Of Money Image From Phoenix Fanster

RIOC's Community Relations Specialist Erika Wilder sends this note advising that the 2010 Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Funding Application and Guidelines are now available online.

To all Non-Profit Organizations and Groups on Roosevelt Island:

Please be advised that the 2010 application for Public Purpose Funding is now available online. To obtain a copy of the application, please visit http://www.rioc.com/grants.htm . If you have bookmarked last years application, please do not use it, as new items have been added to the current application.

The deadline to apply for Public Purpose Funds is Thursday, December 31st 2009 at 5:00 PM.
The application can be downloaded or completed online at your convenience. Please submit your completed application and necessary attachments to the RIOC office located at 591 Main Street. If you are an island based program or organization and do not have non-profit status and wish to apply for funding, please contact me at your earliest convenience.

Questions or concerns regarding completing the PPG application can be directed to me by email or by calling 212-832-4540 EXT# 349.

Best of luck!

According to RIOC:

To apply for a Public Purpose Grant:

1. Interested groups should pick up an application packet from the RIOC offices or click here for Grant Application Form, and click here for PPG Applicant Guidelines, recommended by RIRA

2. Submit the completed application to RIOC. The application must include the written support of at least two additional community organizations.

3. Eligible applications will be forwarded to RIRA for its review and recommendations to the RIOC Board

4. Once approved, arrangements will then be made with RIOC for the disbursement of funds.

5. Grantees are subject to RIOC interim and final audit review.

RIRA Recommendations will be based upon the following:

Mission Statement:
Public Purpose Funds should be allocated to benefit Roosevelt Island residents, enhancing their quality of life through education, artistic and cultural enrichment, improved health or a better environment.

Requirements:
a) Applicant organizations must be not-for-profit incorporations as defined by 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 Status.

b) Group may not discriminate on the basis of age, place of national origin, physical condition, race, religion or sexual orientation.

c) RIRA requires at least a 60 day period of evaluation between the time RIOC submits the application to RIRA and the date RIRA is asked to make its recommendation back to RIOC.

d) Monies must be used for the specific purpose for which they were granted. n accounting must be provided at the end of the period to show how funds were spent.

e) Applicants must provide a Cost / Benefit analysis for RIRA’s review. This analysis should detail how the grants will improve the quality of the services to be delivered.

f) If membership and/or tuition fees are charged, a price structure should be submitted. Such submissions should include details on number, and type of scholarships provided in the prior year and planned in the upcoming year.

g) Applicants should provide an account of all efforts made to secure grants from other sources.

h) Applicants should submit resumes for principal officers and pertinent staff.

Additional Factors:
Applicants are encouraged to comment on the following factors, which will also be considered:

a) Proportion of recipients who are residents of Roosevelt Island

b) Preference will be given to organizations that can provide services to the widest population of residents, regardless of their economic condition.

c) Amount of services delivered to the economically disadvantaged

d) Frequency of need – Is this a one-time request or is it expected to recur?

e) Proven history of service to the community

f) Extent of volunteerism in the organization – how much of the group’s needs are filled by donated time and/or materials?

g) Availability of “matching” grants or services – will a RIOC grant improve the chances of receiving additional monies or services form outside groups?

h) Efforts to secure grants from other sources

i) RIRA will not normally recommend funding to cover 100% of salaries.

There was some controversy over how the Public Purpose Funding process was conducted by RIRA last year primarily regarding the appearance of a conflict of interest among some RIRA members who were also grant applicants but it appears that issue has been resolved to RIOC's satisfaction.

UPDATE - 11/9 - Ms. Wilder sent in the following update regarding Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Fund Guidelines and Procedures.

Please be advised that the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) has amended the criteria for evaluating Public Purpose grant applications. Please visit http://rioc.com/pdf/PPG_Guidelines.pdf to review RIRA's current guidelines. In addition, please take note that the line item requesting all applicants to submit community letters of support is no longer required.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.

Riverwalk Bar & Grill Brings Civilization To Roosevelt Island But Also Noise And Food Odors To Upstairs Apartments And Hallways

The Riverwalk Bar & Grill has been a wonderful addition to Roosevelt Island. Good food and drink, reasonable prices, friendly people and a great place to watch football and the baseball playoffs. Also, you can't beat the 25 cents Football Sunday chicken wings

But some Southtown Riverwalk residents who live above the restaurant have been complaining about the noise and smell that accompanies this small piece of civilization on Roosevelt Island. In response, The Related Companies, developers of the Riverwalk complex together with The Hudson Companies, sent out the following memo to building residents.

As some of you may have experienced, there has been food odor infiltration from the Riverwalk Bar & Grill into the common areas of Riverwalk Landing and into some of your apartments.

We have been in direct contact with many of you regarding our progress in resolving this issue, but wanted to update everyone on the status.

A few weeks after the restaurant opened it became apparent that the odor remediation system installed in their exhaust was not completely eliminating all of the food odors. We then met with the owner and renter of the space, along with the installer of the remediation system, and agreed to increase the frequency of the filter changes. After the filters were changed with new ones, we confirmed that the odor was indeed eliminated, however after a few weeks, the odor returned.

As such, we have requested the tenant revise his service contract to include weekly filter changes. The next filter change will take place next week.

We are hopeful that these additional maintenance measures will mitigate the issue. If we find that weekly charcoal replacement does not significantly reduce or eliminate the odor, additional measures will be taken as quickly as possible.

We are also aware that the noise emanating from the restaurant and exterior speakers may at times be excessive. We are working with the tenant to ensure that the noise level inside the restaurant as well as from the exterior speakers is not excessive and bothersome. We will monitor the noise levels on a regular unscheduled basis to confirm compliance.

I apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your patience as we resolve these issues....

Roosevelt Island Residents Association Meeting Tonight/ Agenda & Committee Reports On Ferry, Blackwell Park, Public Purpose Fund & Public Safety Below

Image of October RIRA Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will be meeting tonight. Prior to the start of the meeting there is an opportunity for the public to present any issues of concern to the Council. Below is the Agenda for tonight's meeting as well as various committee reports.

AGENDA

Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Time: 8:00 P.M. - Finish
Place: Good Shepherd Community Center, 543 Main Street
1. Public Session (8:00)

2. Roll Call (8:30)
X 3. Approval of Agenda (8:35)
4. Approval of Minutes (8:40)
5. Treasurer’s Report (8:45)
- Report provided
6. President's Report (8:50)
7. Committee Reports (9:00)
Housing - J. Micheff & L. Strong-Shinozaki
Social, Cultural and Educational Services - N. Leopold
Island Services - A. Hamburger
Planning - M. Katz
- Committee report
Communications - E. Erickson
Government Relations - M. Smith
Public Safety - E. Feely-Nahem
- Committee report

8. Old Business (9:45)
X Revised Public Purpose Funds Guidelines and Criteria

9. New Business (9:45)

10. Adjourn

X Agenda items requiring action
Town Hall Meeting for October RIOC Board Meeting: Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 8-9:30PM
Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 2, 2009 (Mailing Deadline: October 30, 2009)
Future 2010 Meetings: January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2

The Planning Committee Report:

REPORT OF THE RIRA PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Friday, October 16, 2009

Attending: Matthew Katz (Chair), Aaron Barth, Francisco Bozzano-Barnes, Frank Farance, Steven Heller, Sherie Helstien, Denise Shull

1. There was a discussion of the potential for ferry service on Roosevelt Island, including what would be the best site for a ferry landing and what response to the question the RIRA Common Council should make. Several of the participants had attended and spoken at the citywide meeting on October 5. Katz noted that the discussion at Hunter College centered on docking sites with no representatives of the ferry providers present. He wondered whether the City would provide the service, as it does for the free Staten Island ferry, or offer it as a (possibly subsidized) profit-making concession. Shull made the case that Becker & Becker Associates has expended considerable time and money to pave the way for an Octagon site. Others noted that the transportation hub, servicing a majority of Island residents, is closer to the dock adjacent to the subway station, and might serve the greater number of riders. The consensus was approval for ferry service as a minimal contributor to solving our transportation bottleneck, both present and future, regardless of where the dock might be, and so, we offer the following Motion for consideration by the Common Council:
MOTION: The RIRA Common Council supports the presence of commuter ferry service on Roosevelt Island and urges the choice of a ferry docking site to best expedite the start of service and that could potentially be a permanent site.

2. The discussion continued on short- and long-term strategies for off-Island transportation. Katz discussed the many years of interacting with the heads of the MTA and the NYCTA that have produced no serious discussion of Roosevelt Island’s issues, much less solutions. He mentioned a report on F train service, to be released by New York City Transit, and promised to distribute it when available. [This report, entitled “Review of F Line Operations, Ridership, and Infrastructure” and dated October 7, 2009, has been electronically distributed to the Council]. This report cites the F train as the worst in the system, and Katz thought this might serve to produce a substantive meeting with Transit Authority officials to address our concerns. Farance offered to amass the technical data necessary to reinforce our case.
Update: Since this meeting, Katz has met with Assembly Member Kellner, who is working to arrange this meeting. The discussion continued with Kellner’s Community Liaison, Paul Curtis, during his October 22 on-Island office hours, and considered the parameters for such a meeting. The meeting included Government Relations Committee Chair, Margie Smith, and RIOC Board Director, Jon Kalkin. City Council Member, Jessica Lappin, has expressed interest in the meeting as well.

3. The Blackwell Park working group met on the morning of October 24 to walk through the site with RIOC Vice President, Rosina Abramson, and architect, Lee Weintraub. Several community members, longtime park users, joined the core group to add their input to the planning. Weintraub presented several hand-drawn schematics of the site to demonstrate how his thinking has progressed. For example, the two basketball courts that had been reduced to only one are now back to two courts based on information provided by players including RIRA delegate, Steve Marcus. When Weintraub stated that comfort stations were not an element in present planning, the group noted, vehemently, that any facility to be used by children and athletes must include toilet facilities.

4. The Blackwell Park Task Force, scheduled to meet on October 29, was cancelled by Rosina Abramson and did not meet. Task Force member, Judy Berdy, convened a meeting exclusively of Island activists on October 27 that included Task Force members, RIRA members, RIOC Board members and other stakeholders including Ali Schwayri, President of the Tree Board. While the RIOC effort has had as its basic premise a complete renovation of the site, this group began by asking, “What’s the matter with the park as it is?” Both Schwayri and architect, Tad Sudol, confirmed that the potential cost of transplanting mature trees, a part of the Weintraub plan, might cost $25,000 per tree with a 50% chance of survival. The group was adamantly opposed to any trees being moved. Howard Polivy noted that the budgeting for the park, which will include financial support by the Hudson and Related Companies to move the tot lot that currently sits on the site for Southtown building #7, is “murky.” The latest drawing from the RIOC architect included side-by-side basketball courts, and Steve Marcus, representing the ball players, saw this as inappropriate and unworkable. Many stated that the existing linear configuration, with shade trees, seating and sight lines, was “damn near perfect” as is. In the discussion of the Weintraub plan to create unobstructed sight lines from Blackwell House to the river, many objected, citing the requirement of moving trees only to clear a view of the Big Allys power plant. The plan to include “content” as suggested by the field trips to Gantry State Park and the playground at the Queens Hall of Science was generally repudiated as unnecessary, especially by parents who had raised their children in the park. We generally agreed that using elements from the old Tram and stations was an interesting idea, but didn’t need to be confined to Blackwell Park and that the planning should be in the context of planning for the entire Island. Fay Christian and others lauded the specific plans for the new playground, however. Everyone agreed that a comfort station, including running water, was essential for a park designed to include children of varying ages. We agreed that our work would be enhanced by having drawings to scale, and Berdy, Sudol and Frank Farance agreed to provide these work sheets by the next meeting, scheduled for Monday, November 2. Given the proximity to the November 4 RIRA Common Council meeting, RIRA participants will report verbally on this meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Matthew Katz

There's More!


Guidelines For Public Purpose Funds:

Guidelines and Criteria for Evaluating Public Purpose Funds

Mission Statement:
Public Purpose Funds should be allocated to benefit Roosevelt Island residents, enhancing their quality of life through education, artistic and cultural enrichment, improved health or a better environment.

Requirements:
a) Applicant organizations must be not-for-profit incorporations as defined by Internal Revenue Code (26U.S.C. § 501(c) Status.

b) Group should not discriminate on the basis of age, place of national origin, physical condition, race, religion, or sexual orientation. (Exceptions might be permitted based upon the nature of the origination, e.g., youth service organizations focus on the young, disabled service organizations focus on those with certain physical conditions.)

c) RIRA requires at least a 60 day period of evaluation between the time RIOC submits the application to RIRA and the date RIRA is asked to make its recommendation back to RIOC.

d) Monies must be used for the specific purpose for which they were granted. An accounting must be provided at the end of the period to show how funds were spent.

e) Applicants must provide a Cost / Benefit analysis for RIRA's review. This analysis should detail how the grants will improve the quality of the services to be delivered.

f) If membership and/or tuition fees are charged, a price structure should be submitted. Such submissions should include details on number, and type of scholarships provided in the prior year and planned in the upcoming year.

g) Applicants should provide an account of all efforts made to secure grants from other sources.

h) Applicants should submit resumes for principal officers and pertinent staff.

Additional Factors:
Applicants are encouraged to comment on the following factors, which will also be considered:

a) Proportion of recipients who are residents of Roosevelt Island.

b) Preference will be given to organizations that can provide services to the widest population of residents, regardless of their economic condition.

c) Amount of services delivered to the economically disadvantaged.

d) Frequency of need — Is this a one-time request or is it expected to be a recurring request?

e) Proven history of service to the community.

f) Extent of volunteerism in the organization — how much of the group's needs are filled by donated time and/or materials?

g) Availability of "matching" grants or services — will a RIOC grant improve the chances of receiving additional monies or services form outside groups?

h) Efforts to secure grants from other sources.

i) Normally, RIRA will not recommend funding to cover 100% of salaries.

Public Safety Committee Report:

Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes
10/26/09

Attendees:
Peter Digilio
Lynne Shinozaki
Joyce Mincheff
Ellen Polivy
Frank Farance
Erin Feely-Nahem

Committee created a Mission statement for the committee. We discussed our priorities and attempted to place them in order. We decided to ask Director Guerra about his ideas on the Youth Tribunal model, and research other models.

Mission Statement:

To provide support to the Public Safety Department in an effort to assure that community needs are being met. To act as a liaison between the community and the Public Safety department, and to be available as an omnibudsman to facilitate resolution as needed.

Goals:
1) Work toward obtaining access for the disabled to the Public Safety office, making the entrance disabled accessible. Gaining access for the disabled to the elevators that are required for access to the Cultural Center.

2) Traffic Enforcement: To review and analyze enforcement of traffic regulations, such as traffic going through Stop signs, Yield signs, traffic control, etc.

3) Youth Tribunal: Look into the reality of implementing a Youth Tribunal system for lesser offences, such as misdemeanors, as an alternative to giving them summonses, desk tickets, or arrest for the youth on the Island. Utilizing community service as a punishment instead.

4) Parking Priorities: Look at ticketing policy, signs, ticket machines, and the fair and universal enforcement of the existing parking rules.

5) Traffic design: Petition for AAA to come onto the Island and analyze and design appropriate signage design.

6) Opening of Sports Park to be utilized for the youth on the Island as a place of entertainment on weekends, after 9:00pm when the Youth center closes. To have activities such as roller-skating, dances, music etc available as entertainment.

7) Bicycles on the side walk. Possible assist in organizing a Bike Safety Day, to be utilized by Public Safety as an informational opportunity to interact with community. Inform parents of the rules regarding riding on the sidewalk, safety, itching of bikes etc.

8) Plan a place where older youth can hang out without disturbing residents, possibly Meditation Steps, and have Public Safety break up large groups and move them to this designated area.

9) Motor Gate crime: Discuss options with Public Safety.

10) Enforcement issues around the growing amount of litter, dog feces and cleanliness of the Island, especially behind the Blackwell House path.

* After the minutes were passed around to other committee members who did not attend, it was requested that we consider addressing the unlawful car and truck traffic around the sea wall. At this time, other committee members have not commented on this issue. This issue can be discussed at the next meeting.

Roosevelt Island Sportspark Pool To Re-Open November 9

Image from RIOC

The Sportspark Pool has been closed since early September for renovation but according to this notice from RIOC will be opening shortly.

Beginning Monday, November 9, regularly scheduled Open Swim hours at the Sportspark Pool will resume. Please visit www.rioc.com for hours and pricing information.

Cease & Desist Order Issued To Roosevelt Island Search And Rescue (RISAR) - Not Authorized To Conduct Any Operations Until Further Notice

Image of RISAR Logo From Volunteer NYC

RIOC President Steve Shane forwards the following notice concerning Roosevelt Island Search and Rescue:

Please see attached Cease & Desist Order to RISAR based on the findings of the NYSDOH and NYCREMSCO. RISAR is not authorized to conduct any operations on Roosevelt Island until further notice.

Below is the Cease & Desist Order from RIOC President Steve Shane to RISAR:

... We are in receipt of copies of notifications to you from:

(A) The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of EMS Operations (“DOH”) dated October 30, 2009 wherein you were advised that EMS Agency ID#0871 (the “Agency Code”) has been deactivated , effective immediately and that RISAR is no longer authorized to use the ID number to represent itself as an EMS entity recognized by DOH or for any other purpose; and

(B) The Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York City, Inc. (“REMSCO”) dated November 2, 2009 wherein you were advised that REMSCO is withdrawing its approval fro RISAR to continue its operations as a BLS First Response agency and that RISAR is advised to cease and desist identifying itself as operating with the approval of REMSCO until the received complaint is resolved to REMSCO’s satisfaction.

Accordingly, since under the terms and conditions of the authorization to operate on Roosevelt Island, specifically being, inter alia, the maintenance of approvals from REMSCO and DOH as indicated by the issuance and maintenance of a valid Agency Code, you are hereby directed to cease and desist from further operations on Roosevelt Island until such time as remedial action has been taken which would permit the reinstatement of your approvals by REMSCO and DOH.

If you have any questions, please call me or Chief Guerra.

I don't know if this is the cause of the Cease & Desist Order but according to the 10/23 -24 Roosevelt Island Daily Public Safety Report:

Criminal Impersonation/ multiple vehicle infractions- NYS dept of health responded to location due to numerous complaints about unauthorized vehicle. Upon stopping RISAR's vehicle. DOH requested PSD and NYPD on scene. Owner of vehicle was cited for numerous vehicle infractions and charged criminal impersonation. He was transported to the 114 pct. for Arrest Processing.

What is the function of RISAR? According to RISAR, among other efforts:

... RISAR will develop their own ESU / EMT Units and identify the duties of the team volunteers according to specific community needs. For example, ESU / EMT volunteers may deliver necessary public health services during a crisis, assist emergency response teams with patients, and provide care directly to those with less serious injuries and other health related issues.

RISAR volunteers may also serve a vital role by assisting their community with ongoing public health needs (e.g., immunizations, screenings, health and nutrition education, and volunteering in community health centers and local hospital Coler/Goldwater). Once established, how the local ESU / EMT is utilized will be decided by RISAR / RIPS and the community...

I sent an email to RISAR seeking their comment yesterday but as yet have received no response.
More on RISAR here.

NYC Marathon Runners Pee On Roosevelt Island From Queensboro Bridge - Hope You Were Not Looking Up

You Tube Video of Runners Crossing Queensboro Bridge During 2009 NYC Marathon

Hope you were not standing underneath the Queesnboro Bridge on Roosevelt Island during Sunday's New York City Marathon when, according to Tweet, this happened.

Funny NYC Marathon sight, seeing 10 or more guys peeing over the edge of the Queensborough Bridge. Poor Roosevelt Island residents.

Image of Manneke Pis From Wikipedia

MTA Installing Experimental LCD Screens To Show Passengers When Next Train Arrives - Will Roosevelt Island F Train Station Get One Of These?

Image From Gizmodo

One of the more frustrating experiences for riders at the Roosevelt Island F Train Subway Station, or any other station for that matter, is standing on the platform waiting, waiting and waiting some more for a train to arrive. Not knowing when a train may come, the only thing passengers can do is stare down the tunnel looking for the train lights to appear or accept there is nothing you can do about the train's arrival and just read your paper, listen to your Ipod or get lost in your own thoughts.


According to Gizmodo some relief may be coming with an experimental new MTA program to place screens on subway platforms that show exactly where the trains are on the line and how long it will take to arrive at your station.

As a New Yorker, this gets me very excited: the Bedford Ave L station just got an LCD screen that shows exactly where all the cars on the line are, so you know how long you'll have to wait...

RIOC Director Jonathan Kalkin likes this idea and Tweets:

Going to ask MTA to do this on F on Roosevelt Island. LCD screens that show when the next subway is coming.

The NY Times had a recent article reporting on the plans of new MTA Chairman Jay Walder's plans for the NYC Bus and subway system including:

...He wants to introduce the contactless fare cards — which can be quickly waved over a sensor — to the subways and buses, reducing boarding times. And he wants GPS devices on buses so passengers can tell when a bus is coming, even if the familiar bulky shape is not visible on the horizon....

Roosevelt Island is already ahead of the MTA in the use of a GPS Bus Transit system as we have been using the Next Bus GPS for the Roosevelt Island Red Bus since last January. Mr. Kalkin has also been exploring the use of contactless fare cards for the Red Bus as well.

Image of Contactless Card From Ride UTA

Who knows - Roosevelt Island may become a laboratory for public transportation ideas?