Roosesvelt Island Residents Meet With The President - The Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer - Perhaps The Next Mayor Of New York City in 2013?

Yesterday morning, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer sat down with a group of Roosevelt Island residents for breakfast at the Trellis Diner for a discussion of Roosevelt Island issues. Mr. Stringer is pictured at top of image in suit and tie next to Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) President Matt Katz.

Image Of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer With Roosevelt Island Residents At Trellis Diner

The group of residents and Mr. Stringer were brought together by Mr. Katz. Mr. Katz writes:

... this meeting was at the behest of Stringer, who has been more attentive to Roosevelt Island than any of his predecessors.  My goal in selecting the small group was to represent most of the building complexes, to include both veteran and first-term RIRA representatives as well as resident RIOC Board Members as well as Island media.  I was very happy with the quality of the questions and the responsiveness of the Borough President to our concerns.

RIRA Southtown Common Council Delegate and relative Roosevelt Island newcomer Dave Evans attended the meeting with Mr. Stringer and shares his thoughts on yesterday's:

BREAKFAST WITH THE PRESIDENT

Well, I did not eat my breakfast this morning and it is his fault. I lost interest in eating as soon as Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, in response to the very first question, said that Roosevelt Island IS a part of Manhattan. I believe I properly sensed similar pleasure in Matt Katz's face and among the other Roosevelt Island Residents Association and RIOC attendees. But, they ate while I couldn't contain my note-taking.

Mr. Stringer answered every question thoughtfully and appropriately and when there was an action to be taken, he turned to his well-prepared community liaison officer Kristen Ellis, who gladly took note of her homework. There remains much for me to learn about the key issues of Roosevelt Island, especially those with so many implications for the future.

Mr. Stringer seems to know the issues and was very receptive to discussing them within the limited time availed. He addressed questions associated with future development, e.g., what is envisaged when the Island's southern hospital goes away and made us all feel even warmer when he cited the need for our community's involvement in this future land use matter. He adeptly handled other questions dealing with signage on the Island, and those in and around the city that require improvement so folks can get to the Island; the importance of us having a uniformed "real" (my word, not his) police officer presence; sensitivity to the needs of the physically challenged by acknowledging that Manhattan can do a better job with the curb cuts necessary for their safe movement around the city; the inclusion of our Island in discussions of the Manhattan grid (200th anniversary) and those involving potential future ferry service and waterfront planning; and the challenges of emergency evacuation. He promised to continue to practice his belief of getting the community involved and of being an advocate for Roosevelt Island.

No wonder he is such a promising, albeit unannounced but he certainly did not rule it out, candidate for Mayor. And, no pun intended, there were no strings attached to all the good words he directed our way - - no wonder I am now hungry - - there is so much good food on the plate.

Mr. Stringer also received questions regarding:

• Roosevelt Island not being part of New York City's 311 reporting system - he was told by residents of calls made to 311 Operators who had no idea where Roosevelt Island was or that it was part of NYC,  
• the proposed development of Coler Goldwater campus into a University advanced research center - he pledged to do all he could to make sure that any plan not make the site an exclusive enclave and to protect the interests of current Roosevelt Island residents through NYC's Land Use Process (ULURP) and 
• problems with the Roosevelt Island F Train Subway Station - during the meeting I received this blog comment about problem with water leaking at Manhattan bound platform. I read the comment to Mr. Stringer which led to a discussion of other subway problems including the broken doors and pigeon poop. Mr. Stringer directed his Community Relations Aide to contact the MTA and get these problems fixed.

The Editor of the Main Street WIRE followed up on my question to Mr. Stringer regarding the plans for the Coler Goldwater site asking if the Roosevelt Island community, through RIRA or some other entity, could be involved in the development process to represent the interest of the residents stating that RIOC was not competent to do so. At that point RIOC Director Jonathan Kalkin, who was present for the breakfast, spoke up describing his and RIOC's active participation in providing New York City with information and feedback on Roosevelt Island as a possible site for a new Applied Research and Engineering University campus.  Mr. Stringer answered by indicating that all Roosevelt Island viewpoints would be listened to in the land use approval process.

The final question of the hour long meeting was asked by our hungry correspondent Dave Evans who wanted to know of any 2013 Mayoral aspirations by Mr. Stringer. The Manhattan Borough President responded that he is not an announced candidate though he is exploring that option. Mr. Stringer emphasized  that New Yorkers are seeking a more collaborative government and, according to Mr. Stringer, a Mayor that doesn't tell them what to do but who will forge compromise and move issues forward.

I think the consensus of those Roosevelt Island residents attending the meeting was that Mr. Stringer was well prepared, knowledgeable about Roosevelt Island issues and that he will be a candidate for Mayor in 2013

Image Of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer With Roosevelt Island Residents At Trellis Diner