Roosevelt Island's Minute Men and Women Fighting Back Against Albany's Colonial Rule Appointment To RIOC Board Of Directors - Sign Petition, Join June 29 Protest Demonstration At Governors Office and Speak Up At Next RIOC Board of Directors Meeting

 Image of Massachusetts Minute Men From National Park Service

Like their American Revolutionary War Minute Men ancestors, the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) is fighting back against the appointment by New York Governor  Andrew Cuomo of the real estate conflict ridden, non-resident, non-elected Child School Executive Director Sal Fererra to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors. This is how RIRA is planning to fight back. According to RIRA: 

Fight for Democracy

Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Senate Finance Committee created a tsunami that swept democracy into the East River for Roosevelt Islanders. Governor Cuomo appointed an unelected, non-Island resident, Dr. Sal Ferrera, Executive Director of The Child School, to replace our elected Board member, Jonathan Kalkin on the RIOC Board of Directors. Ferrera’s bid was backed by Republican Senator from Brooklyn, Martin Golden, who received a campaign contribution from Ferrera’s prior workplace. 

We need to send the message to Governor Cuomo, Senator Golden and Dr. Ferrera that back-door politics, ignoring democratic principles, and treating Roosevelt Island like a colony, where favors and money buy their way into our governance, is totally unacceptable!

You can help fight against this secret, behind closed door political deal that spits in the face of Roosevelt Island residents by signing this online petition.

RIRA is also organizing a protest demonstration at the Governor's Office this Wednesday June 29:

... Join your neighbors and friends at the Governor’s Manhattan office. Remind our Governor that the U.S. Constitution imparts the right to live in democracy to all citizens of the U.S., and that our forefathers died to protect democratic principles, not make the world safe for Public Benefit Corporations and government by appointment!

The protest will on Wednesday, June 29, from 11 am to 1 pm. We will be across the street from the Governor's office, at 633 3rd Ave. Watch this website and the kiosks for updates. Be sure to wear your red, white and blue and bring signs...

And RIRA is encouraging Roosevelt Island community members to speak up later that day at the RIOC Board Meeting

Tell RIOC's board how unsatisfied you are

Attend RIOC's board meeting on Wednesday June 29, 5:30pm at Manhattan Park Community Center (8 River Road). Sign up for a slot to address the board at the public comment period.

Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin sent the following letter, dated June 24, to Governor Cuomo:

I’m writing to discuss the governance of Roosevelt Island and the constitution of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) Board of Directors.

For nearly a decade and a half, the residents of Roosevelt Island and their elected leaders worked together to develop a better process for appointing individuals to the RIOC board.

As you know, during Governor Spitzer’s administration, we were finally successful in reaching an arrangement whereby community elections would be held for the purpose of selecting residents to be considered for appointment to the RIOC board. While not exactly direct democracy, this was a major milestone in the Island’s fight for self-determination.

Your recent decision to scrap that process without informing or consulting the community or local elected officials is extremely disappointing.

This is a very important issue for my constituents on Roosevelt Island and for me personally. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter more fully at your earliest convenience.

Protest movements need songs to rally behind. Roosevelt Island's version of Phil Ochs, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan all rolled up in one is Joyce Mincheff who has written these lyrics.

To the tune of Yankee Doodle:

Andrew Cuomo thinks he's king
He acts like Lord and master
He took away democracy
And left us with disaster!

States enforce democracy
Like Maine and Carolina
We are US Citizens-
We don't live in Red China!

Our fathers died on foreign shores
They sacrificed in battle
We're not an asset to be ruled
Like trains, canals, or cattle

Andrew Cuomo keep it up
You're showing your true colors
Ours are red and white and blue
While yours are all the others!

To the tune of The Wanderer:

King Andrew is the guy

Who stripped away our vote

He thinks we're not an island

Just an asset with a moat!

And when he wants to play

That game of politics-

He trades away democracy

Appointing all his picks-

Well he's a hypocrite, yes he's a hypocrite,

Tradin' around, and 'round, and 'round and 'round, and 'round and 'round

Well he's a hypocrite, yes he's a hypocrite,

Tradin' around, and 'round, and 'round and r'ound, and 'round and 'round

 and "I'm Just a Lonely Boy"

You're just an autocrat

Clear through and through

Back-dooring deals

No- nothing is new.

You can decry,

Protest and defend,

Appointing our board's

Democracy's end.

Mr. Fererra still has not stated publicly whether he will resign or stay on as a RIOC Board member as he had previously promised to do by last Monday.

If Mr. Fererra truly believes he is acting in the best interests of the Roosevelt Island community, he should resign his RIOC Board Directorship immediately and run in the next scheduled election for RIOC Board nominations.

More information on the reasons why Roosevelt Island residents are upset at this appointment to the RIOC Board from previous posts.

UPDATE 5:15 PM - Mr. Fererra responds with a letter explaining his decision to remain on the RIOC Board of Directors.