Report From RIOC President Leslie Torres - Tram Bathrooms Open March 5, Good Shepherd Plaza Restoration Resumes March 1, New York Power Authority Tree Program, & Congratulations On 20 Years of Public Safety Service To Captain Suarez

 Image of Closed But Soon To Be Open Roosevelt Island Tram Bathrooms

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Lesie Torres sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents.

From time to time, I will be using this column to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of RIOC staff members who help life on Roosevelt Island run smoothly. A perfect example is Captain Estrella Suarez from our Public Safety Department.

Last month marked the beginning of Suarez’s twentieth year as a member of the Public Safety team. In 2005 she was promoted to captain, becoming the department’s highest-ranking uniformed officer. “She is the consummate professional,” says PSD Director Keith Guerra. “Simply put, she is the backbone of our department.”

In addition to being responsible for important administrative work, such as scheduling and payroll, Suarez assists Guerra with the day-to-day supervision of the Public Safety force, and with creating and implementing the department’s policies and procedures. She also supervises PSD’s Anti-Crime Unit.

For Suarez, law enforcement is not about “putting the bad guy away,” but rather about helping people. It’s a job she embraces for its challenges. “The work is complex and can be dangerous,” she says. “Every day is unique, but I like solving different problems and I have a passion for the job.”

With the help of Suarez’s leadership, PSD is a particularly tight-knit group – so much so that she refers to the department as “the family.” Officers have one another’s backs, whether it’s on the job, or it’s offering support when a fellow officer is in need.

Like so many RIOC staff members, Suarez is grateful for the opportunity to work on Roosevelt Island. “It’s a beautiful place and I feel like I’m among friends here,” she says. “If I didn’t work here, I would definitely live here. It’s the best place in the world.”

New York Power Authority Tree Program

RIOC will be participating once again this spring in the New York Power Authority (NYPA) Tree Program, which is run in conjunction with the New York State Nursery Association, Inc. In order to help make New York greener and enhance the environment, NYPA will match the cost of trees purchased. Due to the high demand and a limited supply, this year RIOC has been allotted only 38 trees – 10 Red Maples, 10 Honey Locusts and 18 Flowering Cherry Trees. The trees are scheduled to be delivered in early April and will be planted throughout the Island.

Construction Updates

The newly renovated men’s and women’s restrooms at the Tram station will be open for public use starting on Monday, March 5. We hope they will add a measure of convenience for residents and visitors.

On March 1 contractors will resume the repair work to the plaza around the Good Shepherd Community Center. The work began last year, but was suspended for the winter months. The construction, which will involve the installation of new pavers, is scheduled to be completed by May.