Recent Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incidents - PSD Officers Rescue Man From East River, Pedestrian Almost Hit By Delivery Scooter & Stolen Car Recovered From Motorgate Garage - RIOC Directors Encourage RIOC Staff To Communicate Better With Directors and Media

Delivery Bike image from Workcycles for illustrative purposes only

On February 28, I sent the following inquiry to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez and Public Safety Director Keith Guerra:

The 2/27 - 2/28 Public Safety Report indicates:

Aided - Adj to the Tram. Male jumped into the River. PSD rescued him. EMS removed aided to the hospital.

My understanding was that the man was rescued from East River by NYPD. Is that incorrect? If PSD did rescue the man, I am happy to do a story about that. Can you please clarify what happened at this incident.

Can you provide additional details regarding these incidents reported in the 2/27 - 2/28 Public Safety report?

Investigation - A deliveryman on a scooter almost struck a pedestrian. Owner of the restaurant was notified.

and:

Recovered Stolen Vehicle - At 688 Main Street. PSD and NYPD filed reports and the vehicle was towed out of the garage.

I have been receiving reports from residents concerned about restaurant delivery persons riding their bikes and scooters in an unsafe manner. Which restaurant was the delivery person from, where did incident happen, what time of day did this happen and what will RIOC do to enforce traffic rules and regulations on restaurant deliveries.

On the recovered stolen vehicle - did it belong to a Roosevelt Island resident, how did RIOC learn that the vehicle was stolen, have their been other stolen vehicles found in the Motorgate garage.

Thank you.

Later that day RIOC's Press Spokesperson answered:

The man was rescued from the East River by two PSD officers. NYPD responded, but arrived after he was already receiving treatment.

The delivery man was warned and admonished. Next time, he is observed operating the scooter in an unsafe manner, he will be ticketed.

The stolen vehicle did not belong to an Island resident.

The issue of RIOC staff communications with RIOC Directors and media, including this blog and the WIRE newspaper, was discussed during the February 27 Operations Committee meeting. The RIOC Directors urged the staff to improve communications with the Board as well as with the media. An audio webcast of the Operations Committee meeting is available below and the discussion regarding communications begins at about the 1 hour 43 minute and 30 second mark.



Other items discussed during the February 27 Operations Committee meeting include the Cornell SEQRA Resolution, Roosevelt Island Tram Operations, conditions of RIOC employees warehouse shed facilities, issues with the Roosevelt Island Garden Club and FEMA reimbursing RIOC for Hurricane Irene related spending.