Will NY Governor Andrew Cuomo Respect Call For Roosevelt Island Democracy By Appointing Elected Residents To RIOC Board? Elected Officials Maloney, Lappin, Serrano & Kellner Urge His Support For Democracy

You Tube Video Of Counting The RIOC Board Director Nominee Election Vote

As previously reported:

Roosevelt Island residents Jonathan Kalkin, Howard Polivy and Fay Christian were the three top vote getters in the February 7 RIOC Board of Director Nominee election....

The next step is for Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg to appoint the three Roosevelt Island elected resident nominees to the expired seats on the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Of Directors. Showing their support for the elected RIOC Board nominee candidates, Roosevelt Island elected officials Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin, State Senator Jose Serrano and Assembly Member Micah Kellner sent the following letter to Governor Cuomo urging their appointment.

Dear Governor Cuomo,

We are writing to you as the local elected officials who represent Roosevelt Island. As you know, Roosevelt Island is governed by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC). RIOC is a public benefit corporation whose board members are appointed by you as governor. For many years residents have sought a greater voice in determining the future of their island home.

In response to these calls, the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) began holding island-wide elections to recommend residents’ choices for filling RIOC seats. Since 2007, both Governors Spitzer and Paterson chose board members from groups of nominees presented to them as the winners of popular elections. However, last year a member was appointed to the board without the consultation of local residents or elected officials.

The most recent election was held on February 7, 2012. Residents cast ballots for three vacant spots; the top candidates were Jonathan Kalkin, Howard Polivy, and Fay Christian. We applaud the results of this recommendation as an example of democracy in action. The residents have selected nominees who represent Roosevelt Island’s diversity and activism.

RIOC makes important decisions about the day-to-day lives of our constituents, and will play a key role as the city’s new applied sciences and engineering campus is constructed on Roosevelt Island. Residents deserve a voice in choosing who will represent them on the board.

While we know that you are not legally bound by the election results, we request that after vetting by your staff, you appoint the three winning candidates to the RIOC Board of Directors so, as set out by statue, they may be confirmed by the State Senate as soon as possible. Attached are the nominees’ resumes for your review.

Click here for the entire letter to Governor Cuomo from the Roosevelt Island Elected Officials.

Governor Cuomo's first back-room political patronage appointment to the RIOC Board of an unelected, non-resident with self professed very little knowledge about Roosevelt Island to the RIOC Board was a spit in the face to Roosevelt Island residents. Perhaps, this time will be different.

More information on the RIOC Board Nominee elections available from previous posts.