Roosevelt Island Residents Association Public Safety Committee Report - Questions Raised On Parking Favoritism, Car, Bike & Pedestrian Traffic Safety, Motorgate and Vertical Building Patrols and Graffiti Among Issues Reviewed

Below is the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Safety Committee report to the June 2012 RIRA Common Council:

RIRA PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 5/22/12

Follow up Initiatives:

Vertical Patrols:

None of the committee members present stated that they had seen vertical patrols being conducted in their buildings. Members acknowledged that PSO’s were seen at the door station in Westview this month, but not on the floors or in the stairways.

The PSC Chair brought up the fact that there had not been any reports of robberies, to the committee members, in the buildings, and stated that she would follow up with the director on whether he was utilizing the same strategy as last quarter targeting the “hot spots”.

Traffic Control:

Although there appear to be several new officers who are not as well trained in traffic control as some of the more seasoned officers, there has been an officer presence during the morning hours on Saturday at the Green Market, and in the mornings during the week. A member of the committee questioned the school crossing guard’s assignment, noting that there had been one morning when she wasn’t present, before 9am, and expressed concern because cars were ignoring the stop sign. The PSC Chair stated she would ask the Director for clarification of the hours.

Other problems sighted by committee members continue to be about the pedestrians who ignore cross walks, walk out in front of moving cars, and the bicycles that continue to ride on the sidewalk. Committee members would like to see PSO’s take a more instructional role with the pedestrians, who create potentially dangerous conditions to themselves and others, by ignoring the traffic regulations. Committee members would like to see PSO’s educating pedestrians and those riding their bicycles illegally, on safety as well as on the rules and regulations, and the legal ramifications possible, if these laws are disobeyed. The idea of taking one day a month and stopping drivers who run through the stop, giving a verbal warning, was also suggested as a deterrent.

Motorgate patrols:

Officer Sitaras informed RIRA members during May’s meeting about the two recent robberies at Motorgate. Committee members expressed concern stating that they had not noticed an increase patrols during the past month, and some felt they had seen them less frequently. Concern over the use of the stairwells as urinals again, since the bathroom doors have been locked, brought up the question of who is responsible for patrolling the stairways, which are being vandalized, and why it doesn’t seem to be done. Individuals who park in motorgate have not seen patrols as frequently as in the past. Committee members shared interest in knowing why the stairways are not being patrolled as well, since now that the bathrooms at Motorgate are locked, they are again being used as urinals. Chair will email Director with this concern.

Parking Enforcement:

One committee member stated that Parking Enforcement continues to be problems at Southtown. Reports are that on the East Channel, cars are not being equally ticketed and are being allowed to park all day Sunday, straight through the night until Monday, without being given a ticket. The same cars continue to be given breaks. A Range Rover, with Pennsylvania plates, Door Station employees, restaurant owners who claim to utilize their vehicles for deliveries during the day, etc.

Tickets are being given out more often in the North Town areas, although cars, which brandish a “Public Safety 2012” card on the dashboard, are not being ticketed

Discussion ensued about the Public Safety 2012 cards, allegedly provided to PSO as an incentive, by management. It is alleged that each officer is given 12 cards, which they can give to their family and friends. These cards allow the owner of the card to park on the Roosevelt Island Street without paying the muni-meter or being issued a ticket. This card was seen on the dashboard of a BMW, in front of Westview. The car remained in that spot for several hours without the need to display a muni-meter ticket on their dashboard, and without getting a ticket. When Howard, a RIOC Board member was questioned about this procedure he stated that he was unaware of it. A RIRA member originally brought this issue to committee member’s attention after the May RIRA meeting. At her request the PSC Chair emailed the Director for information, which has not received a response yet.

Committee members questioned the legality of these cards, since they were taking capital away from the city, as well as the moral issue which concerns the limited number of parking spots available to residents. It was discussed that if RIOC felt that this perk was necessary for its Officers, and didn’t feel that they should have to pay for parking at Motorgate, then a location should be offered for them to park in, like a lot, as it does for the Dry Cleaner, rather then taking several of the very limited number of parking spots available on the streets. Chair will bring this issue up in the Operation Committee meeting in June.

New Business:
Concern was expressed for the Graffiti, which has increased, as pointed out in the letter in the WIRE. Chair will follow up on what PS is doing to eradicate this problem.

UPDATE 1:40 PM - RIOC Public Safety Director Keith Guerra informs me that the incidents at the Motorgate characterized as "robberies" were larcenies - the difference being that robbery is a crime against a person, not a car as happened in this case.