Saturday, February 18, 2012

Roosevelt Island's Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney Asks Where Are The Women At Congressional Hearing On Contraception and Religious Liberty

 Image of All Men Testifying At Congressional Hearings From Andrew Sullivan's The Dish

The NY Post reports yesterday:
A fuming Rep. Carolyn Maloney yesterday stormed out of a congressional committee hearing on contraception and religious protection — because the witness panel was entirely male.

“What I want to know is: Where are the women?” the Manhattan Democrat said. “I don’t see one individual representing the tens of millions of women across the country who want and need insurance coverage for basic preventive health-care services, including family planning.”...
Here's Congresswoman Maloney asking "Where are the women"


You Tube Video of Congresswoman Maloney Asking Where Are The Women

and questioning the all male panel during the hearing.


You Tube Video of Congresswoman Maloney Questioning Witnesses At Contraception/Religious Liberty Hearings

A report on the contraception and religious liberty Congressional hearing


You Tube Video Of Congressional Hearings on Contraception and Religious Liberty

and Stephen Colbert's take on the issue.


Ouch.

Family Seeking Information on Deceased Roosevelt Island Resident Andre Sass - Can You Help?

Image From Judy Berdy

Roosevelt Island resident Judy Berdy asks:
A family member of Island resident Andre Sass is looking for information on him . Andre Sass lived in 546 Main Street until 2010. He passed away that year. If you were a friend or knew Andre please e-mail:
jbird134@gmail.com

Friday, February 17, 2012

Roosevelt Island Mobile Food Truck Killing Plan Proposed By RIOC Staff - Resident RIOC Directors Push Back and Get Location Near Subway For Mobile Food Truck - I Think?

Image of Mexicue Food Van At Battery Park City From DNA Info

As reported earlier this week, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Real Estate Committee scheduled a meeting for yesterday to discuss, among other issues, Mobile Food Truck vendors operating on Roosevelt Island (audio web cast of the meeting is here).

After 2 months of study and deliberation, the RIOC staff presented their proposal yesterday for allowing Mobile Food Trucks to serve the starving, restaurant deprived population of Roosevelt Island. The result? As Roosevelt Island resident and RIOC Director Margie Smith commented during the meeting:
I think you are going to kill the whole thing if you start doing this ... If we don't want vendors, this is the way to do it...
What was the Mobile Food Truck Killing Plan proposed by RIOC staff? The RIOC staff proposed allowing Mobile Food Trucks or street vendors to operate in six locations - but incredibly, not on the West Channel Road by the F Train subway station used by several thousand Roosevelt Island residents


on their way home from work or school in the evenings and the location where Luke's Lobster Rolls Mobile Food Truck was kicked off by Public Safety last December opposite the Starbucks which started this brouhaha.

The six locations proposed for mobile food trucks or street vendors are:
Lighthouse Park
Octagon Soccer Field
Existing Farmers Market
Existing Fruit Stand Market on Sidewalk by Subway and Duane Reade


At The Tram Station where the Mr. Softee Ice Cream Truck was this summer


and Southpoint Park.

The RIOC staff also proposed mandating that New York City licensed Mobile Food Trucks obtain a monthly permit from RIOC as well as pay a $350 monthly fee in order to serve the Roosevelt Island population. Mobile Food Trucks do not need to obtain permits other than NYC License to operate in any other NYC neighborhood nor do they have to pay any additional fee.

After much prodding and insisting from the resident RIOC Directors, I think, though am not sure, the RIOC staff agreed to add a location for Mobile Food Trucks near the subway if the space complies with NYC regulations.

Here's what happened at the meeting.


You Tube Video of RIOC Mobile Food Truck Meeting

RIOC's plan to mandate additional permitting of NYC licensed food trucks and to allocate certain areas for them to operate in presupposes that RIOC has the authority to do so.  Roosevelt Island resident Mark Lyon attending the meeting and challenged RIOC's right to require additional permits for Mobile Food Trucks. RIOC's General Counsel Donald Lewis, who presented RIOC's plan, did not address the issues raised by Mr. Lyon but resident RIOC Director Howard Polivy stated he believed RIOC has the authority to regulate Roosevelt Island streets. Mr. Lewis also did not respond to my question as to what the rules and regulations are that might exclude Mobile Food Trucks from operating on the street near the subway.

Mr. Lyon comments on the authority of RIOC to regulate Mobile Food Trucks on Roosevelt Island:
My main concern is not the availability of Food Trucks, it is RIOC's insistence that they need to regulate and extract a profit from every activity on the island, even to the detriment of the people the Corporation should benefit.  The food truck issue, however, is a very compact and understandable example of the problem.

RIOC wanted to avail itself to the benefit of converting our private roads to city streets.  In doing so, they opened the streets up for compatible uses, including food trucks with valid all-city permits.  RIOC's imposition of additional conditions on the presence of food trucks, over and above the regulations of the City of New York, is unnecessary and an abuse of their authority. RIOC permits serve no purpose but to deter food trucks from serving the island; no additional safety is provided by the scheme, which relies on the permits these vendors already have. As we've heard in the past few meetings, these restrictions seem to be geared toward ensuring the happiness of their commercial lessees (Related and others) and not the citizens of the island.  To that end, offering an expensive, limited use permit is an excellent way to eliminate the possibility of Roosevelt Island becoming a "dinner stop" for food trucks heading to the commissaries in Queens each night.

Based on my reading of the law and the ground lease, I believe that RIOC lacks the authority to prohibit the lawful use of the roads on the island.  They can certainly determine where they wish to locate parking spaces, set speed limits and control other features of the roads, but requiring certain classes of users to buy permits when that authority has already been taken (and permission to the vendors granted) by the City of New York is a step too far.  

If RIOC has this authority, do they also have the authority to regulate delivery services?  Can they set special rates for Taxicabs or require that they remain on-island until they pick up a fare?  Could they, with appropriate exceptions for City and Hospital workers (who cannot be denied access under the master lease), require every driver on the island to obtain a yearly license from PSD?  The latter would arguably make the island far safer.  PSD could require additional testing - perhaps a practical exam on how to stop at crosswalks - in order to be able to enter main street.  Perhaps we could set up a checkpoint to verify that everyone's papers are in order.

Personally, I would love to see RIOC carve out a few parking spaces and dedicate them to commercial loading/unloading and food truck use.  Ideally, these spaces would be located within sight of the subway entrance / exit, where residents can easily see who is there each day.  Any food trucks serving illegally (either without a city permit or from a location prohibited by law) could be ticketed by PSD.

Ultimately, though, the effort to limit the presence of food trucks stems from a desire to protect the lessees of various portions of the island.  While the proprietors of Riverwalk have been very involved in the discussions, the Real Estate Committee has done an excellent job of protecting Related by ensuring that all discussions exclude the possibility of food trucks in their "retail corridor".  This protectionism is to be expected from a corporation seeking to maximize return to shareholders, but shouldn't be what we receive from an organization whose charter requires them to benefit the public they serve.  RIOC's own mismanagement of the retail spaces on this island are, in part, the reason we have limited selections. When presented with an opportunity to improve the situation in a small way, their immediate reaction is to regulate and tax it out of existence instead of encouraging its growth.

This highly disappointing reaction by the Corporation speaks volumes about the lack of respect our governing authority has for the residents of this community. With the coming campus, there will be many more important decisions to be made in the near future.  I fear that if this continues to be the approach taken when addressing issues on the island, it will ensure the failure of the wonderful experiment that is Roosevelt Island.
Riverwalk Bar & Grill owner Jonathan Hoo adds his perspective:
I think that it would be great if there were more food choices on Roosevelt Island and hopefully it will happen sooner than later. I am not opposed to Food trucks at all from a consumer standpoint. I love to eat. Love variety and frankly wouldn’t mind something different to eat every now and then while on Roosevelt Island. I would, however, be doing myself as a business owner a disservice if I didn’t represent myself at these meetings and simply ask that current parking regulations that are in place not be changed in order to accommodate food truck vending directly outside of my establishment.

I believe in Capitalism and I believe competition breeds better business in the long run. I think that food trucks would be a welcome sight on Roosevelt Island and could add cuisines that are not currently available. Their presence could possibly retain current residents that currently eat off island and can possibly lure non-islanders to the island. Both of which would have an immediate positive economic impact on the island.

Food truck operators have overhead like anyone else and incur expenses like any other business. They have to get a health permit, maintain their trucks and get insurance. There are plenty of costs associated with food trucks. The food truck operators have relatively low start up-costs, but just because they found a way to reduce costs doesn’t mean they should be punished. I also don’t think that they are currently being punished by having to abide by RIOC guidelines. If you want to do business somewhere, you can’t just walk in and open up shop. There is procedure for everything and I applaud RIOC for doing their due diligence on this matter. They have considered zoning regulations, traffic flow issues and pedestrian flow.

There is an already very fragile economic consumer system on Roosevelt Island and as a business owner who has employed twenty two current and former Roosevelt Island residents, I appreciate that I have a governing body that has taken the time to at least consider the economic impact on local business who has tried employ locally.

I think that RIOC has taken the time to offer a reasonable amount of locations for which food vending would be allowed. As per the Real Estate meeting on Feb 16th, they offered 6 locations. One of which is the circle outside the tram. As the two major transportation hubs on and off Roosevelt Island are the subway and the tram, I see this as a great location for food trucks and/or vendors. Under the master lease agreement with Related/Hudson, there can be no vending from Blackwell House to
Motorgate. That leaves the area north of Motorgate and then south of Blackwell. The only other concentration of residents outside of the Octagon lies in Southtown and they would be serviced by the food trucks at the Tram circle. It is roughly 600 feet from the front door at 475 Main Street to the Tram Circle and a little less than 500 feet from the Subway entrance to the Tram Circle. I, personally, would walk 3 blocks for a good food truck. I don’t see how it could be much more convenient based on how the roads are laid out on Roosevelt Island.

There are over 120 locations throughout NYC that have restrictions on when and where food Carts can exist (Department of Health and Mental Hygine. Title 17, Sections 17-315((k and l() in the New York City Administrative Code and Title 6, Section 2-314 of the Rules of the City of New York.) besides the blanket laws on distance from certain public egresses, bus stops and metered parking. I do not think RIOC is setting precedent by examining the unique infrastructure of this island and making decisions in the best interest on the majority of the community.
UPDATE 11:15 PM - Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy adds:
I was present at the Real Estate meeting, It is apparent that the RIOC staff has little knowledge or interest in the need of mobile food trucks on the island. The locations at the Soccer Field, Lighthouse, Southpoint Park are a joke. There are few visitors to these sites to support a truck except on a few weekend days a year. Charging a fee of $365- for a month will deter most trucks from coming to the island.

RIOC's counsel could not answer many of the questions raised and it is apparent that they are not interested in expediting the arrival of the trucks.

My solution is trucks can park on the West Road between the Tram and Subway. There are parking spaces there that are empty 90% of the time. This is a convenient area for people arriving by tram and subway.

There is no reason for RIOC to demand permits as long as the truck is certified by the City. PSD can come by and look at their permits. If they are in order they stay.

Listening to the staff, it seems that they are making a mountain out of a molehill. Permits, fees, and negotiations would ensure that no food truck would ever bother to come to the island.

Let's stop the beaurocratic nonsense and have some trucks come on the island for free.

They will be making dining here more interesting.

Roosevelt Island Youth Program Beacon PS/IS 217 Young Ladies Volleyball Team - Still Time To Sign Up For Volleyball League Games


From the Roosevelt Island Youth Program:
The Roosevelt Island Youth Program's 10 to 15 year old ladies volleyball team showed off their new uniforms this week during practice, coaches Paul Hardy and Ernest Keith have been working with the girls since October to learn the rules and be ready for game play. The girls meet Wednesday and Thursday 4PM to 6PM to practice and will soon start playing league games, if you are interested in joining come by the school or call 212-527-2505 after 3PM for additional information. This is just one of the many activities being held at the Roosevelt Island Youth Program so com-on get involved. A picture of the team is below, lets wish them luck!
As reported last week, the Roosevelt Island After School PS/IS 217 Beacon Program is in danger of being eliminated by proposed New York City Budget cuts.

Images From Roosevelt Island Youth Program - Standing from left to right -Coach Earnest Keith, Maria Meriton, Emily Hanley, Nonya Khedr, Michelle Davis, Yacine Ndiaye, Eunate Martinez, Tateanna Johnson, Linda Mkapa, Coach Paul Hardy.
Sitting from left to right- Jenny Siguachi, Elisa Castillo, Jesca Emmanuel, Tiffany Gonsalves, Tanji Jarvis.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

No Queens Bound Roosevelt Island F Train Service From Manhattan Friday February 17 10 PM Until 5 AM Tuesday February 21 - Extended Roosevelt Island Tram and Red Bus Service Until 5 AM

Image of Blurred, Moving F Train From Venus in Furs

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) issued the following F Train service advisory:
The MTA has advised there will be:

No Queens Bound F-Train Service 10:00 p.m. - Friday, February 17  to 5:00 a.m. - Tuesday, February 21

Tram< and Red Bus Service will run until 5:00 a.m.

For more information please visit www.mta.info

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group
More information available from the MTA.

What Is The Future of Roosevelt Island's 504 Main Street? Is Proposed Child School Plan For Second Floor Dance/Theater Auditorium Incompatible With Hoped For Public Library Space?

Image of 504 Main Street

The future of Roosevelt Island's 504 Main was reported on in this previous post last November:
... There is a consensus among residents that the first floor should be used as the new home for the Roosevelt Island Public Library. The new Main Street Master Leaseholder, Hudson/Related, has expressed a willingness to rent the first floor of 504 Main Street to the Library, the Library has expressed a desire to rent that space but there is still an open question as to how such a deal will be financed. Estimates have been $10-15 million dollars to build a library at 504.

What type of tenant leases the second floor at 504 Main Street is another question and there are competing visions for that space. Among those seeking the second floor space is the Child School, whose Executive Director Sal Fererra is also a recently appointed, and controversial Director of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC), the Sub-Landlord to Master Leaseholder Hudson Related. Mr. Fererra has publicly announced his desire to develop an Arts Center for the second floor of 504 Main Street.

... among the uses being considered for the second floor space was:
  • green office/desk/ conference space for freelance workers,
  • the Child School proposal, 
  • a place of worship for the Roosevelt Island Islamic Society and 
  • space for the Gallery RIVAA. ...
During the February meeting of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association Public Session, concern was raised by Janet Falk of the Roosevelt Island Community Literary Associates regarding the possible leasing of the second floor of 504 Main Street to the Child School for a Dance/Theater auditorium and its compatibility with the use of the first floor as a public library.


You Tube Video of 504 Main Street Discussion

I asked RIOC Director and Child School Executive Director Sal Ferrera if leasing the second floor of 504 Main Street to the Child School for a Dance/Theater auditorium would be compatible with the quiet and study of a Public Library on the first floor of the building due to the noise and activity taking place from the Dance/Theater auditorium.

Mr. Fererra replied:
We are cognizant of the sound issues. Our plans include soundproofing all of our rooms
Hudson Related Master Leaseholder David Kramer answered question regarding 504 Main Street at Retail Town Hall Meeting held last October. Here's what he had to say.

Is there need of another space for theater and dance performances on Roosevelt Island? The Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance has existing  space for such purposes. There's also the outdoor Eastwood Amphitheater which will have Shakespeare performances this summer.

Windows On Welfare Island Photo Exhibit By Danielle Hayes Presented By Roosevelt Island Historical Society At Octagon Gallery Starting This Weekend - Opening Reception February 19


From the Roosevelt Island Historical Society:
An exhibition of 19 color-infused photographs captures the abandoned hospital buildings of Welfare Island, as Roosevelt Island was formerly called, and injects them with new life. Windows on Welfare Island collects images taken by Dannielle Hayes in 1968, at a time when the southern portion of the island was ignored and largely forgotten, long before politicians and housing officials considered developing a residential community.

The show is at the Octagon Gallery, 888 Main Street on Roosevelt Island, from February 18 to March 18, 2012. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, February 19, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

"When Dannielle Hayes first showed her photos in a small exhibition organized by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society in 1998, the Society had conducted limited research on their context. The current show incorporates facts and details that we have subsequently learned about the sites and buildings she photographed more than 40 years ago," said Judith Berdy, President of The Roosevelt Island Historical Society, which presents this exhibition. Dannielle Hayes documented the architectural remains of the abandoned sites over a period of three weekends, often without knowing the names of the buildings, since there were few identifying signs.

"It was as if the doctors, nurses and patients had just left one day. I photographed rooms full of rusty beds; rooms with painted storybook characters peeling off the walls and baby bottles strewn about the floor," said Hayes.

"In 1998, at the request of Judith Berdy, I took a contemporary look at the photos from thirty years prior. I utilized the then-new Canon Color Laser Copier to transform the original black and white negatives into colour, a first in technology. I then made transfer prints and heat transferred the images to 100% archival Rives BFK paper. Each print is a unique image," she added.The exhibition is free and open to the public daily, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Here are two of the photos from the Danielle Hayes Windows on Welfare Island Octagon Gallery exhibit.

Images From Danielle Hayes

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Roosevelt Island Grandparents Safety Day February 23 At Seniors Center - Get Info On How To Keep You and Your Grandkids Safer At Home & On The Road


Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department invite you to attend Grandparents Safety Day at the Seniors Center on February 23, 2012.
Get information that will keep you and your grandkids safer at home & on the road. Light refreshments will be served.

Will Restaurant Starved Roosevelt Island Residents Get Mobile Food Trucks Or Will RIOC Board Of Directors Stymie Competition To Protect Existing Restaurants - RIOC Board Meeting on Mobile Food Trucks Thursday February 16



It all started last December with Luke's Lobster Roll Mobile Food Truck being kicked off Roosevelt Island.

Will Roosevelt Island residents, one of the most restaurant lacking neighborhoods in NYC, ever be able to enjoy the variety and edible delights of Mobile Food Truck offerings that exist in many other NYC neighborhoods? We may soon know the answer to that question but first here's the current status of Mobile Food Truck access to Roosevelt Island as reported in this previous post on Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors January 11 Real Estate Committee meeting.
... the subject of Roosevelt Island Mobile Food Truck service is still being studied and evaluated by RIOC. During the well attended RIOC Real Estate Committee meeting we learned:
  • Mobile Food Trucks do not need any additional licenses or permits other than those granted by New York City to operate in Battery Park City and that Battery Park City defers to NYC rules and regulations regarding Mobile Food Trucks on its streets,
  • RIOC believes it has the authority to require Mobile Food Trucks with NYC licenses to obtain additional permits from RIOC even thought the mobile food trucks can operate in other NYC neighborhoods,
  • Riverwak Bar & Grill/Nonno's Focacceria Pizza owner Alphonse DiCioccio objects to mobile food trucks on Roosevelt Island though co-owner Jonathan Hoo acknowledges that additional food choices on the Island would be a good thing, just not too close to his restaurant,
  • Some RIOC Directors expressed the view that existing restaurants need to be protected from the mobile food trucks while other Directors think that competition will sort things out,
  • a resident made the excellent comparison of banning/restricting mobile food trucks on Roosevelt Island for the benefit of protecting existing restaurants from competition to banning Fresh Direct Grocery Deliveries in order to protect Gristedes,
  • Main Street Master Lease Agreement allows Hudson/Related to decide whether to allow Mobile Food Trucks/Street Vendors in the area from Blackwell House to Motorgate but not in Southtown or other locations on Roosevelt Island and
  • the Real Estate Committee will meet in a few weeks to make a decision...
Video and audio of that meeting is here.

A decision on Roosevelt Island Mobile Food Trucks may be forthcoming soon as it is again among the items on the Agenda for the RIOC) Board of Directors Real Estate Committee meeting on Thursday February 16. Here's the Agenda:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

AGENDA

1. Discussion of Street Vending Licenses on Roosevelt Island;
2. Review of RIOC-Controlled Community Spaces;
3. Chair's Motion for Executive Session to Review and Discuss the Status of Privatization/Affordability Plan and Ground Lease Extension for Island House.
During the January 11 RIOC Real Estate Committee, guidance was sought from the practice of Battery Park City in regard to Mobile Food Trucks. At that time RIOC was told there was no specific Battery Park City policy on the subject. Well now there are Mobile Food Trucks serving Battery Park City. According to the Downtown Express:
World Financial Center food trucks: It was exactly 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, when Albert Teran, owner of the Bongo Brothers Cuban Food Truck, firmly closed his window, disappointing several customers still waiting outside. “We have to stop selling at 3 p.m.,” he later explained. “Besides, I’d run out of food.”

Bongo Brothers was one of four food trucks parked in the cul-de-sac at North End Avenue and Vesey Street on the second day of Battery Park City’s newest dining amenity — four food trucks that will appear from Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., on a rotating schedule, bringing a variety of ethnic foods and desserts to B.P.C.’s hungry hordes.

The idea originated with Brookfield Office  Properties, owner of the World Financial Center, in an effort to make up for the dining options that are no longer available inside 2 World Financial Center during construction. To ensure good quality and variety, the food trucks were chosen with the help of the New York City Food Truck Association, which has 25 vendors....
and DNA Info:
... Other trucks that will make appearances during the lot's first week include Frites 'N' MeatsMilk TruckCoolhausSchnitzel & ThingsMexicue and Rickshaw Dumplings.


"There's clearly a lack of food that's served in Battery Park City today," David Cheikin, Brookfield's director of leasing, said when announcing the plan for food trucks late last year.
"The more dining options we can bring down, the better off it is for anyone."...
The subject of Roosevelt Island Mobile Food Trucks came up during January 19 RIOC Board meeting. RIOC Director and Real Estate Committee Chair Howard Polivy indicated that street safety and logistics were the main criteria to determine how and where Mobile Food Trucks could be located on Roosevelt Island. RIOC Director David Kraut appeared to take the position that protecting existing Roosevelt Island merchants from competition of Mobile Food trucks was an additional valid concern of RIOC notwithstanding the desire of residents for the Mobile Food Trucks.

Here's the discussion.


You Tube Video of RIOC Board Mobile Food Truck Discussion

Both Mr. Polivy and and Mr. Kraut's term on the RIOC Board has expired. Mr. Polivy chose to run in the recent RIOC Board Nominee election to be reappointed to the RIOC Board and was one of the 3 election winners. Mr. Kraut chose not to participate in the residents RIOC Board Nominee election.

More info from New York City Food Truck Association and from previous posts.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Message From Roosevelt Island's Roosevelt Landings Service Committee - Goal Is To Keep An Open Chain Of Communications Between Residents and Urban American Landlord

Image of Roosevelt Landings f/k/a Eastwood

Received the following message from Roosevelt Island resident Romano Reid.
The Roosevelt Landings Service Committee is a board of (7-9) building delegates working in conjunction with our Urban American property manager (Doryne Isley) to better maintain the overall services for the developments residents.  Our mission is to keep an open chain of communication between Our property owners/managers/ Superintendents and residents. This Board is founded and chaired by Romano Reid.

According to New York State Real Property Law 230 ,Anybody who resides in the development in question can form, join, or start an organization. As a direct result The Service Committee is a Resident based group that addresses the overall concerns of the buildings.. The Committee will only address issues pertaining to individual residents at the sole request of the resident.

Please Note - The Roosevelt Landings Service Committee has (NO) affiliation with the Roosevelt Landings Residents Association.." WE ARE A STAND ALONE " COMMITTEE"... ALL RESIDENTS CAN FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US!!!

The (7) Building delegates are as follows:
  • Romano Reid > Chairperson
  • Vivian Hines > Co-Chairperson.
  • Liala Amatullah >Secretary
  • Kwasi Long > .
  • Nelli Velez >, .
  • Lorraine Williams >
  • Shirley Marshal.
Please Note: The Service committee is seeking (2) additional delegates to assist us in building business.

To date, our accomplishments include:

1) The service committee has worked with Doryne Isley of Urban American to implement a Halloween Patrol in the building since 2005.The Halloween patrol is comprised of maintenance workers and residents on Halloween from 6 PM 12 Midnight.

2) The Service Committee has also facilitated over 100 meetings between UA, residents .The meetings ranged from maintenance repairs, rent inaccuracies to neighborly disputes.

3)The service committee also monitors the overall level of service by UA maintenance staff..The committee meets with Doryne Isley on a as needed basis.

I ask that if any resident has issues to feel free to contact our group.

Email Contact
landingscommitte@gmail.com

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM ROOSEVELT ISLAND


Happy Valentine's Day from Roosevelt Island.

We all know that Roosevelt Island is for lovers so what could be more fitting for today than this report from the San Luis Obispo Tribune of a Roosevelt Island Tram marriage proposal:
... in 2003, Jim Dorf proposed to Jodie Steele on a tram traveling above the East River.

Dorf and Steele had frequently used the tram to get to a tennis court on Roosevelt Island, where they met. After two years of dating, Dorf, of New York, decided to propose to Steele, a San Luis Obispo native who went to grad school in New York. As they sat in the tram, the lit-up Manhattan skyline providing a romantic backdrop, Dorf placed an engagement ring that once belonged to his grandmother on her finger and said, “I want to marry you.”

“I said, ‘Oh my God!’ about 20 times,” Steele recalled. “And then I said, ‘Yes!’ ”

There were roughly 15 strangers on the tram, Steele said, but she’s not sure anyone even noticed.
The two married in Times Square seven and a half years ago and now live in San Luis Obispo....
Tell someone that you love them today - or do it in a song.


You Tube Video of Jim Croce's I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY B!!!!!

Grand Larceny At Roosevelt Landings Earlier This Week - Roosevelt Island January Monthly Public Safety Blotter Includes Bathroom Peeping Tom, Outstanding Warrant Arrest During Car Pullover, Marijuana Smoking, Child Looking For Help, Illegal Dumping, Concern For Dog Safety, Unpaid Bill Dispute & More

Image of RIOC Public Safety Logo from RIOC

The 2/11 - 12 Public Safety Report indicates that a Grand Larceny occurred at 540 Main Street.

Grand Larceny - At 540 Main Street.  Search made with negative results.   NYPD filed a report.

Yesterday, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) to provide additional details as to what was stolen, any damage or injuries involved, what time of day the incident occurred and any other relevant information. Will update when RIOC responds with information.

Below is the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Monthly Incident Blotter for January 2012. The Monthly Blotter Reports are a bit more detailed than the Daily Public Safety Reports included every day and archived on the middle sidebar column but they report on incidents 4- 6 weeks old. Included in the January 2012 Blotter are these incidents:
  • 1/26/2012 579 Main St Female victim advised female subject began using profanity towards her and threw hot coffee at her.  Victim refused NYPD and EMS.  Subject was apprehended and taken into custody.  NYPD and EMS on scene but would not transport
  • ILLEGAL DUMPING (GARAGE)
    1/17/2012 R/O 510 Main St Reporter advised unknown subject illegally dumping objects at location.  Objects were removed and area will be monitored.
  • 1/8/2012 560 Main St Reporter found a note left by an unknown child looking for help.  No further information provided
  • 1/18/2012 R/O 900 Main St Reporter advised of his concern with regard to the NYPD K9 unit training on the island.  Advised of a safety concern for his dog
  • 1/4/2012 555 Main St ARREST  Female victim advised she found cameras inside of her bathroom.  Her roommate (male subject) placed the cameras there. 
    Subject taken into custody and transported to the 114 Precinct for arrest processing
  • 1/3/2012 888 Main St ARREST  Male subject left dogs unattended in vehicle.  Upon arrival subject was questioned and became disorderly failing to follow lawful order.  Subject taken into custody, issued summons and released.
  • 1/13/2012 580 Main St ARREST  Two male youths observed at location unlawfully.  Upon lawful order youths became disorderly and resisted arrest.  Youths brought into PSD.  Youth reports filed and youths released to the custody of parent.
  • 1/19/2012 686 Main St ARREST  Two males acting disorderly, threatening bodily harm to employees at location.  Upon arrival subjects were apprehended and taken into custody.  Both subjects were issued summonses and released.
  • 1/8/2012 425 Main St Reporter advised customers left without paying their bill.  Customers were apprehended and taken in for questioning.  Upon investigation there was a miscommunication.  Customer went back to pay the bill and no charges were pressed
  • 1/9/2012 625 Main St ARREST  Male subject observed making illegal u-turn.  Upon car stop smell of marijuana present.  Upon lawful search found zip lock bag of marijuana.  Subject taken into custody, issued summons for traffic violation as well as criminal court summons and released.
  • 1/28/2012 560 Main St ARREST  Male subject observed making an illegal u-turn.  Upon stop and investigation, male subject had a warrant out for his arrest.  Subject taken into custody and transported to 114 Precinct for arrest processing.
  • 1/27/2012 R/O 625 Main St ARREST  Male subject observed smoking a marijuana cigarette.  Subject apprehended and transported to 114 Precinct for arrest processing.
  • 1/11/2012 F/O 645 Main St While driving vehicle in front of location motorist lost control of vehicle and struck two parked vehicles.  NYPD on scene for report.
What was not mentioned in the 1/11/2012 report of a vehicle accident in front of 645 Main Street (PS/IS 217) is that the motorist who lost control was a Public Safety Officer in a Public Safety Vehicle. Still no explanation from RIOC as to the cause of this incident. Public Safety Blotter January 2012

Here are the monthly Roosevelt Island Public Safety Statistics for January 2012 and for the year 2011.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Roosevelt Islanders At Last Night's Grammy Awards On The Red Carpet - Hoo's There With Kristin

Grammy Image From Sal Hoo

It was not just a big night at the Grammy's for Adele winning six awards and giving a wonderful performance of Rolling in the Deep. A couple of Roosevelt Islanders were in attendance

Image From Sal Hoo

at last night's show - Riverwalk Bar & Grill's Sal and Kristin and walked down the Red Carpet.

Image From Sal Hoo

No truth to the speculation at the Riverwalk Bar last night that Sal was seen at the Grammy's attempting to show Tony Bennett how to sing better. At least there's no proof.

It was very sad to learn of the death of Whitney Houston the night before the Grammy's. A remarkable talent. Here's one of her best performances.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Stuff New Yorkers Say - What Do Roosevelt Islanders Say?


You Tube Video of Shit New Yorkers Say

 What would Roosevelt Islanders say?
  • Love Those Views
  • Sick of No Weekend F Train Service Again
  • When are we getting stores?
  • Is the Red Bus here yet?
  • The newcomers don't appreciate us.
  • The oldtimers are hostile to us.
  • It's in the WIRE
  • It's on the Blog
  • No, not Randall's Island
  • Cabbie, You Can't refuse to take us to Roosevelt Island - it's against the law
What else?

UPDATE 2/13 - Here's some more stuff Roosevelt Islanders say from readers on Facebook page:
  • ‎"No, it's not actually like 'Dark Water' at all..."
  • Actually, there is an F stop there and I rarely ride the "cable car thingy"
  • It was much friendlier isolated island before all the new buildings came!
  • ‎"The island" got a Starbuck's!
  • ‎"No, its part of Manhattan "
  • "Yes, there IS a bridge to get there"
  • "you've never been?!"
  • ‎"You either love it or hate it, and move".
  • ‎"It's a planned community, only they lost the plan..."
  • ‎"No, not Riker's Island, Roosevelt Island!"
  •  ‎"Did you see Rachel Maddow talking about the gon-do-la? That's us."