The MTA has issued a weekend service advisory for the F train, which may affect travel plans. The Tram will run on a rush hour schedule from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM to accommodate any increase in traffic. Please plan your travel accordingly and visit mta.info/weekender or call 511 for more information.
For electronic updates on F Train service, sign up for MTA Alerts at mymtaalerts.com.
Workshop panelists were parents who have recent experience with the process of choosing a Kindergarten for their child in NYC. According to RIPN Coordinator Eva Bosbach:
Our panelists investigated different options, successfully placed their children in a variety of schools and programs including G&T and Charters, are active in parent advocacy and happy to share their knowledge....
Topics covered during the Kindergarten workshop included:
public, charter and private schools,
Gifted & Talented Programs,
prepping and testing,
special needs resources,
commuting,
costs &
more.
PS/IS 217 is the local Roosevelt Island elementary school. Roosevelt Island is located in the NYC Department Of Education's District 2. According to Inside Schools:
.... District 2 has some of the highest-performing and most popular schools in the city. The district covers the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city—the East Side south of 97th Street and the West Side south of 59th street (but not the Lower East Side).
Several new elementary schools have opened in recent years, easing overcrowding. Most parents are satisfied with their zoned neighborhood schools and look no further.
There are a number of schools that admit children according to the results of an entrance exam, including Hunter College Elementary School (open to children who live anywhere in Manhattan) and Lower Lab School (open only to children who live in District 2). Several neighborhood schools also have gifted programs that accept children from outside their attendance zone.
Part 7 -Special Needs & recommended Kindergarten Resources Information.
Ms Bosbach adds:
Thank you to all parents who participated in our annual Choosing a Kindergarten workshop. Thank you to the attendees and especially to all speakers for volunteering their time and for their willingness to share their knowledge and experience with the exciting but sometimes also overwhelming process of searching for a Kindergarten that is a good match for your child. Another thank you goes to our co-hosts: the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation and Main Street Sweets. Last but not least special thanks to Jen Reyes for designing our flyer again this year. Good luck to all in the process!
ISC did not meet in October. Next meeting will be in mid‐November.
Tram Elevators – The old elevator was out‐of‐service a number of times in October (this seems to be never ending!). Fortunately, the back‐up Red Lift was operating, so passengers still had a way to get up and down the platform. ISC is very concerned about when and if the elevator will operate during this winter.
Work on the new elevators is still stalled until the bankruptcy issues are fully settled. It is expected that design work on this project will be able to resume sometime in November. RIOC has not issued an update on when the new elevators will be in operation. ISC’s estimate is winter, 2017.
Sportspark – Several ISC members have re‐inspected Sportspark to assess how RIOC is coming with the work needed to bring this facility up to an acceptable condition. ISC plans to meet with the appropriate RIOC officials in November to review our findings and find out the timing on all remaining upgrade projects.
Control of Rats – Commercial Trash Yard – ISC declared victory prematurely on this issue. It seems that the trash yard has returned to its previously unacceptable condition. On 2 or 3 days each week the yard is not up to Depart. Of Sanitation standards. We will meet with Related one last time before we call in the Depart. Of Sanitation and the Board of Health for help in resolving this bad situation. Meanwhile, the rats in Southtown seem happy with all the food they can get at the trash yard.
Boy Scouts – ISC is meeting with the Youth Center to see if we can develop a joint program to reactivate the Scouts on RI.
Post Office Customer Service – ISC was able to get RIOC to install a bike rack in front of the Post Office. Now bikers can protect their bikes while they conduct their business at the Post Office. Bikes are not permitted inside the facility.
Respectfully Submitted,
Aaron Hamburger, ISC Chair
UPDATE 1:45 PM - RI Long Times adds:
Ha, Ha !
This "Bike rack" is actually one of those stanchions used at parades & at police activity. I was there the day it was placed and painted AND, it is not even in front of the Post Office, but rather next to the bench at Gristedes, where bike owners cannot even see their bikes. I'm glad to see the "improvement", but as usual, RIOC's geography is a bit confused.
You are cordially invited to the opening reception of our new exhibition by gallery artist Eunkyoung Park on Saturday, November 7th from 5-7pm at Octagon Gallery.
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 7th, 5-7pm
Exhibition Dates: November 7th - December 6th, 2015
Location: The Octagon, 888 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NYC Website
An article in the LA Times today compares Los Angeles neighborhood housing sales prices with comparable NYC housing sales prices. What is the comparable LA sales price neighborhood to Roosevelt Island? According to the LA Times:
...At $941 per square foot, Bel-Air is similar to Roosevelt Island ($940) or East Harlem ($963), both emerging neighborhoods without anywhere near the same cachet as Bel-Air. There has never been, and probably never will be, a Fresh Prince of Roosevelt Island....
What do you think - has there been, or will there be, a Fresh Prince Of Roosevelt Island?
Well, we did have Grandpa Munster Al Lewis as a long time resident.
Was just thinking. This is the last person I ever voted for - My Roosevelt Island neighbour, sadly now departed. https://t.co/e7N3CAwunZ
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is working with the Office of Mayor de Blasio to launch the Citywide Ferry Service. The service will consist of five new ferry routes in addition to the existing East River Ferry service, charging a fare of $2.75. The service will further the Mayor's goals of:
providing affordable and convenient transit for communities with limited transportation options;
supporting growing neighborhoods;
and increasing the resiliency and redundancy of our city's transportation network.
When the Citywide Ferry Service is fully operational in 2018, the six routes will carry an estimated 4.6 million trips per year. Building on several years of ferry planning and operations experience, NYCEDC is leading the project by building ten new ferry landings, renovating six others, and selecting operator(s) to run the service....
The NYC EDC plan includes ferry service to Roosevelt Island on a route from Astoria - Roosevelt Island - Long Island City - East 34th Street to Wall Street starting in 2017. The fare will be $2.75 with free transfer to other ferry routes but Metro Cards will not be accepted nor will there be free transfer between the ferry and MTA subway or bus system.
... The proposed Roosevelt Island landing would be located on the eastern side of the island immediately to the north of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge (see Figure 6). The proposed landing site is a dock that was formerly used primarily for delivery of oil shipments to the island controlled by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC). Access to the site is provided by East Main Street, which runs adjacent to the dock and includes a sidewalk on the eastern side of the roadway. Access is also available from the waterfront esplanade that runs to the north and south of the dock, which connects to the East Main Street sidewalk. The landing would be located in a residential (R7-2) zoning district. Transit service is provided by the Q102 bus and an intra-island bus service, which both run along East Main Street. This dock would be improved or partially removed as a result of the proposed project, and a new barge and gangway would be constructed to establish the ferry landing. No upland circulation improvements are anticipated at the site, although improvements to the dock would likely be necessary to facilitate pedestrian flow between the gangway and East Main Street....
Part 1- NYC EDC's Justine Johnson and James Wong provide an overview of the NYC Ferry Service system and plan for Roosevelt Island route.
Part 2 - NYC EDC representatives answer questions from the public including:
types of ferry vessels to be used given the strong East River currents,
traffic impact analysis on Ferry Service for Roosevelt Island (no parking lot or structure contemplated for ferry landing),
reduced pricing for Seniors (not yet determined)
access for wheelchairs, strollers and bicycles (yes),
ferry schedule (2 to 3 vessels per hour, each vessel holds 149 passengers).
Part 3 - NYC EDC representatives answer questions from RIRA and Community Board 8 members including:
Any impediments to bringing ferry service to Roosevelt Island, (not at moment, moving full speed ahead, currently preparing environmental review statements and permits),
shelter for people waiting outside for ferry - (canopies and wind screens,no heat lamps),
safety of oil dock itself (divers were in water yesterday evaluating oil dock. Gangway will be used over oil dock to get passengers to the ferry barge, no plan to rehab oil dock at this point),
will a wine bar be included during the afternoon and evening run ( at 4 minute 20 second mark, good idea but no, much laughter),
why doesn't Roosevelt Island route include stop at Hunters Point South to make travel to Brooklyn easier (Hunters Point ferry stop cannot accommodate additional ferry landings than currently being used),
free ferry transfer to other ferry routes but no Metro Cards or free transfer to MTA subway and bus and
Can the Roosevelt Island route Ferry be named Minnehanock (original name for Roosevelt Island)?
Image Of September 2015 RIRA Common Council Meeting
will meet this evening, November 4, at 7:30 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will be conducting a Citywide Ferry Service outreach presentation to the Roosevelt Island community during the RIRA Public Session starting at 7:30. The EDC Roosevelt Island ferry presentation is jointly sponsored by Community Board 8's (CB 8) Roosevelt Island Committee and RIRA. You're invited to attend and learn about the upcoming Roosevelt Island Ferry service scheduled to start in 2017..
Among the items on the RIRA Agenda for tonight is the report and recommendations from RIRA's Public Purpose Funds (PPF) Committee on distributions of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) PPF Funds to local Roosevelt Island organizations. Here's video of presentations made by Roosevelt Island organizations to the RIRA PPF committee seeking a portion of the $100 Thousand available from RIOC and the full RIRA Agenda for tonight.
You're invited to come to tonight's RIRA meeting and learn what's happening on Roosevelt Island.
UPDATE 12/5 - The RIRA PPF Committee did not submit its recommendations to the the RIRA Common Council during last evening's meeting. PPF Committee Chair reports:
It is with regret that the PPF Committee report did not arrive in time for proper distribution to the Common Council for its review. For that, I take full responsibility. I am also fully aware of the fact that the applicants are anxious to know, and for valid reasons, the extent of funds that could possibly be availed them. I sought confirmation of when the decision of the Council would be acted upon at RIOC, the answer effectively being as early as a Board Meeting in December though there would be staff work required in advance of that. As evidenced during the November meeting, the Council will find a proper way to make this happen.
... contractors are currently working to replace a broken pool pump motor and damaged electrical components at the Sportspark pool. The pool will remain closed until further notice.
... Basically, It's a project that will go through the space and rebuild it...
RIOC President Charlene Indelicato reported that due to the Cornell Tech campus project work previously being done on the North Road adjacent to the Sportspark, interior work could not be done at the Sportspark. Now that the Cornell Tech North Road work is completed, Sportspark interior work can start but not before a new Sportspark boiler is installed.
NYPD 114th precinct Explorers and Police Officer Jurwicz were recruiting Roosevelt Island young men and women between the ages of 14 -20 today to join the NYPD Explorers. The NYPD 114 precinct tweets:
114 Explorers & PO Jurewicz recruiting on Roosevelt Island. Thanking councilman Ben Kallos for all of his support. pic.twitter.com/9v5asquovb
Law Enforcement Exploring is a community service, career-oriented program designed to educate young men and women, ages 14-20, about Law Enforcement.
Exploring reaches out to New York City's young adults in every community to help build up relations between the community and New York City Police Department. Explorers are taught the importance of higher education, self discipline, and respect for authority while they actively participate in community service projects and other Exploring events.
Contact: 718-834-8824
You can also contact the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (550 Main Street, 212-832-4545) or the NYPD 114th Precinct for more information.
Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket representative Bob Capano invites you to try out Gristedes non-food products including an assortment of Hardware items.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC) will be conducting a Citywide Ferry Service outreach presentation to the Roosevelt Island community Wednesday, November 4 at 7:30 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
The NYC EDC Roosevelt Island ferry presentation is jointly sponsored by Community Board 8's (CB 8) Roosevelt Island Committee and the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA). (The presentation was originally scheduled for last month but was postponed due to an illness on the presentation team). Following the NYC EDC Ferry Presentation, RIRA will hold it's November Common Council meeting.
Come learn about plans for the Roosevelt Island, Astoria, LIC, 34th Street and Wall Street Ferry route,
Roosevelt Island Ferry service was discussed during the October 26 Roosevelt Island Cornell Construction & Community Task Force meeting. CB8 member Larry Parnes told the Task Force about the November 4 NYC EDC Roosevelt Island ferry meeting and
Cornell Tech's Jane Swanson reminded the Task Force that Cornell has agreed to contribute $500 Thousand annually for 5 years to Roosevelt Island Ferry service operations in addition to the NYC ferry subsidies.(The video also includes brief discussion of Roosevelt Island pedestrian access to Queensboro Bridge Cornell Tech feasibility study)
Here's a very informative discussion of NYC Ferry Service held during May 2015 Waterfront Alliance
I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato this morning:
A resident sent the attached photo of sign posted at Sportspark reporting that the Sportspark Pool is closed until further notice due to mechanical problems.
Any statement on what the mechanical problems are, the cause and a an approximate date when the pool will re-open?
Ms Indelicato replied:
The pool is closed due to a malfunctioning water recirculation pump. We will have it up and running asap.
UPDATE 8:30 PM - According to RIOC:
Please be advised that contractors are currently working to replace a broken pool pump motor and damaged electrical components at the Sportspark pool. The pool will remain closed until further notice.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Audit Committee is meeting tomorrow. According to RIOC:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Audit Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.
Agenda:
Discussion of the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2016 – 2017
Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee
***
The Open Meetings Law of the State of New York requires that all public bodies conduct meetings, convened for the purpose of officially conducting public business, in a manner open to attendance by the general public to observe and listen.
RIOC’s Proposed Budget FY 2016‐17 projects revenues of $25,983,000, an increase of $618,000 or 2.44% over the Approved Budget FY 2015‐16 amount of $25,365,000. RIOC generates most of its revenues from long‐term ground leases to developers of housing projects on the Island. These leases specify the manner in which the ground lease revenues are derived, including amounts, timing, and escalation of ground lease payments, specifically ground rents, residential fees, and public safety fees. In addition, RIOC generates revenues from its Tramway transportation system, Motorgate parking garage, metered street parking, commercial leases, interest income, and additional revenues ("Other Revenues"). Other Revenues mostly consist of FEMA reimbursements and permitting fees collected for activities that take place in the Sportspark sports facility, as well as permitting fees collected for outdoor field activities.
There is an aggregate increase of $336,000 in ground rent primarily due to escalations as specified in relevant ground leases. In addition, RIOC projects that the construction of Southtown Building 8, which is expected to commence not later than 2017, will result in ground rent of $598,000, which is budgeted for FY 2017‐18 in the 10‐year revenue forecast. Furthermore, projections for Rivercross and Westview are based on current level, however both projected ground rents are expected to increase.
Residential fees are projected to decrease by $96,000. This is mainly due to a projected decrease in transactions fees from Southtown Buildings condo sales as a result of reduced turnover.
Tramway revenues are projected to increase at approximately 3% or by $183,000, due to increased activities on the Island, primarily as a result of the Southtown 7 and Cornell developments; and increased visitorship to the Four Freedom State Park (“FFSP”).
Motorgate and metered parking revenues are projected to increase because of an increase in parking rates. And, commercial rents are projected to increase because of escalations in the terms of the commercial leases.
Other Revenues is projected to decrease by $36,000. Most of the decrease is due to $175,000 in FEMA reimbursements, projected to be paid in FY 2015‐16. Except for the decrease of FEMA reimbursements, other components of Other Revenues, which consist of Sportspark and field permit fees, commission on cellular telephone equipment, and miscellaneous fees, are projected to increase by $139,000.
Expenses
Personal Expenses
RIOC’s Proposed Budget FY 2016‐17 projects personal expenses of $11,105,628, an increase of $481,916 or 4.54% over the Approved Budget FY 2015‐16 amount of $10,623,712. The projected increase is due to proposed additional staffing to support elevated capital and operating activity, as well as salary increases in accordance with New York State’s Division of Budget allowance. The projected increase in personal expense is necessary for RIOC to fulfill its statutory mission to “plan, design, develop, operate, maintain and manage” Roosevelt Island.
The Island is currently experiencing an economic boom in real estate with the development of Southtown Building 7, as well as the development of the multi‐billion dollar Cornell campus site. These developments are the main drivers for the increased revenues and expenses mentioned above. RIOC is contractually and statutorily required to maintain infrastructure and provide adequate service to the Island to accommodate this growth. Accordingly, RIOC is in the midst of significant infrastructure and facilities repairs and improvements and projects to spend $30,186,000 on capital projects in the FY 16‐ 17...
Click here for the full RIOC 2016-17 Proposed Budget.
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Purpose Funds (PPF) Committee Chair Dave Evans reports the following Roosevelt Island organizations applied for Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) 2015 Public Purpose Funds and the amounts they are seeking out of a total of approximately $100 thousand (amount distributed in prior years) available from RIOC. According to Mr. Evans:
The Committee has completed the community presentations and is now evaluating the candidates. Our target is to complete our report so to give it to the Common Council for approval in November en route to RIOC.
The RIRA PPF Committee (in addition to Mr. Evans, PPF Committee members are Eva Bosbach and Erin Feeley-Nahem) will submit its recommendations to the November 4 RIRA Common Council meeting for approval. According to the RIRA PPF Committee:
This Ad Hoc Committee was established as part of a RIRA Common Council community service effort to assist the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) in the review of grant applications submitted by Island-based nonprofits for Public Purpose Funds (PPF). The activities of this Committee have evolved over time. The Committee makes a recommendation to RIOC and the RIOC Board of Directors is the final decision-maker regarding the distribution of funds that support qualified Island nonprofit organizations. The Committee recommends funds that would benefit Roosevelt Island residents, enhancing their quality of life through, for example, education, artistic and cultural enrichment, improved health and activity and a better environment.
Public Purpose Funds first became available after the construction of Manhattan Park in 1989, when New York State (NYS) allowed the fund to be established in lieu of the commercial developers paying sales tax on construction materials.
The PPF program was placed on hold in February 2015 pending RIOC clarification of a ruling by the NYS Authorities Budgeting Office. Given the dynamics of various circumstances surrounding the matter of the these funds and the recent outcome, the PPF Committee was allowed to re-start its efforts. As of October 2015 , the Committee is evaluating applications from nine Island nonprofits. Once the Committee completes the evaluation phase, the RIRA Common Council will review their findings and recommendations. Subsequently, an approved PPF Committee report will be submitted to RIOC and its Board for a final decision.
... RIOC does not guarantee that any or all PPF approved by the Board will be awarded in the full amount originally requested by the applicant. Given budget constraints, RIOC strives to leverage limited resources while providing the best possible mix of support to approved organizations....
The 2015 RIOC Public Purpose Funds distribution has been the subject of great controversy. As reported last February:
... All state and local authorities which, as a matter of practice or policy, grant or loan their monies to such entities without specific legislative authorization are directed to immediately end such practice or policy so as to comply with applicable state law and the opinions of the State Attorney General and State Comptroller...
Apparently, there is no specific legislative authorization for RIOC to grant Public Purpose Funds.
... The Governor has released Roosevelt Island’s Public Purpose Funds for this year. Assembly Member Seawright’s legislation clarifying RIOC’s ability to distribute Public Purpose Funds in the future has been packaged and sent to Albany for the Governor’s signature...
Ms Seawright told the crowd at the October 31 Roosevelt Island Halloween Extravaganza that the 2015 Public Purpose Funds have been released and that a bill she passed (with State Senator Jose Serrano) providing for future Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Funds is waiting for signature by Governor Cuomo.
Below are the presentations by Roosevelt Island organizations to the RIRA PPF Committee seeking PPF funds. Watch the videos. You can learn what programs and services these organization are providing to the Roosevelt Island community.
October 14 Presentation by Rema Townsend Director of Roosevelt Island Seniors Center (Seeking $20,000)
The RIRA PPF committee recommendations will be discussed at the November 4 RIRA Common Council meeting held 8 PM at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street). If approved, they will be forwarded to RIOC for final approval.
SUPPORTING ROOSEVELT ISLAND FAMILIES FOR OVER 20 YEARS!!
Join us for our new 2015/16 season on Wednesday, November 4th from 10:30-11:30
This group is for new moms with babies aged 0-14 months and is free of charge. Pregnant mothers are welcome too! Our goal is to provide a friendly atmosphere for new parents to receive support, share advice and build friendships.
Island Kids is located at 536 Main Street (Roosevelt Landings) in the courtyard behind the Wholesome Factory Market (under the ramp.)
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
