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Turns out the Russians are coming to Roosevelt Island. The Americans, an excellent FX Channel TV program about a Russian husband and wife spy team in 1980's America is filming today at the Motorgate Garage.
Also, our free prop-making class "Set the Scene" continues on Thursday's for ages 9-12 at 5:30pm. To sign up, email MST&DA.
Special Teen Workshops beginning January 29th
Film Class 1/29 - 2/19 from 5:30-7pm ages 13+. Have a favorite movie? Want to learn how it's made? Join this 4 week program to learn everything from script to post production. Students will walk away with a short film of their own. Cost of 4 week program, $100. To register email info@mstda.org.
Songwriting Workshop 2/26-3/19 ages 13+. Interested in songwriting? This workshop will use collaborative discussion and writing exercises to teach the components of songwriting to students. If you play an instrument, bring it to class. Cost of 4 week program, $100. To register email info@mstda.org
Upcoming Events & Shows at the Howe Theatre in the Cultural Center:
February 6th @ 7:30pm - Staged Script Reading Series, Getting Married by George Bernard Shaw
directed by Russ Cusick. Suggested donation is $5 for the MST&DA Scholarship Fund.
February 10th & April 7th @ 7pm - Our popular Family-Friendly Improv Theatre show
featuring improv performers from all around the city, including National Comedy Theatre, Upright Citizens Brigade, and The People's Improv Theatre (PIT). Come laugh with the whole family. Tickets are available online or at the door. Adults $10, Students/Seniors $5, and family package is $25 (4 or more of the same family).
February 24th @ 8pm - "You Can Always Come Home" Common Man Musicals Cabaret Show & Fundraiser.
SAVE THE DATES - Sondheim on Sondheim the musical March 31st - April 2nd, Almost Maine a play April 28th - 30th, Seussical Jr. the musical May 5th - 8th, and Pippin the musical May 19th - 21st. Tickets will be available on our website three weeks before the show dates. For more information contact info@mstda.org.
Here's a small portion of tonight's 2 hour community discussion of public marijuana smoking with residents and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD). In videos below, PSD Director Jack McManus replies to questions and comments from those attending.
Thank you all for coming out, and on such short notice. My name is Erin Feely-Nahem and I am the elected Chair of the RIRA Public Safety Committee.
We have called this meeting tonight, following the terrible incident on January 12, during which a mother was violently attacked, after asking a man to stop smoking marijuana, near a playground.
Although the violent attack remains an isolated occurrence, the first of its kind to have been reported to us, the question of the public smoking of marijuana was first brought to our attention last May, by a parent who expressed exasperation, at having encountered a man, publicly smoking a joint, while she was on her way to work. We began working on this project until the summer break, and continued in September, then again in November with the new Common Council members came aboard
Our discussions, supported by articles shared among committee members, indicated that an educational campaign would be a good starting point and would supplement the efforts of law enforcement, in light of the recent changes in the laws in both New York State and in New York City. Director McManus, who attends our monthly meetings regularly, was helpful in our discussions, educating us on the laws, and on the challenges officers’ encounter when enforcing them.
The recent changes in the drug laws in NYC and NYS, including the decriminalization for the possession of less than 25 grams of marijuana, seemed to have led to misconceptions around the legalities of smoking pot in public.
We decided that we needed to go on a public campaign to respect and comply with the law on this question, which is that the public smoking of marijuana, like open-container public drinking, remains illegal, and violators are subject to summons and arrest.
Our efforts focused on halting public smoking in areas where children congregate. The committee voted to produce a flyer that was readable, educational, and respectful, targeting adolescents and young adults. Our message wasn’t telling them what not to do in a righteous tone, but rather educated them on the law and the consequences of ignoring it, then asked them to respect our children, and their rights to play in a smoke free area..
Inspired by RIRA’s SC&E children’s project “On Roosevelt Island We…” poster campaign, Joanna after speaking to Leila enlisted her son’s class to help us get the message out. Drawings were created that said things like “On Roosevelt Island We don’t smoke, because smoking will make you croak”. We believe that these posters will also encourage dialogue between the parent and their children.
Clearly the violent incident on Jan 12 unsettled the community. Undoubtedly the alleged perpetrator should be held legally accountable for his actions.
Tonight’s Public Forum provides a vehicle to identify our next steps. You, the public, concerned parents, should now seize the opportunity to be part of the solution, sharing your ideas with the PSC, on the ways in which to move forward on this question.
We have a not so distant history on RI from a few years back, which taught us the consequences of a punitive, “Zero Tolerance”, swat-team approach around issues like this. Under the prior administration, mothers were arrested at the tram for pushing their strollers through the gate, or others brutalized for making a u-turn on Main Street. We can deal with this question, of illegal, public pot smoking, especially in areas where children congregate, without going back to that misguided era.
Under Chief McManus, transparency is strived towards, and open communication encouraged. Following this Public Forum the PSC will be taking your ideas and incorporating them in our effort to continue to create smoke-free areas where children congregate. All are welcome to attend our monthly meeting. Our next meeting will be held Tuesday, January 31st, in the Westview Lower Community room, at 7:00pm. If you can’t attend next week, please remember that Monthly, the PSD leadership is invited to, and attends our meetings, always ready to listen to your concerns, and to be part of the solutions.
Resident Frank Farance adds:
I appreciate the efforts of Jeff Escobar, RIRA President, Erin Feely-Nahem, RIRA Public Safety Committee (PSC) Chair, and Jack McManus, PSD Director in their efforts to have a discussion with the residents, to hear their concerns, and for PSD and NYPD to provide insight. Ms. Feely-Nahem and PSD Director McManus both did a great job, and the questions and discussion from the audience was excellent. When I was RIRA President, in 2009 we had a similar forum, and it was helpful then to hear both the perspective of PSD and the residents (and equally well-behaved as last night's event). And we've had a couple more, notably the protests in 2013, in which we were able to address abusive tactics then, which has resulted a different paradigm of Community Policing in the 3.5 years since with the arrival of Jack McManus.
There were five very important moments, which are worth repeating for residents:
#1: The assailant was not a youth (he was middle-aged), and he was not from Roosevelt Island. And the event occurred at the seawall, not at the entrance of RI Day Nursery. And, it turns out there were Public Safety officers within a couple hundred feet (they were doing traffic control for the school), so they would have been there very quickly. So calling Public Safety is your best bet at that point, and don't engage with the person, e.g., taking a cell phone photo.
#2: In response to a question on leniency vs. aggressiveness on arrests/summonses PSD Deputy Director Kevin Brown summarized the issue well: the left side of the room wants me to arrest the person, the right side of the room wants me to be lenient, but you can't have two standards. While I am taking his summary point, there was a fair amount of discussion on this point and I believe the audience left with a better understanding of a complex problem.
#3: The managing agents from Island House and Westview and Manhattan Park were there. Doryne Isley from Roosevelt Landings could not attend, but she provided a statement. Some questions concerned building security, which led to some good discussion. Many of the persistent problems in the buildings (cigarette smoking in the hallways, pot smoking in the stairwells, noise) should be addressed in a three-way approach: the residents (as represented by their tenants association), the managing agent (who is responsible for enforcing the House Rules, not necessarily illegal activities), and Public Safety (who is responsible for law enforcement). Regardless, PSD Director McManus said he has a Open Door policy and will meet with residents (or exchange E-mails, if they prefer).
#4: The NYPD officers reminded the residents that Public Safety is the first responders, and PSD will get you the quickest response. PSD Director McManus stated that Roosevelt Island has the fastest response time of any community in New York City. It is very important for residents to report problems to Public Safety.
#5: RIOC is starting their third phase of camera deployment, which will include the east seawall behind Roosevelt Landings and Lighthouse Park.
I hope residents will attend the next RIRA PSC meeting, which is January 31 at 7 PM in the Westview (625 Main) Lower Community Room; and attend future monthly meetings of the committee.
There has been an arrest for the assault of Roosevelt Island Mom who objected to man smoking marijuana near children's playground.
During January 24 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Operations Advisory Committee meeting, RIOC Vice President of Operations Shelton Haynes reported that delays in boiler inspection have kept the Sportspark facility from re-opening but that the boiler inspection is scheduled for today. Everything else is ready to go at Sportspark.
As long as the boiler inspection is approved, RIOC anticipates Sportspark re-opening in mid February.
Mr Haynes added that the locker room renovations will not close the Sportspark facility.
Here's the discussion.
Just learned from RIOC President Susan Rosenthal that Sportspark passed the boiler inspection.
When will work begin and be completed on the new Roosevelt Island Tram Manhattan Station elevators? That was the question Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Island Services Committee Chair Aaron Hamburger asked the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Operations Advisory Committee yesterday (full audio web cast of meeting will be here). Mr. Hamburger had to leave the meeting before that question was addressed but wanted to make sure that RIOC understood how important the matter is to Roosevelt Island residents.
Unfortunately, the long delayed project to replace the Roosevelt Island Tram Manhattan Station elevators
RIOC President Susan Rosenthal reported yesterday to the RIOC Operations Advisory Committee that three bids were received for the Tram Station Elevators Request For Proposals (RFP) but only 1 bidder followed the RFP instructions. Ms Rosenthal said that RIOC made the decision to:
... rethinking how to do the rating and maybe the price is not as important as quality and experience. We may shift that around. We're going to do a big job. We're going to send out letters with pictures of it. We're going to really try to quickly get some benefits....
and:
We don't have a date by which we're going to do this but ... we've been meeting up to re-do the RFP which will be done in the next couple of weeks.
Here's the RIOC Operations Advisory Committee discussion of the Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station elevators RFP
and delays.
So, we don't know when there will be new Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station elevators.
We still remember the excitement of welcoming the New Year of 2017, but do you know that, another New Year celebration is just around the corner? Jan. 28 is the first day of Lunar New Year, and this year will go as: cock-a-doodle-dooooooo!
Please join us with your children for the next event in the free "Crafts with Kids" series by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network: "Lunar New Year - It's a Rooster!". We will make a small rooster and a Chinese lantern. The craft will take place on Sunday, Jan. 29th, 2017, from 11am-12pm, on RI (location upon RSVP).
If you will not be able to attend but would like to make some craft at home, here's some online resources you can use (our crafts will be designed based on these too):
"Crafts with Kids" is a free workshop series for children organized by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network. The monthly events included "Tram art and necklaces", "Matisse for Kids", "Valentine's Craft", "Black History Month Craft", "Spring Craft", "St. Patrick's Craft", "Earth Day Craft", "Easter Craft", "Mothers Day Craft", "Fathers Day Craft", "Summer craft - a lady bug", a "Back to school craft", a "Halloween craft", a "Lantern making workshop", a "Thanksgiving Craft", a "Family Safety Craft", a "Holiday Craft" and the "On Roosevelt Island We... Craft".
Con Edison was conducting emergency work on a steam valve in a building on the eastside of manhattan. Information was given by the 19 th pct. Their is no danger.
UPDATE 9:33
This was so loud on Roosevelt Island our neighbors literally fled the city in terror https://t.co/9ZxZYWRLyD
Shortly after 3 PM on January 12, a Roosevelt Island Mom picked up her son at the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery. As the mom and son were walking home on the Roosevelt Island waterfront West Promenade, she saw a man smoking marijuana next to the playground filled with children. The mom asked the man to stop smoking marijuana. The man refused and assaulted the mom, knocking her to the ground, kicking her and cursing. (More details of the incident at this previous post).
In response to this incident, and the great concern it has raised among many in the community, the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Safety Committee (PSC) is holding a Public Forum on the subject with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Director Jack McManus and Deputy Director Kevin Brown.
According to RIRA PSC Committee Chair Erin Feely-Nahem:
There is a Public Forum scheduled on Wednesday January 25 at 7:00 pm in the Chapel of The Good Shepherd. The Forum is being held to allow residents a venue in which to express any concerns they have. This is being initiated following the recent assault on the mom, near the playground next to the RIDN.
RIRA President Jeff Escobar adds:
Please note that this Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 7pm upstairs at the Good Shepherd Chapel, the Public Safety Committee along with RIOC and the Public Safety Department will be holding a Public Forum to discuss the January 12 incident, the current status of the incident, hear community concerns, and to have an open dialogue with the community on what steps are being taken to prevent such incidents from happening again, as well as what we as individual members of the community can and should do when faced with such situations and what initiatives we as a community can and will be undertaking to curtail the open use of substances in and near our Island public spaces.
My personal kudos and thanks to the Public Safety Committee and its Chair and Members for their quick responsiveness and pulling of the event together, as well as RIOC and the PSD. Understanding the short notice of the event (but necessary), please let us make every effort to attend (as well our constituents). With a strong showing and attendance we can be sure RIOC will be responsive to future such dialogues and forums when our community needs the same the most.
PSD - Do Something About the Marijuana Problem on Roosevelt Island!
Drug use has become a real issue here on Roosevelt Island. People are smoking and dealing marijuana up and down both the East and West seawalls, within 50 feet of schools, outside the Manhattan Park theater club and playroom, in residential building hallways and stairwells, and next to sport fields and parks that are full of children. Most recently, a request to stop smoking near the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery turned violent.
This community is growing, and with Cornell rapidly completing construction, we need to ensure that our community remains safe. Public Safety needs to take a strong stand against drug use, or we must work with the city and state to get a NYPD presence here to protect our families.
By signing this petition, I am showing that I am deeply concerned about this issue, about the overall safety here on the Island, and the apparent lack of proper response from PSD and other RI leaders.
Read the reasons your Roosevelt Island neighbors signed this petition.
The Roosevelt Island Parents' Network asks you to fill out this online survey describing any problems you may have experienced with marijuana smoking in public. According to the RIPN survey:
... if you have encountered issues with second hand marijuana and would like to communicate it with PSD, please fill out the following survey and we will submit them to PSD and RIOC (and possibly have them work with building management offices too) -- we're not collecting your name or email address, therefore all the stories will remain anonymous. Let's work together to have our voice heard, so PSD can put forward more actions to protect the health of our families and children! Thanks very much for your help!
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Operations Advisory Committee Meeting of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 5:30 P.M. at the RIOC Administrative Office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.
Agenda:
1. Presentation on Wayfinding Signage.
2. Discussion of Tram Operations.
3. 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.
An audio web cast of the meeting will be available shortly thereafter.
Today, the City Council voted to approve a potential franchise agreement between the City of New York and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC). After more than 20 years of operating without an agreement, a proposed franchise has been approved for two 25-year terms, granting the City the authority to negotiate with RIOC to continue operating the unique and iconic aerial tramway from Tramway Plaza on Second Avenue between 60th and 59th Streets over the East River to Roosevelt Island...
... The franchise fee is half of one percent (0.5%) of gross receipts collected by MetroCard swipes....
The franchise agreement permits RIOC to place advertising inside the Tramway cars and stations but not on the exterior of the cars.
A contingent of Roosevelt Island residents made their presence known during last Saturday's New York City Women's March. Helena Blumen shares this photo of banner held at the March proclaiming:
We, The People Of Roosevelt Island.
Image From Helena Blumen
and Janet Falk gives her account of participating in the New York City Women's March:
Report from the Women's March in New York City.
I attended the march with a group of about 150 people from Roosevelt Island. We gathered at 59th Street and Second Avenue. We walked down Second Avenue, which was closed to traffic below 57th Street. We waited at 49th and Second Avenue for two hours, thinking we would go to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, but the call to go forward never came. A small group peeled off and headed there. I went with another small group, seeing people moving north on Third Avenue; we headed west on 49th Street. When we got to Third Avenue, there were no cars in the street. It was like the line in the film Woodstock: "New York City is closed, man." We headed up to 51st Street, then went west again to Lexington Avenue.
We continued west to Fifth Avenue. Nuns outside St. Patrick's cathedral waved to us. At Fifth Avenue, we merged into the crowd, first on the sidewalk, then later on the street itself. When we were near St. Thomas Church, the carillon played music: "This Land is Your Land," "America the Beautiful", "Amazing Grace" and then "The Star Spangled Banner." That brought tears to my eyes and to others of the group as well. The entire march was peaceful, some chanting (This is what democracy looks like), some anti-Trump slogans. It was young and old, diversity at its finest. The march ended at 55th Street, and we dispersed, heading toward the subway at 56th/57th and 6th Avenue.
It was an amazing day, both for the camaraderie of everyone sharing and photographing their signs, guesstimating the size of the crowds, cheering when helicopters and drones appeared overhead to photograph the enormous size of the crowds and feeling that you were a part of something bigger than yourself.
Over drinks at Riverwalk, we decided to form a group for Social Action in connection with the Roosevelt Island Seniors Association, to keep our elected officials aware of our concerns and keep them motivated to fight the good fight. Schumer, Gillibrand and Maloney have a tough road ahead. They need to know that we support them and are keeping our eyes on them.
...is an advocate for the health and well being of the Island community and its organizations during the Cornell development. We work to urge the fulfillment of Cornell's verbal and written commitments to the community....
RICC Board member Judy Buck invites the Roosevelt Island public to its annual Board election meeting tomorrow evening. Ms. Buck reports:
RICC 2017 Board Election Meeting
The Roosevelt Island Community Coalition (RICC) will hold its annual Board election meeting on Monday, January 23, 2017, 6:45 PM - 8 PM, at 546 Main Street, 12th Floor Conference Room.
All Island residents are welcome, but attendance of RICC membership is especially important, as RICC requires a quorum in order to nominate and vote for a new Board of Directors.
With just six months to go before Cornell-Tech officially “opens,” there are issues to discuss. Current board members will report briefly on transportation issues, the new ferry, the Cornell Tech Hotel, Cornell adoption of PS217 -- and the as-yet-unfulfilled promise of New York State funding to Roosevelt Island. Members are invited to comment, raise new issues, make suggestions.
Light refreshments will be served.
More on the unfulfilled funding promise to Roosevelt Island by New York State at this prior post.
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.
