Emergency Zombie Response Team Spotted On Roosevelt Island Today - There is No Safe Haven

First came the Zog Sports teams, then the Tourists and now Roosevelt Island may soon be overrun by Zombies.

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports:

This just rolled up in front of our apartment. Should I be concerned? #umbrella #zombieresponse team pic.twitter.com/aPBX4qvuG4

— Michael Heilemann (@Heilemann) September 16, 2017

Easy for you to say, I specifically moved to Roosevelt Island to avoid the whole zombie issue.

— Michael Heilemann (@Heilemann) September 16, 2017

Be careful Roosevelt Islanders.

The Standards Sing, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme Cabaret Tribute Show September 16 & 17 At Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance

A Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme Cabaret Tribute concert is taking place at the Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) tonight and tomorrow afternoon.

According to the MST&DA:

The Standards Sing: Steve & Eydie” Cabaret show celebrating the lives and music of legendary singing duo, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme September 16th @ 7:30, and September 17th @ 2:30.

$20 GENERAL ADMISSION
$15 RI RESIDENTS/SENIORS/STUDENTS

Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

The MST&DA is located at 548 Main Street.

Here's how you get to MST&DA.





And here's Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme



singing Gershwin.

Special Two Day Gallery RIVAA Exhibition, Madagascar, Culture & Potentiality September 16-17

According to Roosevelt Island's Gallery RIVAA:

Dear all,

Gallery RIVAA is pleased to invite you to a special 2-day exhibition "MADAGASCAR - Culture & Potentiality" on the weekend of Saturday September 16th from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 2017 from 10 am to 6 pm at Gallery RIVAA.

More info at Gallery RIVAA web site.

Roosevelt Island Youth Program Begins 16th Year Of Free Soccer Program Saturday, September 16 - Come Out To Octagon Park And Watch The Action

Roosevelt Island Youth Program (RIYP) Executive Director Charlie Defino reports:

The Roosevelt Island Youth Program's Free 16th soccer season will commence Saturday, September 16 at Octagon Field.

Games will start at 9:30AM and continue to 7PM. The league has 20 teams and 400 youth participating in the co-ed league With over 400 youth in the soccer league, 250 summer camp participants and over 143 after-school registrants, RIYP has now registered an um-duplicated count of slightly over 650 youth.

We expects to service approximately 1000 residents over the next year with a wide-array of services. We would love to see everyone on Roosevelt Island supporting the Soccer League, so come out and see our kids in action.

A sample of action



from prior year of RIYP Soccer at Octagon Field.

POW/MIA Flag Joins US Flag Flying Over Main Street Roosevelt Island Thru Efforts Of Resident West Point Grad & RIOC - Today Is National POW/MIA Recognition Day

Have you noticed the black and white flag flying beneath the American Flag at the Roosevelt Island Blackwell Turnaround on Main Street and wondered what it was about?

The flag symbolizes the American Prisoners Of War and Missing In Action during the Vietnam War. According to the National League of POW/MIA Families:

In 1970, an MIA wife and member of the National League of POW/MIA Families recognized the need for a symbol of our POW/MIAs....

... Other than "Old Glory," the League’s POW/MIA flag is the only flag ever to fly over the White House, having been displayed in this place of honor on National POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982. On March 9, 1989, a POW/MIA flag that had flown over White House on National POW/MIA Recognition Day in1988 was installed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhelmingly during the 100th Congress. In a demonstration of bipartisan Congressional support, the leadership of both Houses hosted the installation ceremony. On August 10, 1990, the 101st Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, which recognized the League’s POW/MIA flag and designated it “as the symbol of our Nation’s concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation”....

Image From National League of POW/MIA Families

How did the POW/MIA Flag get raised on Roosevelt Island? It was on the initiative of Roosevelt Island resident Ross Wollen with the assistance of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal and Director of Transportation Cy Opperman.

Mr. Wollen, a resident of Rivercross for almost 40 years, graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point NY in 1965. Over the years Mr. Wollen has hosted West Point Cadets and his Classmates on Roosevelt Island as they visit NYC for various events and reunions.

Among his frequent guests is Robert Jones, a West Point Classmate and good friend who joined the US Air Force as a Fighter Pilot upon graduation, and like almost all of the members of the 1965 Class spent time in the Viet Nam War several years after leaving the Academy. Mr. Jones was shot down over North Viet Nam close to his final mission, severely injured, captured and spent over five years in captivity, as a POW at various prison camps including the infamous Hanoi Hilton. There he was quartered, when not in solitary confinement or being privately tortured, with the Navy pilot, now Senator, John McCain.

Mr. Wollen wished to recognize and honor the service of his friend and West Point classmate, Robert Jones.

Read more »

Roosevelt Island F & Bonus E Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend - MTA Tells RIOC Full Roosevelt Island Weekend F Train Service Expected Thru At Least October 16

According to the MTA, there will be Roosevelt Island F Train Service

to and from Manhattan this weekend.

Also:

F Jamaica-bound trains run local from 21 St-Queensbridge to Roosevelt Av Weekend, 12:01 AM Sat to 5 AM Mon, Sep 16 - 18

Trains stop at 36 St, Steinway St, 46 St, Northern Blvd and 65 St.

And there will be Roosevelt Island E Train service to and from Manhattan this weekend too.

E Trains run via F the in both directions between W 4 St and 21 St-Queensbridge

Weekend, 11:45 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon, Sep 15 - 18

During the September 7 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Meeting, RIOC President Susan Rosenthal reported:

... that the MTA told her there will be Roosevelt Island F Train service on weekends at least thru October 16. Ms Rosenthal added that the Roosevelt Island subway elevator will be out of service the weekend of the 23-24 and RIOC will provide a Red Bus Shuttle to Manhattan at that time....

Here's what Ms Rosenthal said:

Channel 2 & 4 TV Stations Report On Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island Campus Dedication Opening - Great Bloomberg TV Segment Too

"The Future is Now" #CornellTech #RooseveltIsland @cornell_tech https://t.co/bUwpGpcxso

— Dave Carlin (@DaveCarlinTV) September 13, 2017

Cornell Tech Grad School Opens on Roosevelt Islandhttps://t.co/d7YvolnfHA@mgeorge4NY

— Pei-Sze Cheng (@PeiSzeCheng4NY) September 14, 2017

Watch this great interview with Mayor Bloomberg and Cornell Tech Dean Dan Huttenlocher - particularly comments regarding contributions made by immigrants to the United States and the tech community.



More on the Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island campus dedication and official opening at this previous post.

U.S. Coast Guard Rejects RIOC Lobbying Efforts To Prohibit Recreational Boat Traffic Under Roosevelt Island Bridge During United Nations General Assembly Sessions Sept 12 To 25 - Intermittent RI Bridge Openings Continue To Put Residents At Risk For Delays In Emergency Responses

As reported last Monday, September 11:

Mid September is the the opening of the United Nations General Assembly Session and 2017 is no different than previous years in terms of its impact on Roosevelt Island residents. The opening of the UN General Assembly means the diversion of all East River boat traffic to the Roosevelt Island East Channel Queens side for security precautions due to our proximity to the United Nations resulting in the intermittent closings of the Roosevelt Island Bridge.Mid September is the the opening of the United Nations General Assembly Session and 2017 is no different than previous years in terms of its impact on Roosevelt Island residents. The opening of the UN General Assembly means the diversion of all East River boat traffic to the Roosevelt Island East Channel Queens side for security precautions due to our proximity to the United Nations resulting in the intermittent closings of the Roosevelt Island Bridge....

On September 9, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal:

....Department of Transportation reporting intermittent closing of the Roosevelt Island Bridge again this year during upcoming UN Week.

Was any progress made with the appropriate authorities to direct boat traffic away from the Roosevelt Island Bridge during UN Week so that the Bridge is not closed so often?

As we all know, this has been a persistent problem for many years with the potential of delays for emergency vehicles to get on and off Roosevelt Island when the Bridge is closed.

Any statement from RIOC on this matter?

Roosevelt Island Bridge Raised To Let Sailboat Pass During 2010 UN Week Causing Ambulance To Wait

During 2014 UN General Assembly Week, a sailboat crashed

Image From William S

into the Roosevelt Island Bridge.

A RIOC spokesperson replied today:

As you know, the UN General Assembly convened on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 and will close on Monday, September 25, 2017. Daily sessions run from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Due to the rerouting of recreational boat traffic to the East Channel of the East River during the UN General Assembly, the NYC Department of Transportation Division of Bridges will be required to raise the Roosevelt Island Bridge to allow the passing of these recreational boats during this event. According to the DOT Division of bridges, each opening should take anywhere from 8-12 minutes to complete.

For the past year, Public Safety Chief McManus and RIOC President & CEO Susan Rosenthal have been meeting with and lobbying, various City, State, and Federal entities to prohibit recreational boat traffic during this two week period.

In spite of our efforts and others who helped, including Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who pled our case to the Commandant of the US Coast Guard, recreational boat traffic is still being redirected to the East Channel. We will continue our efforts to have this protocol changed.

During the last year, RIOC has been working with the NYC Office of Emergency Management and key representatives from FDNY, NYPD, NYC DOT Division of Bridges, NYC DEP, Health and Hospitals Corporation and Con Ed, to explore alternative emergency response options concerning the bridge during both the UN General Assembly and other situations where the bridge may get stuck or fail for any reason. By pre-staging emergency response vehicles and equipment, we are better prepared to respond to medical emergencies on Roosevelt Island. Furthermore, Con Ed has already pre-staged emergency gas and electric equipment on the Island in the event a gas or electric emergency were to take place and Con Ed trucks were unable to reach the Island due to a bridge malfunction.

During the UN General Assembly, and under the newly created Interagency Roosevelt Island Bridge Lift Protocol, the aforementioned City Agencies are responsible for the following:

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Organize pre-event interagency conference call with Public Safety Agencies

FDNY
Pre-Stage one Engine Company, one Ladder Company, and one BLS (Basic Life Support) Ambulance on Roosevelt Island. Alert Battalion 45 and Battalion 49 companies of Bridge Lifts.

NYPD
Assign resources as appropriate on Roosevelt Island

NYC DOT
Stage bridge oiler crew near bridge structure
Stage bridge electric crew near bridge structure

NYCDEP
Pre-staged water maintenance equipment available at an on-island DEP Facility

Consolidated Edison
Emergency gas and electric equipment pre-staged on Roosevelt Island Gas and electric emergency personnel will deploy to Roosevelt Island via Tramway or Subway as necessary

Health and Hospitals Corporation
Standard resource deployment

RIOC and its Public Safety Department thank all of these agencies for working together to develop these first steps toward a stronger emergency plan.

Raye Schwartz speaks for many Roosevelt Island residents when she writes:

Somebody needs to let the Coast Guard and Dept. of Homeland Security know that at the least they should limit access to pleasure boats during this period, so that we are not put in danger for fire and ambulances to get through while the bridge is inaccessible - sometimes for ½ hr. at a time while sailboats and pleasure boats go up and down the river.

And, if anyone bothers to look at a map, 4 Freedoms Park is opposite the UN and a terrorist could fire a missile or grenade from there: oops, I’ve read too many John le Carre novels and seen too many Ian Fleming movies!

Seriously, that whole thing is just for show and really does little or nothing to protect the UN while putting over 12,000 residents and workers on this island in danger.

What will it take for the Coast Guard to prohibit recreational boaters from going under the Roosevelt Island Bridge - someone's death or serious injury due to a delay in emergency response?

Cornell Tech Celebrates Official Opening Of Roosevelt Island Campus At Dedication Ceremony Today - Here's What Happened

Cornell Tech officially opened today with the holding of a a dedication ceremony this morning for it's Roosevelt Island campus attended by former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill deBlasio and leaders of the NY business and tech communities.

Image From Irina Hage

According to this press release excerpt from Cornell Tech:

Cornell Tech today celebrated the official opening of its campus on Roosevelt Island with a dedication event attended by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Cornell University President Martha Pollack, Technion President Peretz Lavie and Cornell Tech Dean Daniel Huttenlocher. Cornell Tech is the first campus ever built for the digital age, bringing together academia and industry to create pioneering leaders and transformational new research, products, companies and social ventures. Today marks the opening of the first phase of the Roosevelt Island campus, which features some of the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient buildings in the world....

It's official — We are open! #CornellTech #CornellNYC https://t.co/5OUvHZqLsC pic.twitter.com/3NcEbbN6BZ

— Cornell Tech (@cornell_tech) September 13, 2017

ICYMI: The ribbon-cutting moment in gif form. #CornellTech #CornellNYC pic.twitter.com/Sg7sYAUHCS

— Cornell Tech (@cornell_tech) September 13, 2017

Here's today's Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island campus dedication ceremony.



and video describing the mission and vision



of Cornell Tech.

Read more »

Incumbent NYC Council District 5 Member Ben Kallos Wins Democratic Party Primary To Represent Roosevelt Island With 75% Of The Vote

NY 1 has the results below.

Don't know who will be the Republican candidate in the November General election.

Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island Campus Opening Dedication Tomorrow - Take A Sneak Peak At Pre-Opening Party This Evening

Cornell Tech will celebrate the official opening dedication of it's Roosevelt Island campus tomorrow morning. You can watch a live streaming of the event here.

Tune into the #CornellTech Dedication livestream tomorrow at 10:30am EST. RSVP today: https://t.co/gXVj9apxM9

— Cornell Tech (@cornell_tech) September 12, 2017

Congrats to @cornell_tech on its opening on Roosevelt Island pic.twitter.com/qSivlW58FZ

— Eric Gertler (@ericgertler) September 12, 2017

This evening, Cornell Tech held a pre-opening party on campus.

Night before opening day party @cornell_tech Roosevelt Island campus. Lots of suits. pic.twitter.com/iaSRq2eZLe

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) September 12, 2017

Spotted leaving the Forest City Ratner Bridge at Cornell Tech building were former Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Related Companies Chairman Stephen Ross.

It's hard to beat this view from The Bridge tonight. We're excited for tomorrow's dedication and to open NYC's newest home for tech. pic.twitter.com/SifXwaZ28u

— The Bridge (@BridgeAtCornell) September 12, 2017

I spoke to Mayor Bloomberg as he was joining the party on Bloomberg Academic Center Patio. He was impressed with the campus.

Also, the campus meadow was open to the public today.

Views are gorgeous - but watch out for the plentiful Geese Droppings.

Take a walk with me.

The new Cornell Tech campus opens. But NYC is still no match for Silicon Valley https://t.co/9MJMuVSUAh pic.twitter.com/2mBRLMRRuO

— Bloomberg (@business) September 12, 2017

Stay tuned for more from Cornell Tech.

UPDATE 9:30 PM:

It's rare to be at the start and "finish" of something. Thanks to Mayor Bloomberg & Forest City for the opportunity. pic.twitter.com/psr2H1bKzH

— Ashley C. Cotton (@AshleyCCotton) September 12, 2017

Awesome Photo Of World Trade Center Tribute In Light Seen From Roosevelt Island & Story Of Making The Tribute In Light

Nathaniel Phillips shares this incredible photo of the World Trade Center Tribute In Light seen from Roosevelt Island yesterday. It's beautiful.

Image From Nathaniel Phillips

Here's the story of making the Tribute In Light.



and more from the Municipal Arts Society Of New York.

Roosevelt Island Remembers 9/11 NYC World Trade Center Towers Attack, 16th Anniversary Today

Today is the 16th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon and the downing of Flight 93 in Shanksville Pennsylvania.

Photograph taken by Canadian tourist 16 years ago today, on September 10, 2001: #Kuz pic.twitter.com/atjzh6NJ0d

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) September 10, 2017

Here's what the World Trade Center attacks looked like from Roosevelt Island on September 11, 2001.

Main Street Wire Image of 9/11 Smoke Burning From World Trade Center by Vicki Feinmel/Linda Heimer

Below is the Roosevelt Island 9/11 Remembrance Garden

and the plaque in the Remembrance Garden that honors Roosevelt Islanders who died in the terrorist attack:

Ed Beyea,
Anthony J. Fallone,
Taimour Khan,
Scott Larsen,
Kevin J. Smith and the firefighters who were based on Roosevelt Island
Deputy Chief Ray Downey,
Deputy Chief Charlie Kasper,
Battalion Chief John Moran, and
Battalion Chief John Paolillo.

In preparation of the anniversary of 9/11, we will be testing #TributeinLight this evening. #LookUp #NYC https://t.co/AjC1V0GOhA pic.twitter.com/PNVEVyPjcs

— 9/11 Memorial (@Sept11Memorial) September 11, 2017

Moment of silence marks the collapse of the World Trade Center’s north tower in New York City 16 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/LMjMBxL4A3

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 11, 2017

Sponsored Post - Re-Elect Ben Kallos Reform Democrat For City Council, Democratic Primary Election Tuesday September 12

Click here for more information from Kallos For Council.

Here We Go Again, Intermittent Roosevelt Island Bridge Closings During 2017 United Nations General Assembly - Will Emergency Vehicles Be Delayed Worries Roosevelt Island Resident - East River West Channel Closed To Boat Traffic

It's that time of year again for Roosevelt Island.

Image Of United Nations From Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park

Mid September is the the opening of the United Nations General Assembly Session and 2017 is no different than previous years in terms of its impact on Roosevelt Island residents. The opening of the UN General Assembly means the diversion of all East River boat traffic to the Roosevelt Island East Channel Queens side for security precautions due to our proximity to the United Nations resulting in the intermittent closings of the Roosevelt Island Bridge.

According to the NYC Department of Transportation:

While the United Nations General Assembly is in session, from Tuesday, September 12, through Monday, September 25, the U.S. Coast Guard will close the West Channel of the East River, which is the main navigational channel, and divert all marine traffic to the East Channel, between Roosevelt Island and Queens. The NYC Department of Transportation will close the Roosevelt Island Bridge, as needed, for up to 15 minutes at a time between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to permit marine traffic to pass.

During these closures, the bridge will be closed to all vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic. A variable message sign will be installed to inform the public. Emergency service providers have been informed of the special operational schedule.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) adds:

The NYC Department of Transportation Division of Bridges will doing intermittent raising of the Roosevelt Island Bridge starting from 7:00 AM- 7:00 PM Tuesday, September 12, 2017 to Monday, September 25, 2017 due to the rerouting of boat traffic during the United Nations General Assembly. Each opening should take anywhere from 8-12 minutes to complete. Expect intermittent traffic disruptions and delays on Main Street and along the Roosevelt Island Bridge approach.
For more information, please contact the Division of Bridges/Community Affairs at (212) 839-3740.

Raye Schwartz speaks for many Roosevelt Island residents when she writes:

Somebody needs to let the Coast Guard and Dept. of Homeland Security know that at the least they should limit access to pleasure boats during this period, so that we are not put in danger for fire and ambulances to get through while the bridge is inaccessible - sometimes for ½ hr. at a time while sailboats and pleasure boats go up and down the river.

And, if anyone bothers to look at a map, 4 Freedoms Park is opposite the UN and a terrorist could fire a missile or grenade from there: oops, I’ve read too many John le Carre novels and seen too many Ian Fleming movies!

Seriously, that whole thing is just for show and really does little or nothing to protect the UN while putting over 12,000 residents and workers on this island in danger.

This is an annual problem for Roosevelt Island and every year RIOC tells us they are trying to fix this problem but it never gets fixed.

Roosevelt Island Garden Club Hosts Classical Musicians' Rehearsal Symphony Orchestra On A Beautiful Sunday Afternoon - Moments Like This Make Roosevelt Island Wonderful

Roosevelt Island Garden Club (RIGC) Board Member for Publicity and Outreach Julia Ferguson shares these photos and reports:

While we think about and send care to so many in such bad weather conditions around our nation, we are grateful for an audience of more than forty Roosevelt Islanders who are enjoying some of those special moments that make our neighborhood wonderful.



Yesterday, Sunday, Sept.10th, 2017, RIGC hosted a concert of the Classical Musicians' Rehearsal Symphony Orchestra founded by Arlene Stock.

A dozen professional classical musicians from NYC are performing live in the gardens on this beautiful September afternoon. Admission is free and open to the public.

The audience is relaxing in chairs, strolling, or even working in the gardens while they listen.

We hope to bring this group back again. They would also welcome new string musicians to their Thursday rehearsals.

For more information, please contact rigardenclub@gmail.com.

According to the Classical Musicians' Rehearsal Symphony Orchestra web site:

... We are a reading orchestra, so we don't perform — we just play, perhaps each of us for different reasons, for most of us because we have to, but certainly for all of us because we love to. For some, the works we program in our community orchestra are a first reading; for others, encore visitations with beloved scores; for everyone, fulfilling music-making with kindred spirits.

We are always seeking more musicians, so take a look at our program history and get in touch with us for information about joining our orchestra....

Rehearsal schedule is here.

Hope to see the Classical Musicians' Rehearsal Symphony Orchestra soon at the Roosevelt Island Garden Club.

Hurricane Irma Batters Florida Today - Roosevelt Island Gristedes Owner John Catsimatidis Interviews Miami Mayor On Preparations And CNN Reports On Flooding, Storm Surge And Strong Wind Bursts

Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket chain owner, real estate developer, billionaire oilman, former NYC Mayoral candidate and entrepreneur John Catsimatidis is also host of a very interesting Sunday morning  podcast. the Cats Round Table. Mr. Catsimatidis interviews local and national politicians, business leaders and other interesting people.

Among guests on today's Cats Roundtable, were Miami Beach Mayor Phil Levine who discussed emergency preparations for Hurricane Irma.

Take a listen.

CATS Roundtable National Edition PODCAST
Sun Sep 10th ► Interview with @MayorLevine - Miami Beach & Hurricane Irmahttps://t.co/g9XlZAbGnp

— John Catsimatidis

CNN's @BrianToddCNN says he's experiencing "very intense wind bursts" in West Palm Beach https://t.co/jBOW9boESl https://t.co/46kBf34RRa

— CNN (@CNN) September 10, 2017

(@JCats2013) September 10, 2017

CNN reports from Florida on Hurricane Irma.

Downtown Miami saw flooding from #HurricaneIrma's storm surge, waist-deep in some places https://t.co/fmutUDDOfW https://t.co/dWutiwGUWJ

— CNN (@CNN) September 10, 2017

CNN's @BrianToddCNN says he's experiencing "very intense wind bursts" in West Palm Beach https://t.co/jBOW9boESl https://t.co/46kBf34RRa

— CNN (@CNN) September 10, 2017

An ocean used to be here. #HurricaneIrma stole it away. https://t.co/p2kzbakCWq pic.twitter.com/7KqwL49D0t

— CNN (@CNN) September 10, 2017

And Fox:

SHOCKING VIDEO: The storm surge caused by Hurricane Irma hits Miami. (Credit: Instagram/@Matthew.Spuler) pic.twitter.com/m9RtjcAKlP

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 10, 2017

Here's where hurricane's that hit the US start.

Most hurricanes that hit the US come from the same exact spot in the world pic.twitter.com/Cmn5dlFPhh

— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) September 10, 2017

Nice Day For A Roosevelt Island East River NYC Ferry Ride - Take A Look

It was a beautiful day on Saturday for a NYC East River Ferry Ride from Astoria to Roosevelt Island.

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports:

Part of my Instagram live vid earlier, on the ferry from Astoria to Roosevelt Island #NYC pic.twitter.com/mIuONcNIlS

— Gigi A (@gigi_nyc) September 9, 2017

Roosevelt Island from NYC ferry pic.twitter.com/BlSA9Aowy3

— Taka (@taka0710) September 9, 2017

Meet The Democratic Party Primary Candidates For NYC Council District 5 Representing Roosevelt Island - Incumbent Ben Kallos And Challengers Patrick Bobilin & Gwen Goodwin - Election Is Tuesday September 12

The New York City Council Democratic Party Primary election to represent District 5, which includes Roosevelt Island,  Upper East Side, Mid-town East and East Harlem is Tuesday, September 12.

 Image From MNN NYC Council District 5 Debate Via You Tube

The incumbent is Mr. Ben Kallos.



According to Mr: Kallos:

When I ran for City Council, one of my campaign promises was to always keep an open office in an effort to empower residents and active community members to get more done than they ever thought possible. I am proud to say that through “First Friday”, “Brainstorm with Ben” and “Ben in Your Building” my office has done just that and we've been able to get a lot of work done together.

In 2013 I promised to invest in education, including Universal Pre-K. Three and a half years later through partnerships with the Roosevelt Island Parents Network (RIPN) and Roosevelt Island Day Nursery RIDN, we have been able to do just that, greatly expand the number of Pre-K seats on Roosevelt Island.

Lastly, I ran on improving transportation. By joining the Roosevelt Island Community Coalition (RICC) and advocating to the Economic Development Corporation ( EDC) since 2014, this summer I was proud to launch the Roosevelt Island ferry which will improve commutes for residents and offer another transportation option for residents on the Island.

I have worked hard to keep my campaign promises and really make residents feel empowered to make our neighborhoods better. Although we have accomplished a lot, there is more work to do and I look forward to partnering with residents on Roosevelt Island to get more done.

Going forward my top priorities for Roosevelt Island remain Education, Transportation, Affordable Housing, Emergency Services, Cornell NYC Tech, Public Library, Senior and Youth Programs, and of course continuing my office’s open relationship and partnership with as many residents as possible.

In education, investing in STEM at P.S./I.S. 217 by getting the multi-million-dollar green roof built and supporting our teachers and students will continue to be a priority as well as making sure Cornell Tech not only fulfills but exceeds their commitments to the Island.

I will also continue to work with CitiBike and RIOC on bringing the bike share program to Roosevelt Island. My office will continue to do everything we can to support tenants in affordable housing on Roosevelt Island and ensure that Hudson Related builds the affordable housing for the Island that is years overdue.

Roosevelt Island NYC CM Ben @kallos Ranked 4th Best Says @cityandstateny The best New York City Council members https://t.co/7QHVXCdFdU

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) August 31, 2017

Mr. Kallos is opposed by Mr Patrick Bobilin and Ms. Gwen Goodwin.

Meet the upstarts trying to unseat #UES councilman Ben Kallos https://t.co/zm1rhYYSe2 pic.twitter.com/x9Rw0FWpKo

— Our Town (@OurTownNYC) August 29, 2017

According to Mr. Bobilin:

Under our current city council member, we've seen rampant luxury development, a lead crisis in our schools go untreated and one of our local public parks handed over to private developers at no cost. Last Wednesday, all candidates were invited to an hour long town hall debate on small business. The only candidate to miss the event was the incumbent, who spent the evening at a fundraiser, as a packed standing-room-only bar crowd lined up to ask questions about important local issues. We need to remind our elected officials that incumbency is not a mandate, constituents are more important than contributions and that we demand our elected officials justify their recent $40,000 raise by holding themselves responsible to our concerns.

I have been an activist and organizer since before I could vote. Elected officials and appointed authorities, with real estate contributions lining their pockets, wish to dissipate our belief in what is possible. In the wake of the energy created by Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign and the historic win by the Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour Party in the UK, we are reminded that a better world is possible. If we fail to nominate working class people, for whom poverty isn't an abstract concept but a lived experience, lower- and middle-income New Yorkers will continue to be overlooked when their interests are placed against the interests of wealthy donors and real estate developers.

Writing legislation to give yourself a $40,000 pay raise, while lobbyists continue to pour money into campaign coffers, isn't any kind of substantial reform. Telegraphing support from the same top cop who hid evidence that would have led to the conviction of Eric Garner's murderer is anything but progressive. Lacking the courage to attend a town hall where constituents could ask questions directly, without being reviewed by staff, isn't anything resembling Democratic. So what is our incentive to continue to cast votes for establishment Democrats who don't represent the interests of any but the wealthiest of their constituents? With a wealthy real estate developer as president, we can no longer afford to get behind elected officials who fail to represent the interests of millions of New Yorkers living paycheck-to-paycheck.

According to Ms. Goodwin:

I love Roosevelt Island. I love the spirit of the people who care so deeply about the community, and who show up. I share that spirit with the local residence. I admire the Islanders who come out to the meetings and participate and I appreciate the support that I have gotten so far. Let’s preserve the spirit of FDR, for whom this Island is named.

WHAT I WILL DO WHEN I AM ELECTED:

Let’s address the housing issues before they get any more out of hand. I will work towards enabling seniors to age in place, so that they do not lose their homes. I will work to create more affordable housing, and to preserve what is left and sustainable of affordable housing.

One City, One Fare! Don’t miss the boat, Give Gwen your vote.

I will work towards renegotiating a better deal with the Cornell that works both for the residents and the investors. Citibank, Google and Cornell certainly have the ability to fulfill their financial responsibilities. Let’s ALL be good neighbors.

Let’s get those escalators in the garage fixed and the bathrooms painted and renovated.

I want to see a percentage of the business profits charged as rent, instead of everyone paying a uniform $42 per square foot, which has left store fronts empty for forty years.

What I have done:

• I arranged free mini-vacations in Cape May for Fire Fighters and other first responders to 911
• I saved P.S. 109 schoolhouse, reversing a NY City School Construction Authority demolition in progress.
• I got the prestigious law firm Davis, Polk and Wardwell, pro bono, to sue the MTA for environmental racism.
• I got the gas power turned on at Lexington Houses in August 2013, after it had been off for two months!
• And much more: See my website gwengoodwin.com. I have done all this as a private citizen. Imagine what could be accomplished with Gwen as your City Council rep!

Please come out and vote for me, Gwen Goodwin, in the Sept. 12 Democratic Party Primary.

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Government Relations Committee Chair Joyce Short moderated a debate between the Democratic Party candidates of NYC Council District 5. Here's the debate.



Voting location for Roosevelt Island residents is at PS/IS 217 (645 Main Street) except for residents of the Octagon Building who vote at Coler Hospital (900 Main Street)