Roosevelt Island Holiday Lights On Display Now, Reindeer Sled, Street Lamp Garlands, Ornament Balls & More - Some Southtown Residents Complain Of Dangerous Electrical Lines, Fallen Decorations And Arguable Aesthetics

Thanksgiving has yet to arrive but the Roosevelt Island Holiday Lights were on display lit up this evening with the Reindeer sled at Good Shepherd Plaza

Street lamp garlands on Main Street

and Riverwalk Commons,

Reindeer next to the Roosevelt Island Historical Society Visitors Center Kiosk

Holiday ornament balls at Tram Plaza

and the Roosevelt Island Holiday/Christmas tree on the Rivercross Lawn which will be lit Friday, December 6

REMINDER: Come join the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Fri. 12/6 @ 7PM @ the lawn south of Rivercross. Enjoy a night of holiday music & celebration, featuring The Funktion band, island performers, hot beverages, prizes, & maybe even a visit from a guest from the North Pole! pic.twitter.com/bCHMkWHI6f

— RIOC NYS (@RIOCny) November 15, 2019

A Roosevelt Island Southtown resident had this to say about Riverwalk Commons decorations in a message to RIOC last week:

... The Commons During Christmas Season: Prior decorations have not been well-received and, quite frankly introduced unacceptable hazards, due to a lack of being well maintained, and arguable aesthetics. Dangerous electrical lines and decorations that had fallen or pulled to the ground made for a dangerous situation for residents and visitors. Who would be liable were a child was injured?We do not want "enter at your own risk" situations....

As reported in 2017, RIOC and  Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related agreed to:

...  create a joint marketing campaign to draw pedestrian traffic to the Island’s Main Street. The campaign will install holiday decorations for the winter holiday season throughout Roosevelt Island to attract more shoppers to the Island retail establishments. Various proposals were considered, and it was agreed that HRR would hire Neave Décor (“Neave”), a prominent decoration company, to bring a “winter wonderland” experience to Roosevelt Island, for the holiday season. This experience would include various decorations such as tree lights, snowflake lights, rain deer, stars etc. though out the Main Street retail corridor, the transportation hub and the Good Shepherd plaza, among other areas.

Neave agreed to enter into a three-year contract with HRR at a reduced price of slightly less than $75,000 per year. HRR would be responsible for one-third of the expenses (i.e. $25,000 per year) associated with this project. RIOC would be responsible for the remaining portion and issue HRR a $50,000 credit on the MSA fees for each of the three years. If possible, RIOC will endeavor to solicit contributions towards its share from other stakeholders on the Island....

This is the final year of 3 year agreement.