E Line Subway Tunnel Fire In 53rd Street Tube Under Roosevelt Island Southpoint Park This Evening - FDNY On Scene

The Twitterverse reports:

Manhattan | E 53rd St and Sutton Pl S.
FDNY units on scene of a fire in the subway tunnel at the emergency exit on Roosevelt Island.

— New York City 911 (@NYC_Alerts911) March 6, 2020

@NYCTSubway expect delays on E line fire in the tunnel under Roosevelt Island pic.twitter.com/rvHeloVUKV

— Joe Solimano (@lhsclass97) March 6, 2020

Fire crews rushing to put out subway fire under the East River happening now #RooseveltIsland #Etrain #subwayFire #EastRiver pic.twitter.com/iaoj88xzrg

— Colin Specter (@c_specter) March 6, 2020

We are working with FDNY to extinguish a track fire which caused a smoke condition in the 53 St Tube. We are experiencing significant delays along with multiple impacts in service on the A, C, E, F, J, M and R lines.

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) March 6, 2020

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RIOC Approves RIRA Recommendations For Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Funds To 11 Local Non Profit Organizations In Total Amount Of $150 Thousand

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) approved the allocation of Public Purpose Funds (PPF) recommendations made by the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) PPF Committee

 Image Of RIRA PPF Committee

during yesterday's Board Meeting.

Below are the approved allocation of PPF to Roosevelt Island Non Profit organizations in the total amount of $150,000.

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RIOC Taking Precautions To Help Stop Spread Of Corona Virus - Disinfecting Roosevelt Island Red Bus, Tram And Other Facilities With Bleach To Decrease Potential Exposure, What Else Can Be Done Asks Resident

Earlier this week, reported that the Roosevelt Island Duane Reade Pharmacy was sold out of face masks and hand sanitizers

due to health concerns about the Corona virus.

In reply to my inquiry suggesting the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) place outdoor hand sanitizers on the street, RIOC Public Information Officer Terrence McCauley replied:

We are exploring several sanitation options throughout the island.

Yesterday Mr. McCauley announced:

At the direction of Governor Cuomo, RIOC and its partners have been working together to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Last week, RIOC’s Transportation Department began to extensively clean its Red Buses throughout the day to decrease potential exposure to the coronavirus. All steering wheels, grab rails, stanchions and door handles are cleaned with bleach several times a day.

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Here We Go Again, No Roosevelt Island F Train Service To Manhattan This Weekend

 According to the MTA

... ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS Mar 6 - 9, Fri 9:45 PM to Mon 5 AM Coney Island-bound F trains run via the E from Roosevelt Av, Queens to 5 Av/53 St, Manhattan

Trains resume regular service at 47-50 Sts.

No Coney Island-bound F service at 21 St-Queensbridge, Roosevelt Island, Lexington Av/63 St and 57 St....

Both Roosevelt Island Tram cabins are operating and here's the NYC Ferry Roosevelt Island Astoria Route Winter Schedule. 

During June 13,2019  Roosevelt Island Town Hall Meeting organized by Council Member Ben Kallos, MTA representative Markus Book spoke about Roosevelt Island F Train subway service. Watch the full MTA Roosevelt Island presentation below. 

Watch Roosevelt Island Kids Support And Explain Reasons For Plastic Bag Ban And Reusable Shopping Bag Giveway At Foodtown Supermarket

Roosevelt Island youth have contributed to local zero waste efforts by supporting the Plastic Shopping Bag Ban and explained reasons why during February 26 Reusable Shopping Bag Giveaway at Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket.

Watch the video



and you will be impressed and proud of these kids.

Very Cool Pictures Of Roosevelt Island, Central Park And Rest Of NYC Seen From International Space Station - What A View!

Image From @Astro_Jessica

The NYC view from the Roosevelt Island Tram is great but the view from the International Space Station is AWESOME.

I ♥️ NY! Clear views of bustling #NYC day and night lately from @Space_Station – Central Park looks inviting. Midtown’s skyline reminds me of a metallic pin art impression . . . #GoodDayAndGoodNightNYC #GoodnightFromSpace pic.twitter.com/OPVHCc1jos

— Jessica Meir (@Astro_Jessica) March 4, 2020

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Roosevelt Island Southpoint Park Shoreline Reconstruction Project To Repair Decaying Seawall and Provide Public Access To Waterfront Draws Petition Opposing Project As Destroying Wildlife And Native Plant Habitats - RIOC Board Meeting Presentation Tomorrow Evening On Subject

The March 5 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Of Directors meeting will include

1. Presentation Regarding Southpoint Park Project

 Image From RIOC

According to RIOC:

... The Southpoint Park seawall is failing and in dire need of immediate repair. Furthermore, the soil between the shoreline and the steel fence is heavily contaminated and must be remediated once the seawall repair work begins. This is according to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) regulations. These two conditions must be addressed over the next year, meaning the area along the east and west shorelines of Southpoint Park will be disturbed anyway. Please note that work will not take place until after spawning season is over in July.

RIOC, in cooperation with our various state/federal partners at NYS DEC, FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers, has decided to take this opportunity to improve both the natural habitat and pedestrian access to our Island’s beautiful riverfront. Remember, better waterfront access is a high priority for both New York City and New York State. The design featured in the Langan presentation will not permanently remove natural habitat. Nothing is being paved over. If anything, it will be better than before.....

A petition drive has been organized by some who oppose the Southpoint Park Shoreline Reconstruction project because they think it will destroy the existing wildlife habitat.

Roosevelt Island Shorelines - Help us get to 1,000 signatures today Please sign the petition and help us save 360 trees, native plants, and wildlife which inhabits Southpoint park. Share this post and sign here: https://t.co/5FHY5nXcNR | Facebook https://t.co/lzoKvhZIgu

— Wildlife Freedom Foundation (@wffny) March 2, 2020

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Roosevelt Island Southpoint Park Seawall Restoration/Pathway Project, Citibike Sharing Locations And Public Purpose Fund Allocations Among Items On Agenda For March 5 RIOC Board Of Directors Meeting - Ask Questions And Give Your Comments At Public Session Prior To Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors will meet 5:30 PM Thursday, March 5 at the Cultural Center Theater (548 Main Street). You're invited to  attend,, ask questions and share concerns about Roosevelt Island during the opening Public Session before the start of the meeting. Sign up to speak here.

Among the items on the Agenda are:

A Southpoint Park Shoreline Restoration Project presentation (which has received objections from some community members who believe it will destroy the existing wildlife habitat),

 Agreement to install Citi Bike sharing docking stations for 72 bikes at 4 Roosevelt Island locations

and

Approval of Public Purpose Funds to Roosevelt Island Non-profit organization.

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Graduate Hotel At Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island Campus Seeking General Manager - More Management And Staff Positions To Be Announced Shortly And Roosevelt Island Graduate Hotel Job Fair Coming In April

Earlier today, a Roosevelt Island resident asked:

Trying to get an idea of how to apply for jobs with the hotel or the caffe on the rooftop. Any idea who or where I can do that?

The Graduate Hotel on the Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech campus is scheduled to open July 1 including the rooftop bar and ground floor restaurant.

 Image From Cornell Tech

Highgate Hotels will be the operator of The Graduate Hotel and they are currently seeking a General Manager.

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First Reported Case Of Corona Virus In NYC Announced Today, Roosevelt Island Duane Reade Out Of Hand Sanitizers And Face Masks - RIOC Exploring Several Sanitation Options

We are announcing the first positive case of #COVID19 in New York City. We have already identified close contacts of the individual, who may have been exposed, and will take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19: https://t.co/AKpJIDztv1. pic.twitter.com/2GiXPoEAY3

— nycHealthy (@nycHealthy) March 2, 2020

As reported last January 28:

... indication of the concern over news reports about the Novel Coronavirus was seen today at the Roosevelt Island Duane Reade pharmacy counter - Face masks are sold out

and the staff does not know when they will be resupplied.

Today, the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse observed that our local Duane Reade hand sanitizer section was empty

@Rooseveltisland Shelf at Roosevelt Island @DuaneReade where hand sanitizer used to be...#Coronavirusnyc #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/rWx2HunTMN

— FinnYorker (@NYTTYTTYY) March 2, 2020

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio updates New Yorkers today on the first reported case of the Corona virus in NYC:

We know the first reported case of coronavirus has people on edge. Here's what we know about the patient:
▪️She recently traveled to Iran.
▪️She didn't use public transit after returning to NYC.
▪️She had limited contact with others. We're following up with those people.

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 2, 2020

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Roosevelt Island Art Installation OMG How Will I Survive The Plastic Bag Ban Shows How To Reduce, Recycle, And Reuse To Minimize Landfill Waste - NYC Plastic Bag Ban Starts Today But Enforcement Penalties Delayed Until April 1

The NYC Plastic Bag Ban starts today, March 1.

Plastic bags are officially banned across New York State! It’s one way we can help decrease pollution and create a cleaner, greener city. pic.twitter.com/iPhgqu5FWu

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 1, 2020

But penalties will not be enforced until April 1.

The Department of Environmental Conservation will not enforce penalties for store owners handing out single-use plastic bags until April 1 https://t.co/tGBNmY2DU9

— POLITICO New York (@politicony) March 1, 2020

Yesterday, Roosevelt Island resident Karen Lee's art installation - OMG How Will I Survive The Plastic Bag Ban - showed us how to Reduce, Recycle and Reuse to minimize what ends up in landfill.

@Rooseveltisland creative Karen Lee “Turtle in Ocean” art installation reminds us plastic bags look like their favorite food jellyfish. @NYCSanitation Sem gives a recycling demo, Anthony from GRIN talks compost & @LibRoosevelt joins. #community #reuse pic.twitter.com/fjXYZPDgQX

— iDig2Learn (@iDig2Learn) February 29, 2020

Ms Lee takes us on a tour of OMG How Will I Survive The Plastic Bag Ban

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