Friday, March 6, 2020

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

The Twitterverse reports:






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.


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.

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. 

Thursday, March 5, 2020

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.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

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

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 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.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

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.

Monday, March 2, 2020

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


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

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

Sunday, March 1, 2020

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.


But penalties will not be enforced until April 1.

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.

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