What Happened To Social Distancing On Roosevelt Island Tram? Way Too Crowded Cabin Today, Irresponsible And Dangerous Say Residents - Give Priority Tram Access To Residents And Workers Suggested

AS previously reported, according to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Tram Passenger Limits

As the region begins to reopen and more people return to work, the tram will have more riders. The tram operator has the discretion to allow an increase in the stated thirteen passenger limit based on conditions at a given time. If you feel a tram car is too crowded, we encourage you to wait for the next one. If you see an unsafe condition, please notify a the tram operator or a Public Safety Officer or call PSD directly at 212-832-4545.

Yesterday afternoon, passengers were maintaining social distance while waiting for the Tram at the Roosevelt Island station.

View this post on Instagram

Wear your face mask on Roosevelt Island Tram. 13 Rider passenger limit on Tram but Operator has discretion to allow more.

A post shared by @ rooseveltislander on Aug 14, 2020 at 1:31pm PDT

But today:

Crowded Roosevelt Island Tran cabin this afternoon. Tram operator has discretion to allow more than 13 passenger social distance capacity limit but this seems too many people. Mostly visitors.

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Crowded Roosevelt Island Tran cabin this afternoon. Tram operator has discretion to allow more than 13 passenger social distance capacity limit but this seems too many people. Mostly visitors.

A post shared by @ rooseveltislander on Aug 15, 2020 at 11:51am PDT

Comments from Roosevelt Island residents:

• Way to many !
• That’s not good
• so upsetting. i can’t believe this is allowed.
• Anecdotally, mask wearing here is worse than in Manhattan. People come here on the tram and immediately remove their masks. We don’t do that when we do essential errands in Manhattan. (I do think residents here wear masks at a much higher rate.)
• Seems unsafe.
• This is irresponsible and dangerous! Not acceptable!
• Perhaps giving residents a special lane would be advisable. Afford priority access to those who live and work here. Sort of a "Fast Pass" system.

UPDATE 8/17:

@B3NJITO @ieh_nyc I agree this is unacceptable-but since you pay with a metrocard, doesn't this fall under the enforcement of the @MTA as well? The responsibility also falls on the riders to. #rooseveltisland #Manhattan

— Jonn Nubian ® (@JonnNubian) August 16, 2020

I was there around 3pm and it was so bad I called the Public Safety to complain. I counted thirty getting on the tram to Manhattan.

— Nidhi Srinivas (@NidhiSrinivas_) August 16, 2020

Doesn't RIOC enforce the limits they themselves set?

— Rubén B. (@motxilo) August 16, 2020

I appreciate that everyone seems to be wearing a mask, but this is piss-poor leadership/management. WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP on this Island.

— Love Not Hate (@ieh_nyc) August 16, 2020

Yikes - this is alarming footage!

— Chris Sosa (@ChrisSosa) August 16, 2020

Meet Roosevelt Island Cabrini Church And East River Catholics Parish Manager Lisa Calabrese Interviewed By Father Louis Scurti - Remember When Cardinal Dolan Visited?

The Roosevelt Island St Francis Xavier Cabrini Church

is part of the merged East River Catholics parish that also includes St. John Nepomucene and St. John the Martyr on the Upper East Side.

Lisa Calabrese is the Parish Manager for East River Catholics including Roosevelt Island's Cabrini Church. She was interviewed recently about her role as the Parish Manager and the Roosevelt Island Cabrini community by Father Louis Scurti of Friends Of The Word. Watch the video.



Here's more info on East River Catholics, Roosevelt Island's St Francis Xavier Cabrini Church as well as Cardinal Dolan's January 7, 2018 visit to



Roosevelt Island's Cabrini Church.

Sponsored Post - Check Out Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket August 14 - August 20 Product Offerings, Specials & Sales Items - Online Shopping, Delivery Options, Digital Coupons & Social Media Facebook And Instagram Too

The Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket

invites you to check out their August 14 - August 20 Weekly Flyer for Product Offerings, Specials & Sales items  



Click here to visit the Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket web site for online shopping, delivery options, digital coupons, weekly flyer and more.

Follow Roosevelt Island Foodtown Supermarket on Facebook









and Instagram too.

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Roosevelt Island Transportation This Weekend - F Train Service To And From Manhattan, Tram Passenger Limits At Discretion Of Operator, Summer Ferry Schedule And Citibike Too - Wear Your Masks To Travel Safely For You And Others

According to the MTA, there is Roosevelt Island F Train Service to and from Manhattan this weekend.

Keep your nose and mouth covered while riding with us. You're helping stop the spread, and taking care of your fellow riders. pic.twitter.com/Qtny2Jolle

— NYCT Subway. Wear a Mask. Fill out the Census. (@NYCTSubway) August 6, 2020

Our Car Equipment team gave the @nytimes a look into how air flows in subway cars. On average, it's replaced at least 18 times an hour. That's better than offices (6-8x per hour) and classrooms (3-4x per hour).

Keep wearing your masks. Learn more 👇👇 https://t.co/UehdsPO2EF

— MTA. Wear a Mask. Stop the Spread. (@MTA) August 10, 2020

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) adds:

Tram Passenger Limits

As the region begins to reopen and more people return to work, the tram will have more riders. The tram operator has the discretion to allow an increase in the stated thirteen passenger limit based on conditions at a given time. If you feel a tram car is too crowded, we encourage you to wait for the next one. If you see an unsafe condition, please notify a the tram operator or a Public Safety Officer or call PSD directly at 212-832-4545.

The Roosevelt Island Tramway will be closed from 1:00 AM until 6:00 AM to ensure that disinfecting measures can be performed. Regular tram service will resume at 6:00 AM each day and continue until 1:00 AM the following morning. These early morning closures will continue each day until further notice...

View this post on Instagram

Wear your face mask on Roosevelt Island Tram. 13 Rider passenger limit on Tram but Operator has discretion to allow more.

A post shared by @ rooseveltislander on Aug 14, 2020 at 1:31pm PDT

Here's the NYC Ferry Roosevelt Island Astoria Route Schedule.

Roosevelt Island has a new transportation option with the recent addition of Citbike docking stations.

Roosevelt Island Free Weekly Food Pantry Friday August 14 From RIDA At Senior Center - Fresh Produce, Lots Of Milk And Non Perishable Items, Everyone Who Needs Is Welcome, Try The Tasty Chicken Casserole Recipe From Pantry Items

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh reports;

The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association will be having it's weekly Friday food pantry tomorrow August 14 from 4 - 6:30 pm at Roosevelt Island Senior Center (546 Main Street).

Lots of Fresh Produce,

Milk

and non-perishables.

If you are in need of food, please feel free to come on Friday. Everyone who needs is welcome. You MUST wear a mask, bring ID and your own bag or cart. Line starts at 546 entrance way

Ms Hersh adds:

Learn more about RIDA's food delivery to residents during the Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown.

Reopening Sportspark Pool After Several Months Covid Shutdown Lifts Spirits Of Roosevelt Island Swimmers - Among Best Swims Of My Life This Week Says Long Time Sportspark Pool User And Thanks RIOC For Safety Protocols

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) reopened the Sportspark Pool last Monday, August 10, which had been closed since March due to the Coronavirus Pandemic shutdown.

Roosevelt Island resident and long time Sportspark Pool swimmer Roberta Kleiman jumped right in the water and is thrilled to have the pool back open.

Image From RIOC

Ms Kleiman reports:

Over the past few months all of us have had to do without many things we most enjoy and rely upon. For me, without a doubt, that has been SWIMMING! I’m a lifelong swimmer and have swam at Sportspark Pool for most of the last 10 years.

This week, much to my utter delight RIOC reopened Sportspark Pool. I swam twice this week and those swims were definitely among the best swims of my life!

I would like to say a very big THANK YOU to all of those at RIOC who have made this happen! This is exactly what I, and I believe the swimmers in our community, have needed to lift our spirits! I truly feel that I am “back at home” at Sportspark Pool. I also am very pleased with the many safety protocols RIOC has put in place at the pool.

Thank you RIOC!!  

More info on the Sportspark Pool hours, rules and safety regulations

at the RIOC web site.

Join FDR 4 Freedoms Park And NYPL Roosevelt Island Branch Children's Librarian Ms Jen For 19th Amendment Book Club Celebrating Extending Women The Right To Vote - Watch Ms Jen Read Equality Call: The Story Of Voting Rights In America

The FDR Four Freedoms Park is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment extending to women the right to vote. As part of the celebration, the FDR Four Freedoms Park started a 19th Amendment Book Club hosted by Roosevelt Island New York Public Library Children's Librarian Ms Jen. According to the FDR Four Freedoms Park:

Ms. Jen from the NYPL Roosevelt Island Branch continues our book club with Equality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights In America by Deborah Diesen.

Stay tuned for more 19th Amendment Book Club reading selections with the FDR Four Freedoms Park and Roosevelt Island Children's Librarian Ms Jen.

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Excited about our book club? Here are some more 19th Amendment book suggestions by NYPL Roosevelt Island Branch Librarian Ms. Jen! Check out our first book club episode on our website, our series is a fun way for kids to learn about voting, equality and empowerment. Don’t worry more is coming soon! . . . #4freedomspark #statepark #nyc #votingrights #bookclub

A post shared by FDR Four Freedoms State Park (@4freedomspark) on Aug 8, 2020 at 9:50am PDT

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BMX Bike Rider Billy Perry Takes On Roosevelt Island With Rail Stunts On Promenade, Under The Motorgate Helix And Dodges Security To Jump FDR 4 Freedoms Park Wall Onto Ramp

According to BMX rider Billy Perry:

We hit the streets of Roosevelt Island and tried to infiltrate one of the best and most secure spots to ride in NYC.

Billy and his crew dodged security at FDR Four Freedoms Park, which does not allow bicycles inside, went up the Grand Staircase then jumped his bike over the Wall and onto the ramp

Image From Billy Perry You Tube Screenshot

before quickly exiting the park and exploring the rest of Roosevelt Island for bike tricks.

Watch the Roosevelt Island BMX stunts.

Cool Streets Program Brings FDNY Hydrant Water Sprinkler Spray Cap Heat Relief To NYC This Summer - Community Activist Frank Farance Proposes 4 Roosevelt Island Hydrant Water Spray Cap Locations To Cool Down

According to the NYC Emergency Management Department (NYCEM):

... To help New Yorkers beat the heat, New York City has implemented a number of measures through the Cool It! NYC and Cool Streets initiatives, including:

... More than 300 hydrants opened with spray caps...

... As the dangers of the hot weather collide with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are implementing a number of measures to ensure New Yorkers can stay cool while still being socially distanced...

The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Cool Streets Program adds:

... During heat emergencies, NYC DEP and FDNY will install spray caps on the Cool Streets' hydrants, providing an outdoor cooling feature for the neighborhood...

But unlike the rest of NYC during this hot, muggy and Covid-19 Pandemic summer, there's been no cooling FDNY hydrant spray caps on Roosevelt Island for the young and older to get some relief from the heat.

Until Roosevelt Island activist and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer Frank Farance sprung into action. Mr. Farance shares this message he sent today to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Shelton Haynes:

As a CERT, I recently received training from NYC DEP on operating fire hydrants, such as adding a sprinkler cap. I have the sprinkler caps from FDNY (see below and attached presentation). Also, I've done a size-up and I've found 4 locations that would work for Roosevelt Island residents.

Any comments, questions, or discussion? Let me know ASAP because I'd like to get the sprinkler caps installed because its going to be hot this week. Thanks for the help!

Image From Frank Farance

The four locations proposed by Mr Farance for the Roosevelt Island Hydrant Water Sprinkler caps are:

• Location #1: Blackwell Park, Near Tot Lot
• Location #2: East Promenade, In Rear of Eastwood/RL 560 Main
• Location #3: West Promenade, In Rear of Island House, 555 Main
• Location #4: Manhattan Park, In Rear of 30 River Road

Here's proposal for Roosevelt Island Hydrant Water Sprinkler caps from Mr. Farance.

Farance RI Hydrant Sprinker Cap Presentation

No word yet from RIOC although its approval may not be necessary.

UPDATE 8/11 -  According to RIOC President Shelton Haynes:

We are very excited that Frank has taken the steps to get the training and bring forth this wonderful idea. RIOC is in agreement and we are working together to make this possible very soon.