As reported last Friday, January 28:
A Roosevelt Island resident recently asked:
Given the tragic fire in the Bronx, I’m curious as to why public safety has
refused to remove the barricade in front of the deli, that clearly blocks
the fire hydrant, even though I have been told that the fire department told
them to remove it....
... During the January 18 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA)
Public Safety Committee (PSC) monthly meeting
chaired by Erin Feeley Nahem, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)
Public Safety Department
Chief Kevin Brown was asked about the barricade on Main Street in front of
the fire hydrant next to Bread and Butter Deli.
Chief Brown answered:
I have had numerous conversation with the fire department, the fire chief
and the fire marshal. If they need to move those barriers they're easily
removable.
They have no issue with the barricades and I wrote this to a resident who
had emailed me about this issue.
The Fire Marshal, as a matter of fact, he had noticed that on
numerous occasions cars are parked on that hydrant when he does his rounds
on the Island and it was something that PSD was constantly getting the
people off of that hydrant.
They would park there, leave their car and the Fire Department agreed with
us that the barriers there, if they need that hydrant they can drive right
into the to the barriers, remove them in less than two seconds and get on
with their business.
A tipster reported yesterday morning:
On my early, early walk this a.m. to Bread & Butter Deli, I was happy to
see the barricades removed. Hopefully RIOC / PSD will further clear the area,
paint the curb appropriately, put up new signage banning parking in the bus
stop & Not blocking the hydrant.
Later that afternoon, the barricade in front of the fire hydrant next to the
Bread & Butter Deli was still gone but a car was parked in front of the
hydrant.
A Public Safety Officer was about to write up a summons for the car parked in
front of the hydrant when a woman came running out of the Deli pleading with
the officer to not give her a ticket. The Officer told the woman to move the
car immediately and she did avoiding the ticket.
The barricade
was still gone today.
Yesterday I asked RIOC:
Residents have emailed me today that the Barricade in front of the Main
Street fire hydrant next to Bread & Butter Deli was removed today.
Is that true?
Why was it removed?
During the recent RIRA Public Safety Committee meeting, Kevin and Anthony
said it was necessary to prevent cars from parking in space blocking the
hydrant and that the FDNY was in favor of the barricade.
Any statement from RIOC on this matter?
No response yet from RIOC.
Here's video
from the January 28 PSC meeting of PSD Chief Kevin Brown and Deputy Chief
Anthony Amoroso discussing the hydrant barricade.
UPDATE 2/7 - The barricade is now back in front of the fire hydrant. No explanation from RIOC.
