The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) will be offering free Covid 19 PCR Tests at the Roosevelt Island Carter Burden Senior Center (546 Main Street) starting Monday, February 21 thru Saturday February 26 from 10 AM 5 PM weekdays and 10 AM - 2 PM Saturday.
RIRA President Rossana Ceruzzi reports that RIRA has obtained 6 thousand Covid 19 PCR tests and is looking for storefront space to continue testing in March.
According to NYC Health Department, the most recent 7 Day Covid Testing Data from February 9 - 15 for
Roosevelt Island (Zip Code 10044 ) shows 461 people tested and 8 new Positive
Cases for a rate of 1.74%.
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A Roosevelt Island resident reported this morning:
What is the appropriate action to take for people who are living in the
Roosevelt Island Subway station? There were people camped out on both
platforms. I was surprised to see an entire set up with a mattress at the
platform today. They were sleeping and didn’t bother anyone. However we had a
very erratic person screaming and shouting on the platform frightening all the
school children this morning. There was no public safety in sight. How do we
get more regular monitoring at our station?
I counted no less than ten TEN!!! this morning. The subway has sadly become a mobile homeless shelter. Besides the fact that these individuals are taking up space in the cars during prime rush hours (yes they are full during certain hours) there is the public health aspect. One individual was laid out on bench soaked in urine. Unhealthy. The Mayor announced a lot of plans but we see no execution.
Unlike the NYC shelter system, people find this relatively clean and safe. It’s really sad when this is your best option in a city with a budget surplus of almost one billion dollars. NYC desperately needs much more supportive, low-income housing.
this is not a MTA or NYPD issue. This is a Humanitarian issue not being addressed. These are human beings displaced by the rising cost of living in NYC. We need real solutions that don’t stigmatize the homeless.
The issue of homeless people in and around the Roosevelt Island subway station
was discussed during the February 15 Roosevelt Island Residents Association
(RIRA) Public Safety Committee meeting with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Chief Kevin
Brown. According to Chief Brown:
... there were a few homeless in the subway system. We got a few
complaints of some of the homeless harassing residents in the subway system
which we are working with NYPD and they have promised they're going to step up
their patrols in in the subway. We have received a number of complaints
and we are actively addressing it. We have our patrols. We don't patrol inside
the station. That's the MTA and NYPD, but
outside the station we do patrol outside of the station ...
RIOC PSD Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso said:
... I was speaking to a couple of the transit officers down in the subway within the last week about the homeless sleeping down there. They are one thousand percent about allowing them to
keep warm type of shelter and as long as they're not harassing anybody down there they're all for
really trying to accommodate them to the best of their ability and not throw them into the cold.
Most of them do not want homeless services. They don't want to go to the hospital. You want to be very compassionate. If they're not committing any crimes,
allowing them to keep warm and allowing them to to have bathroom facilities. It's something
that they're all for. I did have a conversation with a couple of the transit
officers down there and if they're not committing any crimes they really do not want to push them away and put them in a worse condition...
Here's the RIRA Public Safety Committee meeting discussion of the Roosevelt Island homeless issue.
A Roosevelt Island parent shares these concerns:
It has been relayed to me that the Roosevelt Island Subway Station does not have enough cameras for PSD/NYPD to monitor what is going on. Beyond the homeless situation this is extremely concerning given the number of threats that MTA gets. I think we as a community need to demand this is fixed asap because if anything does happen on the platform we need to know there will be a record of it.
People living in the Roosevelt Island Station: As you reported on your Instagram we have people who have taken up living in the station. Although I personally have not seen them do anything harmful I think it causes 2 issues:
a. It encourages more people to come to this station which could lead to a larger issue. As another parent reported her children have been subjected to seeing them urinate on the tracks in the morning on the way to school.
b. There are so many random bags and belongings lying around that it is hard to tell if something is a random item that has been left at the station that we should report or not. As someone who is accutely aware of subway threats this stuff lying around is triggering.
The person who was acting extremely erratic this morning at 7am was apparently taken away by PSD around 7:30am but by the time i got back to the island around 8am they were back at the station shouting at people. This is a larger issue with the law and there being no consequence for disorderly behavior. I'm not sure what we do here but I have tried doing what I can as a private citizen to report and I hope you article provides encouragement for more people to report this in real time. Also if your article could clarify the steps people should take (call PSD, call 311, etc) that might be helpful since figuring out the steps to take is not easy or clear.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the Subway Safety Plan,
which lays out how his administration will begin addressing public
safety concerns and supporting people experiencing homelessness and
serious mental illness on New York City’s subways. The plan includes
comprehensive investments in short- and medium-term solutions, including
expanded outreach teams with New York Police Department (NYPD)
officers and clinicians, additional housing and mental health
resources, and outlines long-term systems improvements through changes
to state and federal laws to connect more New Yorkers to the care they
need. A key component of the plan will also direct NYPD personnel to
assist in enforcing certain subway rules, such as sleeping across
multiple seats, exhibiting aggressive behavior to passengers, or
creating an unsanitary environment....
... What should I do if I see an individual or a group of individuals that
appear to be street homeless?
For the most immediate response, New Yorkers who see individuals they
believe to be homeless and in need should contact 3-1-1 via phone or mobile
app and request outreach assistance. You should call 911 if the individual
appears to pose an immediate risk to themselves or others or there is
criminal activity.
What happens when I call 311 to report a homeless New Yorker in need of
assistance?
Individual calls 311 and a Service Request (SR) is created
SR is evaluated and assigned to a service provider or a partner Agency,
like NYPD, as needed
If assigned to a service provider, outreach team is dispatched within an
hour of receiving the request
Service provider outreach teams attempt to locate that individual and if
found directly engage the individual, assess for safety and encourage them
to accept services and transition off the streets.
How do outreach teams engage a homeless New Yorker in need of assistance?
Experienced outreach teams from not-for-profit service providers canvass the
five boroughs 24/7/365 as part of our citywide effort to identify and engage
individuals who may be homeless, encourage them to accept services, and
ultimately help them transition off the streets. Additionally, DHS performs
joint outreach operations with community stakeholders and Agency partners,
including the NYPD, the Parks Department, the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene, and the Department of Transportation to utilize each Agency's
expertise, engage more New Yorkers, and offer more supports. Outreach teams
have helped approximately 2,000 homeless New Yorkers off the streets citywide,
thanks to new investments and a doubling of the size of those teams.
UPDATE 10 PM - This Roosevelt Islander Instagram comment expresses what many fear:
There's too many of them. Im sorry if this sounds insensitive but I don't want to worry about being pushed into the tracks or harassed. I don't want to worry if the guy mumbling is going to do something crazy. The island continues to have garbage everywhere. I don't know what the solution is but its not the subway. Mental health is a serious problem for a lot of them . The new guy that sits in the station is always drinking and was passed out on the stairs the other day. I wasn't sure if he was alive.
UPDATE 1/19:
You have my word as your Mayor: Protecting New Yorkers is my top priority.
We're not going to let a humanitarian crisis continue to unfold on our subways. We will keep them safe and make sure our homeless brothers and sisters have the dignity they deserve. pic.twitter.com/65HLpBRR9f
... As far as Roosevelt Island, it's governed by the Roosevelt Island Operating
Corporation. As Mayor, you have appointments to that Board and for several
years now there has been no woman appointed to the Roosevelt Island Board. So
who is the point person on your team that I could sit down with and meet to
review the composition of that Board...
Mayor Adams replied:
... Let's take a trip out to Roosevelt Island together. You know, I'm looking
forward to that Tram ride. I think it's one of the greatest attractions we
have in the city. We can do a real analysis of the concerns there. You should
reach out to Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer to talk about the Board and
moving forward....
Proud to announce the passage of our bill to expand the Roosevelt Island residency requirement giving majority vote to RI residents on RIOC Bd. of Directors.
✅More transparency / accountability on local issues ✅deadlines to fill vacancies ✅vacancies to be posted publicly
— Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (@SeawrightForNY) February 14, 2022
The New York State Assembly approved Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright's
legislation that will allow residents to have a majority vote on the
governing board of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.
The measure is part of a series of reforms to bring great accountability and
transparency to the board, which serves more than 12,000 residents. Under
the Seawright legislation, five of the nine appointees to the board must
reside on the island. The governor appoints four resident board members. The
mayor appoints one resident board member.
The approved measure now goes to the Senate, where a similar action is under
the sponsorship of State Senator José Serrano.
"I'm pleased that the voice of the residents of Roosevelt Island will
not only be heard but also be a force on the board for constructive
change,"
said Seawright.
"We are one step closer to achieving that goal. Given the Roosevelt
Island community's unique governance structure under a State Public
Benefit Corporation, resident perspectives and voices must be
represented on RIOC's board of directors."
Other provisions would:
Clarify the residency requirement for certain public appointments to the
Board of Directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation and
stipulate for their immediate resignation from the board upon the
termination of such residency;
Provide for the appointment of a successor within 60 days when a board
vacancy occurs within an unexpired term;
Require the posting of job vacancies on the corporation's website.
A separate bill sponsored by both legislators would also require residency
for the corporation's Chief Executive Officer. A non-resident Chief
Executive Officer would be required to relocate to the island within one
year of appointment.
A long time Roosevelt Island resident adds:
... about Mayor Adams & the Tram. I sure hope someone on his Team tells
him it’s more than just an “attraction”.
Well, even Jerry Seinfeld thinks of the Roosevelt Island Tram as an amusement
attraction.
Roosevelt Island is looking forward to seeing Mayor Adams on the Tram and learning more about our unique little community.
... addresses issues facing Roosevelt Island such as the protective seawall on the island and land lease that is held by New York State. This committee meets on an as needed basis on the third Thursday of the month.
Lynne Strong-Shinozaki, Chair
Paul Krikler
Sharon Pope-Marshall
Barbara Rudder
The CB8 RI Committee is meeting Thursday, February 8 at 6:30 PM via Zoom. The Agenda items are:
Presentation by Amanda Matthews Sculptor of “Girl Puzzle”
Update on Capital Projects from Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
Council Member Julie Menin Demands OMNY Installation on Roosevelt Island.
Tram Commuters can not access OMNY free transfers or utilize fare-capping
pilot program. RIOC Missing Out on Critical Funds By Not Using OMNY
The Offices of New York City Council Member Julie Menin, New York State
Senator Jose M. Serrano and New York State Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright
have requested the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) advance the
timeline for the installation of the One Metro New York (OMNY) system on the
Roosevelt Island Tram. The letter sent by the Office of Council Member Julie
Menin addresses RIOC President and CEO Shelton J. Haynes as the Roosevelt
Island Tram remains the last MetroCard only station within the MTA system...
Today, Assembly Member Seawright asked MTA Chair Janno Lieber about installing the OMNY fare collection system on the Roosevelt Island Tram and reduced fares for seniors and disabled people using the OMNY system.
On the issue of the Tram, which I rode for many years, I know it's an important feature of the Roosevelt Island community. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp operates it, not the MTA.
We will make sure there is a plan to get it OMNY equipped. I don't know why it hasn't been yet but it is not part of the system. That may be part of the explanation but it's a fair point and we will make sure it gets done....
Mr Lieber added that OMNY reduced fare discounts for seniors and disabled people will be coming in the next 3-6 months.
A celebration of the life and legacy of Nellie Bly –
journalist, adventurer and humanitarian – on the centennial of
her death (January 27, 1922) with a focus on her record-breaking
race around the world declared ‘the most remarkable of all feats
of circumnavigation ever performed by a human being,’ by The New
York World, 1890.
Rosemary J Brown
is a London-based journalist and author of Following Nellie Bly:
Her Record-Breaking Race Around the World (Pen and Sword Books,
2021) where she re-traced Bly’s epic 72-day journey to pay
tribute to the pioneering woman now commemorated in the recently
inaugurated The Girl Puzzle monument on Roosevelt Island. Brown
is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society with a quest to
get female adventurers ‘back on the map.’
Rosemary will be joined by
Amanda Matthews, the sculptor of "The Girl Puzzle'' located on Roosevelt Island. Amanda is an award-winning
sculptor and designer of public art and the space it
inhabits. She is also a public speaker and the CEO of
Prometheus Art, a Design/Build Firm owned with her
partner/husband, Brad Connell, located in Lexington, KY.
Matthews’ work reflects a commitment to women, fairness, civil
rights, and lifting muted and marginalized voices. She
designs large-scale monuments and installations with emphasis on
accessibility for all people. Her work recognizes and honors the
plight of women, those who are marginalized, the LGBTQ+
community, and others who are still seeking equal rights and
representation.
The ribbon cutting and opening ceremony of
last Friday's "The Girl Puzzle" monument
honoring journalist Nelly Bly at Lighthouse Park is not only a
local Roosevelt Island story.
"The Girl Puzzle"
Nelly Bly monument, designed by
Amanda Mathews, is also a national story and was covered by the CBS Saturday
Morning TV program. Watch the video, it's well done and
informative.
Also, here are the remarks of Ms Mathews at "The Girl Puzzle" ribbon cutting
and grand opening ceremony on Friday December 11, 2021.
Beautiful view of Roosevelt Island and rest of New York City seen from plane
flying above on very clear night. Jack McManus soccer field lit up bright
too. https://t.co/bk3zrofjdC
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
