During today’s Roosevelt Island
Little League game, George Estreich spotted a dolphin in the East River swimming past Roosevelt
Island and Long Island City near the Queensboro Bridge and shares these
photos.
Bob Babcock, an original Roosevelt Island resident, adds:
When I worked on the launch of NYWaterTaxi in 97 (my cover letter,
describing life on the East river, and seeing the changes over time,
secured the job) we saw dolphins in the lower harbor by Governors Island.
The Gowanus was still a toxic stew, but the waterways around NYC had
greatly improved since we moved to the Island in 1975 when the joke on
Barney Miller was the you don’t drown in the East River, you dissolve.
Much of the credit for this transformation should go to a Roosevelt Island
pioneer and her cadre of environmentalists: Sally Leifer, the first
teacher assigned to PS/IS217, was part of the protest to GE’s pollution at
Storm King, that led in part to the passing of the EPA. She went on to
help establish the first Environmentally-focused public school in NYC. Her
friend, Tom Fox, a Ranger at Gateway National Park (who taught us about
horseshoe crabs and mollusk beds), went on to found the Greenway Project,
to restore the New York City waterfront, which ultimately became Hudson
River Park.
So dolphins out your window are courtesy of a long history of concerned
citizens working to protect the environment, getting regulation passed,
and then continued vigilance. Be a part of it.
Astoria Grown is a
new vendor at the Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market. Astoria Grown is a
home based urban farm located in a private home located a few minutes from the
Roosevelt Island Bridge.
I spoke with the
Astoria Grown
owner last Saturday. Meet the newest Roosevelt Island Farmers Market vendor,
Astoria Grown .
The farm is an indoor facility on the top floor of our house in Astoria.
The house, including the farm are powered by a solar installation on the
roof.
We use and reuse stainless steel mesh as our growing medium, We use only
organic nutrients and no pesticides. We disinfect our materials with
hydrogen peroxide vinegar and the sun .
All of our containers are recyclable and compostable.
Nutrition.
Microgreens are high in several key vitamins, including Vitamin A, Vitamin
C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K They are also rich in many essential minerals,
such as Brassica micro greens (broccoli, cabbage, kale, etc.) and are rich
in the precursors necessary to protect against cancer. Microgreens have far
higher nutrient levels than the same mature vegetable.
Our products.
Micro greens are very young vegetables harvested at 2 to 3 weeks old.
We grow:
Arugula,
Broccoli,
Cabbage,
Kale,
Kohlrabi,
Peas,
Daikon Radish and
Purple Radish
Stop by the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market every Saturday and learn more about Astoria Grown and try their microgreens.
Roosevelt Island resident and iDig2Learn founder Christina Delfico reports:
Saturday, April 22nd / 11am- 3pm - Earth Love Day event at Meditation Lawn, Blackwell House Plaza and planting with the garden club at the Riverwalk Commons near Granny Annie’s on Roosevelt Island.
Free resources include the book drop n’ swap & a used battery drop. Activities include the Youth Center art station, Island Kids seed giveaway, Girl Scout Recycle and Crafting station, RIHS children's book giveaway and iDig2Learn & GRIN tree urban forest planting news and Tree Survey plus Haki Compost collective will be on hand to talk about food scraps for the compost program.
Also, stop by to learn more about the new teen-run Island Plogging Club with Louise. Plus Main Street Theater and Dance performances and OM yoga too. Rain date: Sunday, April 23rd.
Roosevelt Island NY State Assembly District Moving To Queens In Proposed Redistricting Map - "You Can Make This Nonsense Stop" Says Local Activist Supported By Political Leaders, Join Your Neighbors At Public Hearing February 7
Today, it was announced that Roosevelt Island will not be moving to a Queens Assembly District but will remain in the Manhattan 76 Assembly District represented by Rebecca Seawright.
Any comment on the good news that Roosevelt Island staying in your Assembly District?
Ms Seawright replied:
The redistricting commission today voted to advance the new and final Assembly maps to the state Legislature including Roosevelt Island in the 76th Assembly District. We submitted robust testimony along the way in opposition to shifting representation of the island to a Queens District. Ultimately it was the unified and strong support of indelible Roosevelt Island resident activists that made the important first-hand arguments to help the commission put forth a favorable district map.
Ultimately it was the unified and strong support of indelible Roosevelt Island resident activists that made the important first-hand arguments to help the commission put forth a favorable district map. pic.twitter.com/SlYDatDfkG
— Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (@SeawrightForNY) April 20, 2023
Congrats to Joyce Short and all the other Roosevelt Island activists
Roosevelt Island residents living in the 1003 unit
Roosevelt Landings building complex
are angry and frustrated at living without regular hot water service since last
March.
"Hot water has been out off and on for the past month or two. It has now
been nearly 5 whole days without hot water",
"No hot water & the laundry rooms were out of service for a couple of
weeks- all while residents were getting lease renewals with $1000 increases
in some cases. Quality of life in these buildings (546 especially) is pretty
terrible with noise and smoking and drinking in the hallways all night long
(even on weekdays)",
"I’m sick of dealing with the water issue. This has been going on for way
too long and they’ve known about it for weeks now. Give us hot water!!!,"
"It’s been 2 months with this hot water situation. Then we also had the
laundry room closed on and off for a month. They are increasing rent, soon
to be charging for electricity and the refuse rooms are filthy with bugs and
dog 💩 it’s gross and insane",
"No hot water for a week straight now and elevator in 560 has audible
scraping noises. The other day it shook violently as it approached the 10th
floor",
"No hot water, laundry rooms closed consistently for weeks at a time,
elevators broken in 560 after being reported and we’re told that management
is waiting for HVAC assistance which is a partial truth"
"We have to shower in cold water and it hurts".
Some are talking about a rent strike over the lack of hot water.
I've received almost a dozen complaints this week about lack of hot water
over an extended period of time in the Roosevelt Landings buildings.
For example
Roosevelt Landings apartments have NOT had consistent hot water since the
beginning of MARCH. We are taking ice showers….. a lot of people I’m in
contact with (including myself) are “scared” to speak up to call 311 out
of fear of retaliation.
Are you aware that for quite some time building 510 has had - at best -
lukewarm water, but generally no hot water at all? Management gives no
timetable for when things will return to normal. It’s been off and on this
way for well over a month.
Roosevelt Landings has no Hot Water and Mgmt office do not know when the
problem will be fixed. There's been no hot water or warm water for the
last 5 weeks from 4-6am till 11am-12pm and then at night after 11pm (no
hot only warm). So all residents that were not able to shower in freezing
cold water today must be very stinky and in need of extra deodorant
I've seen the April 12 notice management is distributing explaining the
problem.
I recall Urban American's Josh Eisenberg
reporting in 2014 (correct year is 2013) on a state of the art Combined Heat and Power Plant systems
being connected to the buildings electrical and hot water systems. Are they
still working?
Does Roosevelt Landings management have any comment on the matter?
We apologize to our residents for the hot water interruptions and understand
the inconvenience this has caused. Our team has been working diligently to
address service interruptions and to permanently fix the hot water heaters. We
thank residents for their patience and will continue to provide updates as we
work to resolve this issue.
The interruptions in hot water service are linked to a malfunction within the
cogeneration plant that services the property. - We are working closely with
engineers and specialists to resolve it as soon as possible.
And on April 17, C+C Apartment Management sent this notice to Roosevelt
Landings residents:
On April 19, a Roosevelt Landings resident wrote to me:
There has been no hot water for over a month. The laundry room situation has
been crazy. Why isn't this being discussed? The buildings are dirty. Main
street looks the worse it has ever been. This publication has to address
island life. Its getting worse.
Roosevelt Island elected officials, including State Senator
Liz Krueger, Assembly Member
Rebecca Seawright
and City Council Member
Julie Menin
have intervened with Roosevelt Landings building management on behalf of
residents.
Council Member Menin reported on April 19:
It is unacceptable that any New Yorker would be without hot water for weeks at
a time. My office has been in contact with HPD many times about Roosevelt
Landing and today the agency issued two C-class violations for no hot water
and another for no access to the boiler, which the landlord needs to correct
immediately. We will continue to advocates for the tenants of this building
until all issues are resolved.
... When activated, our onsite power plant and heating system will be
capable of generating 15% of the building's electricity on site and all
of the hot water for more than 1000 apartments 30% more efficiently than
before....
Mr Eisenberg spoke about the system during an
interview on a 2013 episode of the Michael Stoller real estate TV program.
Stay tuned. Will update when more info available.
UPDATE 4/21 - A spokesperson for Assemblymember Seawright reports at 5:20 PM
We are hearing an update from HPD as of 5:06pm- they sent the emergency repair unit to conduct a final inspection on 2 of the water heaters that have been repaired. The equipment is going to be monitored to ensure it doesn't fail. We have been in touch with the Mayor's Office, HPD and the management company and asked to receive updates as they are available.
and adds at 7 PM:
HPD update- The Emergency Repair Program (ERP) unit indicated the HW temp is 100 degrees Fahrenheit at the furthest point from the heating equipment, and 116 at a closer point. They’ve assessed this is inadequate and technicians are on site working on the equipment.
I've noticed this morning that the steel pillars holding up the 'ship' on the west side of the island have completely eroded away.. which is only visible during low tide. It's inevitable this thing will come crashing down sooner or later.
On Monday, April 17, I asked Mr Claus if he received any response from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) about the eroding Boat Prow pillars and he replied that he had not.
Later on Monday I asked RIOC President Shelton Haynes and Communications VP Akeem Jamal
Does RIOC have any comment on the apparently unsafe conditions at the
Roosevelt Island Boat Prow sticking out into the East River near The
Sanctuary Events space?
No answer from RIOC to my press inquiry but Mr Claus reports yesterday that RIOC answered him with:
I did receive a message from RIOC stating they are exploring options on how to alternatively stabilize the structure since the original support has eroded away.
... RIOC will begin a Boat Prow Restoration project to remove the graffiti from the prow and to repair eroded Corten Steel damage
to the base of the Prow caused by the East River salt washing up
against the prow. Mr. Martinez added that RIOC has not found any type of
material that can be used to prevent graffiti from being placed on the
prow so RIOC will have to be vigilant and remove the tags as soon as
they are placed on the prow....
This NY Times FYI column from 2000 provides more information on Roosevelt Island's Boat Prow
The Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts Tech Hoppers competed in and won awards in the
recent
NYC First Lego League
(FLL) Challenge robot building program.
The Tech Hoppers were introduced by Girl Scout Troop 3233 Leader Susy del
Campo Perea during the April 3 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors meeting public session and received the congratulations
of Board members.
Roosevelt Island
Girl Scout Troop
3233 Leader Suzy del Campo Perea reports:
The Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Tech Hoppers invites our community, adults
and youth, to the presentation of their
NYC First Lego League Challenge
Bronze Award Project this Wednesday April 19 from 6:15-7pm at the New York
Public Library
Roosevelt Island Branch
(504 Main Street) .
The Tech Hoppers will have a presentation about the renewable energy
innovation project they researched, follow by Q&A and close with a
showcase of the robot they built for the FLL.
When you talk or hear the word robotics in elementary or middle school, you
certainly think of something very basic. maybe something like a car moving
back and forth, or just a square box with a movable part up and down; and
then you add competition, it sounds like faster, bigger and brighter. Then
you add Legos and it sounds more exciting for kids and confusing for adults.
The Tech Hoppers is so much more than having a robot made out of Legos. It is
about researching a topic given, based on the research, creating an
innovation, talking to experts in the field, building a prototype based on
your innovation and research, and presenting their findings to 3-5 judges
during the competition. The cherry on the cake, is that they also get to
build, with special Legos, a robot with 6 motors, one brain and different
moving arms and parts, and then programming it to go through a map with
several movable Lego structures in 2.5 min
First, the Roosevelt Island Tech Hoppers worked in the Core Values of FIRST (innovation, fun, )
Then they got the topic of Renewable Energy and started working on that Research.
At the same time they started assembling their robot and dived in programming it, testing and run it every single weekend @ Cornell Tech Café.
Not long after, they came with an innovation for renewable energy, moved from sun based solar energy to soil based microbial fuel cells.
Week after week they made progress in all 3 areas: core values, innovation and robot programming.
They wet their feet on their first competition, a scrimmage at Chapin School where they won 1st Place Core Values. They learned the rules of the game and saw their competition.
Qualifiers were held in February where they won 2nd place in Robot design and the Silver Ticket to pass to Semifinals!
By March 5th @ Semifinals the Tech Hoppers won their Golden ticket to Finals and another Core Values Trophy!
They only had 7 days to polish and correct anything that will put them closer to score higher at Finals.
Finally the moment they were waiting for: compete at the Finals of FLL on March 12th, which is the equivalent of the FLL State finals.
Our very own Tech Hoppers compete against teams between 4th-8th grade, winning 2nd place Core Values!
It was indeed a sweet victory as they were the only team of Girl Scouts, and the only team with High School Coaches, instead of professional adults that have years of experience and/or professional instructors.
The Tech Hoppers wouldn’t have made it this far with out the support and
partnership of GSGNY, Cornell Tech, Cornell Tech Café, their Girl Scout
family members and troop sisters, and of course our Roosevelt Island
Community.
The Tech Hoppers are:
Alexa Baldwin
Alyse MacGonagle
Ava Gordon
Chelsea Chang
Duygu Gurdal
Itziar Borja del Campo
Kai Putnam
Leire Borja del Campo
Madison Chang
Mina Kim
Tech Hoppers Coaches:
Alua Zhanuzakova
Charlotte Peterson
Mentors and Hosts:
Cornell Tech, specially Sophie Lanchez
Heather Smith (GSGNY Troop 3001)
Fay Christian (GSGNY Troop 3233)
Mor Naaman (Cornell Tech, GSGNY Dad)
Roberto Borja (NYCHA, GSGNY Dad)
Volunteers:
Conall MacGonagle
Ender Gurdal
Eddie Chang
Jenn Chang
The Tech Hoppers name was chosen because the Girl Scouts meet and have support
from Cornell Tech and in honor of Grace Hopper, a pioneer in computer
programming.
Roosevelt Island has a new member to its wildlife kingdom. A Turkey Vulture was spotted yesterday visiting Southpoint Park near the Cat Sanctuary by Wildlife Freedom Foundation President Rossana Ceruzzi.
Image From Rossana Ceruzzi
Ms Ceruzzi adds that the Turkey Vulture soon flew away. Perhaps the Turkey Vulture will return to Roosevelt Island but don't get too close.
... your heart has probably leaped at the sight of a large, soaring bird in the distance– perhaps an eagle or osprey. But if it's soaring with its wings raised in a V and making wobbly circles, it's likely a Turkey Vulture. These birds ride thermals in the sky and use their keen sense of smell to find fresh carcasses. They are a consummate scavenger, cleaning up the countryside one bite of their sharply hooked bill at a time, and never mussing a feather on their bald heads....
... Turkey Vultures are accustomed to living near humans and snacking off of our leavings. You will often see them in farm fields or hanging out next to the road. However, they are not likely to be in your backyard unless something has died or else you have a very large backyard.
The Turkey Vulture uses its sense of smell to locate carrion. The part of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large, compared to other birds. Its heightened ability to detect odors—it can detect just a few parts per trillion—allows it to find dead animals below a forest canopy. The Turkey Vulture maintains stability and lift at low altitudes by holding its wings up in a slight dihedral (V-shape) and teetering from side to side while flying. It flies low to the ground to pick up the scent of dead animals....
... As a defense mechanism, Turkey Vultures may vomit on a bird, animal, or human that gets too close. Considering what they eat, this can be a powerful weapon...
3 days left to place your orders. Roosevelt Island!! P.S/I.S 217 Middle School is doing it again, raising money to help fund those end of year activities. Parties, trips, outings, anything involving fun.
Do You Like Donuts And Would Like To Help Roosevelt Island Youth? Here's A Twofer,
Buy A Dozen Krispy Kreme Donuts And Help PS/IS 217 Middle School Students Raise Funds For End Of Year Activities And Celebrations Pre Order now through April 20th. Donuts will be handed out on the 28th outside the school. Please use the link to place your pre orders now. We will do our best to have extras but can't guarantee there will be enough for everyone. Don't Miss Out!
...
During the last several days, Roosevelt Island residents have shown their anger and frustration with the
failure of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Shelton Haynes to address their decrease in quality of life
brought about by the
constant overcrowding
of the Roosevelt Island Tram with tourists....
... It's 4:45 pm and the Tram is packed with tourists.
We can't get to our homes. Do you think we residents can start a petition or
something to have priority at the Tram....
RIOC announced
a weekend Roosevelt Island Red Bus Shuttle to and from Manhattan will be
provided during the month of April.
According to RIOC:
RIOC’s Transportation Department will run a Tram Shuttle Bus from Roosevelt
Island to Manhattan on weekends during the month of April. Shuttles will run
hourly (traffic permitting) from 11AM to 7:30PM from the Roosevelt Island
Tramway, making all northbound local stops to Capobianco Field (opposite PS/IS
217). The shuttle will depart on the half hour from the Manhattan Tram
station, from the Southwest side of 2nd Avenue, between 58th and 59th Street,
and will make all southbound local bus stops (starting with 591 Main St.) to
the Tram. The last shuttle trips will depart from the Roosevelt Island Tram at
7 PM and Manhattan at 7:30 PM. Please note that regular Red Bus service may
run on an adjusted schedule to accommodate the additional Tram shuttle
service.
Yesterday afternoon at about 1:30, I noticed a Roosevelt Island Red Bus coming
down 2nd avenue stopping at 58th street.
4 people got off the Red Bus Manhattan Shuttle. At that time, the line for the
Roosevelt Island Tram was not very long and did not extend down the staircase
to 2nd avenue. 7 people took the Red Bus Shuttle back to Roosevelt Island. It
took about 15 minutes.
The Roosevelt Island Tram line was reportedly much longer at other times
yesterday.
Today there was a huge long line around the corner for the Roosevelt Island
tram & I guess I'm glad I was just riding the M15, no plans for the
hospital ruin. 🤷🏻♀️
At the moment, health care is often one-size-fits-all. But imagine a future
where your health care is tailored to you. We want to make that future
possible. How? By creating a resource that allows researchers to conduct
thousands of studies on health and disease.
We expect the program to last at least 10 years, and we hope you’ll stick
with us throughout the study....
Join Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Tech & the Roosevelt Island Senior
Association (RISA) for a virtual session to learn how All of Us plans to
advance precision medicine to uncover paths toward delivering targeted
medicine solutions – individualized prevention, treatment, and care – while
keeping diversity as a core goal of the program.
The session will detail the enrollment process including enrollment progress
to-date, the potential return of genetic results, how scientists can access
the information, and how the program is insuring privacy. There is no
obligation to join the program - simply attend to learn more about a research
program happening in your community! Attendees will be given the opportunity
to ask questions during the dedicated Q&A session. To learn more before
the session, visit joinallofus.org.
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.
