Meet The New Interim RIOC Leadership Team Dhruvika Patel Amin & Gerald Ellis - They're Off To A Good Start Engaging And Listening To The Community, A Big Change From Previous Administration, Watch The Video And See For Yourself

As previously reported, on  January 16 the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) announced:

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) Board of Directors received notice of several employee concerns about the RIOC workplace. The Board has determined that it is necessary to conduct a review of these concerns by way of an outside professional. During this review, Shelton Haynes (RIOC CEO) and Gretchen Robinson (RIOC General Counsel) will be placed on administrative paid leave.

During this period of review, the day-to-day operations of RIOC will be overseen by an interim leadership team that includes Dhruvika Patel Amin (RIOC’s Chief Financial Officer & Vice President) and Gerrald Ellis (RIOC’s Assistant Vice President & Deputy General Counsel). In addition, RIOC Board member and Audit Committee Chair, Howard Polivy, will serve as a dedicated Board member liaison and will provide additional support to the interim leadership. No further comments about this matter will be made by the RIOC Board until the review is completed. We thank all of our RIOC staff for your full cooperation and support during this period of time.

The RIOC interim leadership team of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Dhruvika Patel Amin and Assistant Vice President (AVP) & Deputy General Counsel Gerrald Ellis, together with Communications Director Bryant Daniels, participated in the January 18 Community Board 8 (CB8) Roosevelt Island Committee meeting last evening chaired by Roosevelt Island resident Paul Krikler.

Ms Amin  and Mr Ellis introduced themselves and provided some personal background information during the meeting. According to Ms Amin:

I am the CFO and VP of RIOC. I joined in September 2023...

... My background is in financial and operational management. I've been responsible for accounting, tax, audit, human resources administration, investment reporting matters and charitable philanthropic affairs.

I grew up in Queens and always thought of Roosevelt Island as a green space surrounded by water that provides peace and tranquility and beautiful views. I chose to work at RIOC for these reasons in addition to giving back to the community, to work with the public and be a part of the corporation's mission. I hope to bridge the gap between RIOC and the public. 

I hope to learn a lot from this meeting. Just know that RIOC is under new leadership and we're more solutions oriented. If you reach out to us, you will definetely receive a response. I hope to work with you very closely to meet our objectives.

According to Mr Ellis:

I am the Deputy General Counsel of RIOC.

... I live in Astoria, right over the Bridge. It's a half hour walk over the Bridge. I have a background in affordable housing.... 

The things that drew me to Roosevelt Island? 

I have a long connection professionally with Roosevelt Island. I worked on the financing of Riverwalk 8. I used to work with Related Management Company and briefly worked on the lease of Riverwalk 7.

I would come to Roosevelt Island a lot to ride a bike. It's a great place to ride a bike. There's not a lot of cars and it's beautiful.

I honestly believe in good government... and believe in the mission of it. That's what attracted me to Roosevelt Island...

The onus is on RIOC to be out there and to be available.  I understand that. There's been many years of tension building up. I understand we need to be the party to break the ice and to be out there and be available to you all. You'll see us on the Island, out and about. Please stop me and tell me your thoughts about everything

I'm genuinely curious to hear people's opinions, complaints and suggestions. I really am....

Meet the new interim RIOC leadership team of Ms Amin and Mr Ellis.

 

Click on the beginning of the video to watch the Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee full discussion of a variety of local issues including the Tram and Red Bus.

CB 8 Chair Paul Krikler remarked today:

Yesterday we had a very positive meeting with RIOC leadership. I think it's fair to say that this marked the start of a reset of the relationship between residents and RIOC.

Mr Krikler is also the organizer of the petition drive started last October under the prior RIOC administration that called for the election of RIOC Directors and:

... We Need A Functioning And Competent RIOC...

which gathered 1034 signatures to date.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy also attended the CB8 Roosevelt Island Committee meeting and asked:

Can we handle this openness?

Based upon the last few days, it appears Mr Krikler's petition request for a functioning and competent RIOC is off to a good start.  

Ms Amin and Mr Ellis also participated in a frank and open discussion with Roosevelt Island residents, Board Directors and local media during an informal meeting organized by RIOC Director Ben Fhala which took place immediately after a contentious RIOC Operations Committee meeting on January 17. 

It was a very productive meeting and an example of positive community engagement by RIOC, a welcome change from the previous administration under Shelton Haynes.

Watch what happened.

Immediately before this informal meeting, the RIOC Board Of Directors Operations Advisory Committee (OAC) met for the first time since Jun 2021. OAC Chair Fay Christian immediately made it clear at the beginning of the meeting that no questions would be taken from RIOC Directors who were not members of the Operations Committee nor from any residents attending the meeting. Ms Christian emphasized that only OAC committee members could ask questions during presentations by RIOC department staffers.

RIOC Board Director Ben Fhala, who is not a member of the OAC, tried several times to ask questions and participate in the meeting but was refused participation by Ms Christian. 

I asked Ms Christian why she was not allowing questions from anyone other than the Committee members pointing out to her that in the past it was a common practice for anyone attending RIOC Committee meetings to ask questions or comment. Ms Christian responded that was true if the Committee chose to do so but for today she chooses not to.

Watch what happened.

At the end of the Operations Committee meeting, Ms Christian and Mr Ellis appeared to suggest the next meeting would return to the practice of allowing questions and comments from non committee members.

It's a good start for the new interim RIOC leadership.

RIOC Directors Propose Shading Roosevelt Island Tram Windows To Discourage Overcrowding By Tourists During Operations Committee Meeting Discussion Today - You're Invited To Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee Zoom Meeting January 18 To Discuss Tram And Other Issues

Community Board 8 (CB8) Roosevelt Island Committee Chair Paul Krikler reports:

Folks, representatives of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) will now be attending our monthly CB8 RI meetings again starting tomorrow. This is a very positive step following the announcement yesterday regarding management. I encourage people to come along and share ideas, thoughts and concerns especially regarding the Tram and Red Bus. The meeting is at 630pm and it is on Zoom.

 Click here for more info and sign up to receive the Zoom link.

During today's RIOC Operations Advisory Committee meeting, RIOC Directors and Staff discussed the possibility of shading the Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin windows to discourage the long tram lines

Honestly, tourists, what brings you to Roosevelt Island? Our wide open spaces? Our fine dining? Our breathtaking vistas, perhaps? Is it really worth it? All you're doing is making our lives miserable by cramming the tram while our subway service is on the fritz. https://t.co/vx6DUCSoGJ pic.twitter.com/WFShdWdkfp

— Peter Szekely (@peszeke) December 30, 2023

and overcrowded Tram cabins caused by tourists using the Tram as a sightseeing attraction.

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A post shared by Roosevelt (@rooseveltislander)

Here's the discussion at today's RIOC meeting about shading the Roosevelt Island Tram windows.

RIOC Directors and staff will be attending tomorrow's CB8 Roosevelt Island committee meeting to discuss Tram and other issues with you.

Breaking Roosevelt Island News - RIOC President Shelton Haynes & General Counsel Gretchen Robinson Placed On Paid Administrative Leave Pending Investigation Of "Several Employee Concerns About The RIOC Workplace"

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) sent out the following press release at 4:50 pm: 

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) Board of Directors received notice of several employee concerns about the RIOC workplace. The Board has determined that it is necessary to conduct a review of these concerns by way of an outside professional. During this review, Shelton Haynes (RIOC CEO) and Gretchen Robinson (RIOC General Counsel) will be placed on administrative paid leave.

During this period of review, the day-to-day operations of RIOC will be overseen by an interim leadership team that includes Dhruvika Patel Amin (RIOC’s Chief Financial Officer & Vice President) and Gerrald Ellis (RIOC’s Assistant Vice President & Deputy General Counsel). In addition, RIOC Board member and Audit Committee Chair, Howard Polivy, will serve as a dedicated Board member liaison and will provide additional support to the interim leadership. No further comments about this matter will be made by the RIOC Board until the review is completed. We thank all of our RIOC staff for your full cooperation and support during this period of time.

Shelton Haynes, Gretchen Robinson (Standing), RIOC Chair Ruthanne Visnauskas at 11/14/23 Board Meeting

NY State Senator Liz Krueger, who represents Roosevelt Island adds:

I respect the decision of the RIOC Board, which exists to look after the wellbeing of Roosevelt Island. Now, we must await the conclusion of the investigation. The Board has access to information and details to which I am not privy. However, I do know that RIOC is a public benefit corporation, and it is the responsibility of each of its employees, from top to bottom, as public servants, to act in the best interest of the community. I will continue to do all I can to assure RIOC functions as it should, particularly during this challenging time.

More info from earlier today. 

This is a developing story. Stay tune for updates.

RIOC Director Plans To Discuss Reset With Local Roosevelt Island Media, Hostile Work Environment Where Staff Afraid To Interact With Board Members And Community And Much More At January 17 Operations Advisory Committee Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Of Directors Operational Advisory Committee (OAC) will meet tomorrow. As reported by the RIOC website meetings page, the OAC has not met since June 17, 2021, more than 2 1/2 years ago.

According to the RIOC OAC meeting agenda for tomorrow:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Operations Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at the RIOC’s Operations Office, 680 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York 10044.

AGENDA:

1. Departmental Updates

2. Any Other Committee Business that May be Brought Before the Committee

* * *

The Open Meetings Law of the State of New York requires that all public bodies conduct meetings, convened for the purpose of officially conducting public business, in a manner open to attendance by the general public to observe and listen...

But it could be much more than the items listed in the Agenda.

As reported January 5:

Ben Fhala was among the three local residents, including Lydia Tang and Dr Michal Melamed, appointed to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors last June. During the last 7 months, these three new directors have attempted, with varying degrees of success, to bring some transparency and oversight to RIOC....

Image From November 14, 2023 RIOC Board of Directors Meeting

On January 12, Mr Fhala sent this message to publishers of local Roosevelt Island media, specifically Roosevelt Islander Online and the Roosevelt Island Daily, as well as Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee chair Paul Krikler about the upcoming RIOC OAC meeting.

The Operations Committee is the ideal platform to address the business item we previously discussed. During the last public board meeting, I inquired about the $170k contract with First Page Management, specifically questioning whether its main focus was to hinder or diminish the reach of articles about @Haynes, Shelton J (RIOC) and @Jamal, Akeem (RIOC)  published by Roosevelt Island media outlets, specifically Roosevelt Island Daily and Roosevelt Islander Online. The response, after some back and forth, directed me to the Operations Committee, emphasizing that such questions are better addressed there.

Fortunately, after seven months, we are finally convening an Operations Committee meeting, and it appears the agenda is not densely populated. Despite obstacles from @Haynes, Shelton J (RIOC)/ @Robinson, Gretchen (RIOC) with the active support of @Visnauskas, RuthAnne (HCR), Dr. Melamed has generously allowed me to use her chair for this session to conduct this critical engagement with the public and staff members.

While the specific topics remain uncertain and potential opposition from Shelton Haynes or RuthAnne Visnauskas looms, I am optimistic that your attendance will draw sufficient attention. Positive pressure exerted on our elected officials, who genuinely care about our residents and RIOC's well-being, may prompt them to send representation. Ideally, this could encourage  RuthAnne Visnauskas to officially include this item on the agenda or, if not, make it publicly clear that she does not prioritize RIOC's core goal of serving the community. I have faith that a bit of political pressure can redirect her focus from lawyers and advisors whispering in the silence.

Though it's challenging to set clear agendas, here are a few bullet points for our conversation with the public and staff in the upcoming meeting:

1.  Reset with Media: Explore how we can engage with local media, define terms for both media and RIOC to benefit our communities. If Shelton Haynes refuses engagement, we'll discuss how resident board members can negotiate these terms.
2. Work Environment: Investigate why staff members are apprehensive about interacting with community members, board members, and the media. Brainstorm solutions to reset this potentially hostile work environment.
3. Engagement with Paul representing community board #8: Discuss the structure of long-term engagement with Paul's committee work, debating whether it should involve staff members, board members, or both.
4. First Page Management Contract: If time permits, delve into the details of the contract and it's implementation —its purpose, ethics, potential damage to the relationship with local media—and strategize on taking ownership, preventing such behaviors, or understanding the rationale behind them and support the contract.
5. Communication Practices: Discuss the language and repetition in RIOC announcements, addressing concerns such as why they start with "Shelton presents" and why they lack signatures or clear ownership. Explore how board members can voice objections if/when needed.

These are initial topics, and the discussion may evolve based on emerging questions by the invited guests and public. I am hopeful for an engaging conversation with all invited members, leading to impactful conclusions beneficial for RIOC and the communities we serve.

Looking forward to your participation and the collaborative exchange. As such, I expect this to be added into the agenda and it if does not I will pick up the lead once the scheduled items conclude. adding the agenda again as an attachment.

Thanks,

Ben Fhala*

Resident Board Member

*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC or the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders.

Last December 5, I asked RIOC President Shelton Haynes and the RIOC Board:

RIOC Directors

During the November 14 RIOC Board meeting, Director Ben Fhala asked RIOC CFO Dhruvika Patel Amin if she was aware of the $170 thousand contract with First Page Management LLC doing business as Status Labs.(see video link here)

Ms Amin answered that she was not aware of the contract but she would look into it and get back to Mr Fhala.

Did RIOC Board members received any answer from RIOC's CFO or anyone else to Mr Fhala's question about the First Page Management contract or any further information regarding any practice by RIOC to engage in Search Engine Optimization practices for the purpose of enhancing the Corporation's reputation or any of its employees including RIOC President Shelton Haynes?

During the November 14 RIOC Board meeting, RIOC President Shelton Haynes announced that Assistant VP of Communications Akeem Jamal is no longer working at RIOC. (See video link here) Was Mr Jamal's leaving RIOC after a little more than one year related to this contract?

Also, what is the dollar amount of a contract that does not have to be approved by the RIOC Board of Directors. My understanding is that this contract was not approved by the RIOC Board. Is that correct? If the contract was not approved by the RIOC Board, why not and who approved it?

Here's video of Mr Fhala asking about the First Page Management contract during the November 14, 2023 RIOC Board of Directors meeting.

Maybe we'll get some answers to these questions and more tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE 5 PM: According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp: 

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) Board of Directors received notice of several employee concerns about the RIOC workplace. The Board has determined that it is necessary to conduct a review of these concerns by way of an outside professional. During this review, Shelton Haynes (RIOC CEO) and Gretchen Robinson (RIOC General Counsel) will be placed on administrative paid leave.

During this period of review, the day-to-day operations of RIOC will be overseen by an interim leadership team that includes Dhruvika Patel Amin (RIOC’s Chief Financial Officer & Vice President) and Gerrald Ellis (RIOC’s Assistant Vice President & Deputy General Counsel). In addition, RIOC Board member and Audit Committee Chair, Howard Polivy, will serve as a dedicated Board member liaison and will provide additional support to the interim leadership. No further comments about this matter will be made by the RIOC Board until the review is completed. We thank all of our RIOC staff for your full cooperation and support during this period of time.

Shelton Haynes, Gretchen Robinson (Standing), RIOC Chair Ruthanne Visnauskas at 11/14/23 Board Meeting

NY State Senator Liz Krueger, who represents Roosevelt Island, adds:

I respect the decision of the RIOC Board, which exists to look after the wellbeing of Roosevelt Island. Now, we must await the conclusion of the investigation. The Board has access to information and details to which I am not privy. However, I do know that RIOC is a public benefit corporation, and it is the responsibility of each of its employees, from top to bottom, as public servants, to act in the best interest of the community. I will continue to do all I can to assure RIOC functions as it should, particularly during this challenging time.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Holiday Today Monday January 15 Honoring "The Drum Major For Justice" -Take A Moment To Remember And Reflect Upon His True Legacy

The Drum Major for Justice#MLK #MLKDay2024 #MLK95 #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/uXUP5Biaqr

— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) January 15, 2024

The third Monday in January is a Federal holiday in honor of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  

that was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

 

Dr King was born on January 15, 1929 and assassinated April 4, 1968.

According to Politico:

... we remember MLK as the transcendent figure who helped lift the South out of Jim Crow. We also remember him as almost preternaturally calm in the face of great pressure and danger. He was indeed all of these things. But the passage of time has obscured his dimensionality. In the last years of his life, King expanded his vision beyond the former Confederacy and took on a broader struggle to dismantle America’s jigsaw edifice of racial and economic discrimination—a struggle that took him deep into northern states and cities, where onetime allies became bitter enemies. He did so even as he strained to keep a fractious civil rights movement unified, and in the face of unremitting sabotage from federal authorities.

He was a young man, still in his 30s—foisted onto the national stage with actors many years or decades his senior, suspect in the eyes of both younger and older civil rights leaders—and the burdens of leadership took their toll on him.... 

Here's an excerpt of Dr. King's last speech, I've Been To The Mountain Top, on the night before his assassination.

 

Dr. King is remembered and honored for his civil rights leadership including his 1963 "Letter from a Birmingham Jail". 

Retains its power year after year, decade after decade: https://t.co/iNCjtUaSJ8

— Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) January 16, 2022

An original copy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" has a home at Samford University. In honor of #MLKDay2022, learn about the significance of this piece of history.

Read more: https://t.co/UgjH5aJsRx@SamfordDiverse @SamfordULibrary #MLKDay #MLK pic.twitter.com/rHs19xpjgK

— Samford University (@SamfordU) January 17, 2022

Mehdi Hasan adds:

"For most Republicans, Dr King is just the guy who said to forget about skin color; they basically just know one quote of his, out of context, & they repeat it ad nauseam."

My commentary, for #MLKDay, on the real MLK vs the 'Santa Clausification' of him:pic.twitter.com/8C2SQVwZaH

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) January 16, 2023

You can learn more about Dr. King from the Ezra Klein Show podcast with Harvard Professor of Social Sciences Brandon Terry. 

Martin Luther King Jr was only 39 years old when he was killed.

I love this photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his daughter, Yolanda, playing baseball in the yard.

Thank you, Dr. King.#MLKDay pic.twitter.com/bQQtUoiAsP

— Mathew Brownstein (@MBrownstein89) January 16, 2023