Good News For Roosevelt Island Non Profit Organizations, RIOC Seeks Approval To Increase Total Annual Public Purpose Funds Distribution From $150 Thousand To $250 Thousand At September 19 Board Of Directors Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors

will meet Thursday September 19 in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street) beginning at 5:30 pm.

You're invited to attend, ask questions and share concerns about Roosevelt Island during the opening Public Session before the start of the RIOC Board meeting. Sign up to speak here.

Among the items on the Agenda are:

1. Adoption of the Whistleblower Policy and Procedures (Board Action Required)
2. Discussion of the Proposed By-Laws Revisions (Materials to Follow)
3. Authorization to Increase the Public Purpose Funds Amount (Board Action Required - Materials to Follow)
4. Authorization to Enter into Contract with the New York Community Trust (“NYCT”) for Public Purpose Funds Grant Program (Board Action Required – Materials to Follow) 5. Update on the Bus Operations...

Here's the full agenda for the September 19 RIOC Board Of Directors Meeting.

Here's the memo from RIOC CFO Dhru Amin to the RIOC Board of Directors in support of increasing Public Purpose Funds from $150 thousand to $250 thousand annually

and memo in support of the NY Community Trust to continue administering the Public Purpose Funds program.

As reported May 12, 2023, the Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Fund 

Image From NY Community Trust

administered by NY Community Trust distributed:

... $301,000 in two-year grants to 12 nonprofits working to benefit Roosevelt Island residents and enhance their quality of life....

... Based on formal criteria laid out in the Request for Proposals, they prioritized projects that enhanced the well-being of Roosevelt Island residents; organizations with a history of commitment and a proven track record of serving Roosevelt Island; that filled a critical gap in services to historically under-resourced communities (such as low-income populations, communities of color, older adults, and people with disabilities); that clearly articulated project outcomes and activities; and that aimed for long-term engagement with beneficiaries.

The grant recipients are:

• The Carter Burden Network, $29,000, to provide case management services to Korean-speaking residents.
• iDig2Learn, $20,000, for a community meals, composting, and beautification project.
• Island Kids, $20,000, for summer camp scholarships for 15 or more children.
• Main Street Theatre and Dance Alliance, $40,000, for 200 scholarships and work-study placements and 30 internships.
• Open Doors, a project of the Center for Transformative Action, $25,000, to publish a poetry anthology and provide poetry workshops.
• PTA PS/IS 217, $26,000, for dance arts education for 300 3K, Pre-K, and kindergarten students.
• Roosevelt Island: A Living Library/Life Frames, $28,000, to expand the “Vegetables and Me” workshop series, provide nutritional workshops, and expand accessibility offerings.
• Roosevelt Island Concerts, $13,000, to hold a performance and community outreach concert series.
• Roosevelt Island Disabled Association, $40,000, to provide food pantry services, field trips, and a mental health fair to disabled and older adult communities.
• Roosevelt Island Historical Society, $20,000, to support the Roosevelt Island visitor center and educational lecture series.
• Roosevelt Island Senior Association, $20,000, for community events and weekend and evening classes for older adults.
• Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association, $20,000, for a series of community events and exhibitions. 

 In addition, the Fund provided a grant of $15,000 to Community Resource Exchange to offer a series of free management and network-building workshops to grantees and other Roosevelt Island nonprofits. The workshops will help strengthen nonprofits in areas such as marketing, fundraising, and creating strategic partnerships.

There have been concerns raised by some Roosevelt Island organizations about a lack of transparency by NY Community Trust in not publicly reporting the reasons why some groups receive greater and others lesser amounts of Public Purpose Funds as was done in prior years when the Roosevelt Island Residents Association made these recommendations to RIOC. It's not clear whether greater reporting transparency is including in this new agreement with RIOC.

Do You Want Roosevelt Island Residents To Have Power To Vote For Members Of the RIOC Board Of Directors? NYC Council Member Julie Menin Introduced Resolution For Direct RIOC Director Elections, You Can Testify In Person, Virtually Or Writing Thursday September 19

Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Julie Menin's Director of Constituent Services Harry Gale reports:

... this past February Council Member Julie Menin introduced Resolution 0132,  calling on the NY State Legislature and Government to grant residents of Roosevelt Island the power to vote for members of the board of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. You can read more about the bill here: 

Just today, the Council Committee on Government Operations, State and Federal Legislation announced that this bill will be heard during their 10am hearing this Thursday, the 19th. We are encouraging all members of the community to testify either in person at the Committee Room at City Hall, virtually through zoom or you may submit written testimony. To register, please visit  and click on the 9/19 Committee on Government Operations, State and Federal Legislation. Unfortunately, Council Member Menin is not a member of this committee and is already scheduled to speak at a healthcare related conference during this hearing. 

Roosevelt Island resident, Manhattan Community Board 8 (CB 8) member and CB 8 Roosevelt Island committee chair Paul Krikler has been an advocate of elections for Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Directors and organized a petition drive which obtained almost 1100 signatures in support of direct RIOC Board elections. 

I asked Mr Krikler for comment on the resolution. Mr Krikler replied:

I am a member of Community Board 8, but I am commenting in my individual capacity as a resident of RI; As a four year resident of Roosevelt Island, I am thrilled to see Res 0132. I plan on attending the hearing to give testimony in support of this resolution. I will be speaking on behalf of the nearly 1,100 people who signed a petition, we residents started, demanding direct elections of the RIOC Directors. 

We have had too many years of lackadaisical and ineffective management at RIOC. While current interim management are a breathe of fresh air, we need better oversight of RIOC as this is the rarity and not the norm. I encourage others to testify, in person, on zoom or with written testimony. The City Council needs to hear from us all.

Mr Krikler hosted a July 1, 2024 CB 8 Roosevelt Island committee meeting discussion about direct elections of RIOC Board Directors with NY State Senator Liz Krueger,  Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and concerned residents. Here's the discussion.

Click here for info to testify on the resolution in support of RIOC Board directors before the 9/19 Committee on Government Operations, State and Federal Legislation in person, virtually by zoom or submit written testimony.

But be aware that the NYC Council has no power to implement RIOC Board elections which is under the jurisdiction of NY State although passing the resolution could have a degree of persuasive authority on the issue with NY State decision makers.

Here's origin of the RIOC Board Direct Election petition.

Join RIHS For A Fun Evening Of Roosevelt Island Facts, Fiction And Fantasy At The RI Public Library 6:30 PM Tuesday September 17 - Or Attend The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Community Engagement Meeting 6 PM Same Day

There are 2 very interesting Roosevelt Island meetings taking place tomorrow evening but their start times overlap each other.

Join Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy Tuesday September 17 at the Roosevelt Island NY Public Library branch for a fun talk about the past, present and future of Roosevelt Island.

According to the Roosevelt Island NY Public Library:

Many of the things you wondered about the island answered in one evening. Many of us have lived here for decades and have accumulated vast amounts of information (and some mis-information). Join Judith Berdy, long time resident as she takes on a history trip and into how the community developed and how it became the Roosevelt Island we live in today.

“This is a great introduction for our new residents who have many questions about our community,” Judy says. “Join us for a fun evening of facts, fiction and fantasy.”

When: September 17th, @ 6:30 p.m.

Where: New York Public Library Branch, 504 Main Street

*This is a free public program of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS). No Registration Required

This is an in-person event

Also, the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department is holding a monthly community engagement meeting at the Good Shepherd Community Center on Thursday evening too, starting a half hour earlier.

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Scenes From Yesterday's 2024 Roosevelt Island Fall For Arts Festival At The Meditation Lawn - Meet Some Of The Mural Painters And Enjoy The Jazz Concerts At Library Outdoor Patio

Take a virtual tour of yesterday's Roosevelt Island Fall For Arts Festival at Mediation Lawn organized by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) and RIVAA Gallery

and meet some of the Mural painters.

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There were also 2 wonderful jazz concerts

 

at the Roosevelt Island Public Library outdoor patio.