5.. 4.. 3.. 2..1, Santa Claus And Mrs Claus Count Down The Lighting Of The Roosevelt Island Christmas Holiday Tree Tonight And Then Jingle Bells

A wonderful, but very cold, Roosevelt Island Christmas Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony this evening at the Meditation Lawn with performances from the Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance kids, local Girl Scouts and Roosevelt Island Youth Center.

The enthusiastic crowd, with the help of Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso chanted for Santa Claus.

Then came the arrival of Santa Claus with Mrs Claus and the countdown to the Lighting of the Roosevelt Island Christmas Holiday Tree began. 5,4, 3, 2, 1 - Lights On,

followed by Santa and the kids singing Jingle Bells.

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Nice job by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp.

Will update with video from some of the performance later.

UPDATE 12/8:

More video from the Tree Lighting. 

Affordable Art Sale At Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery This Weekend And Next - Perfect Opportunity To Start Your Art Collection Or Find That Special Holiday Gift

RIVAA Gallery is hosting its annual Roosevelt Island Affordable Art Sale this weekend and next.

According to RIVAA Gallery:

Here at RIVAA, we believe there can never be too much art or too many people buying it.

Prove us right! Make your holiday season bright with the purchase of art at affordable prices that you can enjoy every day of 2025 and well beyond. Dates and hours of RIVAA's Affordable Art Sale are Saturday and Sunday December 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th from 11 AM - 5 PM. In addition to tables with artwork and art-related crafts from 43 RIVAA and local artists, there are affordable art walls in the gallery as part of our Gifts of the Heart exhibition.

When you buy from RIVAA, you are supporting a Roosevelt Island nonprofit and shopping local, supporting the community. Art makes a great gift, so visit RIVAA Gallery at 527 Main Street, and buy art.

Support RIVAA.

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I spoke last year

with RIVVA Gallery artists Laura Hussey and Tony Vita about the 2023 Affordable Art Fair.

The Perfect Roosevelt Island Holiday Card - Santa's Coming To Town On The Roosevelt Island Tram With Rudolph And 8 More Reindeers

Marty Atkins created the Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer card when he moved here with his family in the 1970's.

Every year at about this time I'm asked by Roosevelt Island residents how they can buy the Tram Reindeer Cards.

Well, you can purchase the Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer Cards from Marty's son Marc by messaging him on Instagram or at marc.the.atkins@gmail.com

According to Mr Atkins:

The Tram Holiday Cards are back!

8 cards for $20

I hand deliver to you building

The cards are blank inside

I accept Cash, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App

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Over 2 Thousand People Sign Petition Demanding Roosevelt Island Residents And Workers Get Boarding Preference Before Sightseeing Tourists On The Roosevelt Island Tram, Mayor Adams And Local Elected Officials Agree - Watch Local TV News Reports Covering The Story

In less than a month, over 2 thousand people have signed the Trampled By Tourists, Priority Boarding for Residents and Workers on the Roosevelt Island Tram petition.

Click here to sign the Petition.

Local New York City press including Gothamist, CBS Channel 2 New York and Fox 5 New York reported on the story yesterday.

Roosevelt Island residents are petitioning the city to give them priority boarding on the popular tram that runs from Manhattan to the tiny enclave:https://t.co/lM8ktrMG5K pic.twitter.com/ePzDonTmgT

— Gothamist (@Gothamist) December 3, 2024

“They’re treating it like an amusement park ride “

Roosevelt Island residents say the tram is now overrun by tourists

Full story on Fox5NY

⁦@RIOCny⁩ #Tram #nyc ⁦@CB8M⁩ pic.twitter.com/QTpXUyP1QL

— Linda Schmidt (@LSchmidtFox5) December 4, 2024

Here's what it's like for Roosevelt Island residents and workers being overwhelmed by tourists at the Roosevelt Island Tram

Click here to sign the petition.

NYC Mayor Eric Adam,

former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and NYC Council Member Julie Menin

have all expressed support for providing some sort of Roosevelt Island Tram boarding preference for residents and workers

Here's more info.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Announced Today Firing Of President/CEO And General Counsel 11 Months After They Were Placed On Paid Administrative Leave During Internal Investigation Of Workplace Wrongdoing Charges By Staff - Executive Search For New Leadership Begins

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President/CEO Shelton Haynes and General Counsel Gretchen Robinson have been on paid administrative leave since January 2024 awaiting the outcome of an investigation into charges made by RIOC staff of workplace wrongdoing by Mr Haynes and Ms Robinson.

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

Last week, a usually reliable Tipster reported that Mr Haynes and Ms Robinson were fired by the RIOC Board of Directors. On November 27, I asked RIOC Board Chairperson/NY State Division Of Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas and the RIOC Board of Directors:

Please confirm the status of RIOC President/CEO Shelton Haynes and General Counsel Gretchen Robinson currently on paid administrative leave pending the results of an internal investigation regarding allegations of wrongdoing on their part.

I was told today that they were both fired from their positions and will not be returning to their prior positions. Is that true?

What were the findings of the investigation?

What if any, is Mr Haynes and Ms Robinson's current position with RIOC?

If they are no longer with RIOC, what is the leadership plan for RIOC?

Please let me know if RIOC will comment on this important issue for the Roosevelt Island community.

Today, the RIOC Board of Directors announced:

As of Monday, November 25th, Shelton Haynes and Gretchen Robinson are no longer employed with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. The Board thanks them for their service to the Roosevelt Island community and wishes them the very best in their future endeavors. The Board will immediately begin an executive search for new leadership. In the interim, RIOC will continue to be led by Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dhruvika Amin, Acting Chief Operating Officer Mary Cunneen, and Associate General Counsel Lada Stasko until replacements for the CEO and General Counsel positions are secured.

I followed up asking:

Has there been any resolution of the lawsuit?

What were the results of the investigation of charges by staff of wrongdoing by Mr Haynes and Ms Robinson?

There was no additional info from RIOC.

Today, I asked Milton Williams, a partner in the law firm of Walden Macht Harran & Williams, the attorney representing Mr Haynes and Ms Robinson in a racial discrimination lawsuit 

against RIOC and members of NY State Governor Kathy Hochul's staff:

... Do either Mr Haynes, Ms Robinson or yourself have any comment on the firing or any other aspect of this matter including the investigation of staff charges of wrongdoing brought against them and their pending lawsuit against RIOC and members of the Governor's staff...

Mr Williams replied:

On November 22, 2024, Shelton Haynes, former CEO and President, and Gretchen Robinson, former General Counsel of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), were unjustly terminated. This can only be viewed as retaliatory for their filing a lawsuit in late 2023 that exposed the systemic and pervasive discrimination and racism that they have endured at the hands of the Executive Chamber for the Office of New York Governor Hochul and RIOC

Fourteen times over the past three years, Haynes and Robinson have been investigated by several New York State entities and two law firms – costing New York taxpayers well more than half a million dollars.

Each and every investigation has found nothing more than unsubstantiated claims and concluded there were no material actionable findings.

These baseless probes, weaponized to undermine their leadership, demonstrate a pattern of retaliation and serve as yet another attempt to silence individuals who stand against injustice, particularly racial injustice. 

This is nothing short of a travesty, Shelton Haynes and Gretchen Robinson have dedicated their careers to public service and served the Roosevelt Island community with integrity and excellence. Instead of addressing their legitimate concerns about systemic issues, they have again and again been met with retaliation and unfounded accusations. The actions taken against them, under the guise of a ‘loss of confidence,’ reflect a disturbing misuse of power that undermines the principles of fairness and justice.

I followed up asking Mr Williams:

Have you received the results of the most recent investigation?

Can you share what it said?

Mr Williams replied:

No findings or report from the last investigation at all. Very different from the Greenberg Traurig report which cleared them. Also, the areas that the recent investigation covered were substantially similar to what Greenberg Traurig cleared them for approximately 18 months ago.

Here's the Haynes/Robinson racial discrimination amended complaint.

Stay tuned for more as additional info becomes available.

Roosevelt Island Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony Friday December 6 At Meditation Lawn, Santa Is Coming To Town For Tree Lighting Countdown - Music, Festive Treats & More

The annual Roosevelt Island Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony takes place Friday December 6 at the Meditation Lawn.

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

'Tis the season to gather and ignite the holiday spirit! RIOC invites you to the 2024 Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting Ceremony this Friday, December 6th at 6PM on Meditation Lawn. There will be music, performances, festive treats, and more!

We can't wait to see you there!

📅 Date: Friday, December 6th

🕒 Time: 6:00 PM

📍 Location: Meditation Lawn

Here's Santa Claus arrival

and Tree Lighting Countdown

 at last year's ceremony.

That Time Joe Rogan Visited Roosevelt Island For Fear Factor TV Stunt On The Roosevelt Island Tram - Contestants Dangling Outside Tram Over The East River, Watch What Happens

Before Joe Rogan became an influential podcaster, he was known as a comedian and the host of the NBC TV program Fear Factor where contestants would perform crazy stunts and eat disgusting things.

In 2004, for Fear Factor's 100th episode, the program visited NYC and used the Roosevelt Island Tram for a challenge.

Would you do this?