Good Life On Roosevelt Island Association Blood Drive Donated 27 Pints Of Blood To The NY Blood Center Today, Great Job And Congrats On Your Success

Today's Good Life On Roosevelt Island Association (GLORIA) Blood Drive for the NY Blood Center was a great success.

According to GLORIA President Andrea Jackson:

I am happy to announce that we have successfully executed a Blood Drive today on Roosevelt Island. We were applauded by The New York Blood Bank for the collection of 27 pints of Blood, which tops donations made in the surrounding areas where thousands of residents are. Our small but quaint community was a success. Thank you all for your support and they are looking forwards to returning in a few months.

Ms Jackson adds:

GLORIA is a Senior Association with intergenerational components structured to support the Older Adults with health and wellness programs and events. We uniquely build a social Support system around them in each program and include family and friends.

Here's more on the NY Blood Center

 

 and what happens

 

after you make your blood donation.

Single Stop Of Fedcap Group Offering Appointment Only Free Roosevelt Island Tax Preparation Tuesdays Between February 4 And April 15, Stop By The Senior Center For More Info And To See If You Qualify

Roosevelt Island resident Louella Streitz reports that Single Stop, a member of The Fedcap Group, is offering free tax preparation by appointment only on Tuesdays from February 4 to April 15 at 546 Main Street. 

Click here to make your appointment for free tax preparation or stop by the Roosevelt Island Senior Center (546 Main Street) Tuesday 10 am - 2PM for more information.

Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station Platform Capacity Will Be Reduced From Normal 100 To 50 Riders For Safety Precautions When Line Reaches Down The Stairs Says RIOC PSD Chief During Community Engagement Meeting Last Tuesday - Chief Emphasizes The Tram Is Not A Ride

During the January 15, 2025 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (PSD) Community Engagement meeting, a Roosevelt Island resident raised the issue of dangerous overcrowding on the Roosevelt Island Tram station platforms

as well as areas in front of, behind 

and leading to the turnstyles.

Many residents have complained about the unsafe conditions posed by mostly tourists aggressively pushing and shoving others to get inside the Tram in order to secure their desired view on the trip over the East River.

The resident asked PSD Chief Kevin Brown to station a PSD officer on the Roosevelt Island Tram station platforms to insure the safety of riders, many of whom, including older adults, disabled persons and children, are afraid to use the Tram now due to the overcrowding.

Chief Brown said that PSD Officers will be placed at the Roosevelt Island Tram station during the morning rush hours and the Manhattan Tram station during the evening rush hours.

Chief Brown added that when the Manhattan Station Tram Line extends down the stairs to the Plaza area, PSD officers will reduce the usual number of people waiting on the platform from 100 persons capacity to 50. 

According to PSD Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso:

...once those 50 get on to the tram, people have to wait minute or two more. Then we'll send the other 50 up the stairs through and then we'll load the tram up to its capacity and then it will go across. So it's not that we lessen the number on the ride it's just lessen the number on the platform to give people a little bit more space....

Chief Brown added:

... We haven't had a line at the Tram since January 3rd and we're going to continue to track it. Like I said, it's not an exact science. So what happens when a line forms? There is usually either an officer or attendant there so for that first 5 to 10 minutes it may be crowded because it takes about 10 minutes for me to get three Officers over to the Manhattan side...

Chief Brown clarified that only when there is a line down the Tram station stairs will the platform capacity be reduced from 100 to 50.

Chief Brown and Deputy Amoroso both emphasized that the Tram is not a Ride.

Watch video of the full discussion.

The Manhattan Community Board 8 voted last night to approve a resolution supporting Roosevelt Island Tram boarding priority for NYC residents. The Community Board has no power to implement  such a policy but it's support may be helpful in persuading RIOC and the Governor to do so.

We shall see.

Help Save A Life, Good Life On Roosevelt Island Association Hosting Blood Drive Saturday January 18 At RI Older Adult Center - Please Schedule Appointment To Make Your Blood Donation

"When you give that [blood] donation, you don't realize the impact that it's going to have. Anywhere between 24 and 72 hours later, that donation had saved my life." #NationalBloodDonorMonth #NBDM pic.twitter.com/B4V9RROANj

— NY Blood Center (@NYBloodCenter) January 9, 2025

Click here for an appointment on Saturday January 18 to make your blood donation.

IDig2Learn Bellies, Bins & Beauty Food Appreciation Series Returns Tuesday January 21 - You're Invited To Enjoy A Roosevelt Island Community Soup Time Meal Featuring Our Local Soup Lady, RSVP To Reserve Your Spot

Roosevelt Island resident and iDig2Learn founder Christina Delfico reports:

Bellies, Bins and Beauty is Back! iDig2Learn is thrilled to continue our food appreciation series kicking off next week our first event of 2025. Join us for SOUP TIME featuring The Soup Lady and her delicious soups on Tuesday, January 21st.

Year after year we have hosted community gatherings featuring chefs, entrepreneurs and doctors to not only enjoy a meal together but learn about food as a healing force and how to enjoy more of our food and waste less.

On our journey we are learning from each other how to consume more of our food into Bellies, capture the food scraps for Bins and then use compost processed from those scraps to create Beauty by feeding flowers, trees and food gardens to complete the circle.

Please join us and learn about other positive efforts uplifting the neighborhood.

Bellies, Bins and Beauty is brought to you by RIOC Public Purpose Funds, NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and individual supporters like you.

Click here for more info and to register for Soup Time featuring The Soup Lady.

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A Possible Solution To Reduce Roosevelt Island Tram Long Lines, Overcrowding And Dangerous Platform Conditions - Create Annual Fast Line Pass For Tram Boarding Priority Available For Everybody That Must Be Obtained On Roosevelt Island

As reported many times over the last several years, there is no issue which has decreased the quality of life and angered more Roosevelt Island residents than the long lines, overcrowding and unsafe platforms conditions caused by tourists using the Roosevelt Island Tram as a sightseeing amusement attraction to view the NYC East River waterfront and skyline.

Since early November 2024 almost 2500 people have signed the Trampled By Tourists, Priority Boarding for Residents and Workers on the Roosevelt Island Tram online and paper petition.

According to the Petition organizers:

However, according to an opinion drafted by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) legal department, a residents/workers Tram boarding preference would be illegal.

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A post shared by Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (@rooseveltislandny)

Others have disputed RIOC'S legal opinion. 

Can a solution be found that overcomes RIOC's purported legal obstacle for providing priority Roosevelt Island Tram boarding to those who use the Tram for essential transportation purposes before those using the Tram as an amusement sightseeing attraction?

How about this?

RIOC sets up a permitting system to issue an annual Roosevelt Island Fast Line Pass that is available to everyone, resident, worker or visitor. The Fast Line Pass must be picked up in person on Roosevelt Island at least 24 hours before it can be used. 

The Fast Line Pass allows the holder to board the Tram before a person who does not have a Fast Line Pass. A person who only rides the Tram as a one time sightseeing attraction is less likely to obtain the Fast Line Pass than a regular user of the Tram. 

Logistics would need to be figured out for how the Fast Line Pass would work in practice, but the bottom line is that Roosevelt Island residents, workers and anyone else who uses the Roosevelt Island Tram for transportation purposes will have priority boarding over those using it for one time sightseeing amusement attraction.

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.

Last week, a joint Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island/Transportation Committee approved a resolution supporting Roosevelt Island Tram priority boarding for residents and workers. The full Community Board 8 is scheduled to vote on the resolution during its Wednesday January 15 meeting. You can attend the CB 8 meeting and give your views on this issue in person or via Zoom.

Perhaps this proposal will be considered.

Believe It Or Not - Secret Herd Of Woolly Hippos Discovered At A Protected Sanctuary On Roosevelt Island In The Heart Of NYC

According to the Headtap Horror By Bobby Boom You Tube Channel:

... in the heart of New York City lies an extraordinary secret that defies imagination. A protected sanctuary on Roosevelt Island housing the last surviving population of Wooly Hippos magnificent creatures that once roamed the Arctic Circle alongside mammoths and woolly rhinoceros...

...The Roosevelt Island woolly hippo Reserve established in 1952 but kept secret for decades spans a carefully concealed section of the Island's Northern tip. Here behind carefully designed barriers that appear to be natural rock formations, a population of 23 woolly hippos thrive in complete secrecy. Their existence is known only to a select group of scientists, caretakers and a handful of local residents who have learned to recognize the distinctive sound of their calls echoing across the East river at dawn...

Believe it

or not.