Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine Says With Congestion Pricing Coming Soon It's Time For NYC To Implement Residential Parking Permits - RIOC Says Residential Parking Permits "On Our Radar" And Will Be "Discussing Issue In Future"

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine is calling for New York City to implement residential parking permits.

Other cities have solved this problem long ago. It's time for NYC to implement residential parking permits.https://t.co/KKcGMz2tLq

— Office of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine (@MBPMarkLevine) May 17, 2024

According to Borough President Levine's May 17, 2024 NY Daily News article:

... Neighborhoods like Inwood, Washington Heights, and Harlem face unique parking challenges. Their proximity to major bridges and highways makes them prime targets for commuters seeking free parking. They dump their cars on the street for free, jumping on the subway for destinations in the Manhattan core. 

As a result, residents who own cars often compete for spots with drivers from out-of-state neighboring areas, leading to frustration and inequity. This frustration is not just an inconvenience; it disrupts daily life, increasing tension among local residents who need access to convenient parking near their homes. 

The upcoming implementation of congestion pricing could exacerbate this issue. As drivers seek to avoid the congestion fee by parking outside the designated zone south of 60th St., some neighborhoods could become even more saturated with out-of-state vehicles. This could further strain communities already saturated with congestion, making it harder for residents to find parking and access their homes conveniently....

... why hasn’t this program been implemented yet in New York City? Like so much else, this is a case in which we can’t make local policy without permission from the state government.

Albany has shown again and again that they don’t have a problem with residential parking permits. After all, they have authorized them in cities and towns all over the state — from Buffalo to Albany to New Rochelle. But New York City has, so far, not even been given the option. It’s time for this to change.

State authorization would only be the beginning of the process for us. The City Council would then have to pass legislation to establish a program, setting out the rules, pricing, and mechanism for enforcement....

Click here for the full article.

Last Monday, May 21, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communcations Director Bryant Daniels:

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine has called for a residential parking permit for residents of Manhattan neighborhoods.

What is the view of RIOC about implementing a residential parking permit for Roosevelt Island.

Does RIOC have the authority to implement a residential parking permit system?

Can this be discussed at tomorrow's REDAC meeting?

RIOC Deputy General Counsel and interim leadership team member Gerrald Ellis replied:

I think it’s safe to say that we anticipate that we will be discussing this issue in future committee meetings and community advisory groups.

RIOC Board Director Ben Fhala added:

... While we are not yet ready with news on this particular topic, it has been on our radar for the last few months and is currently under review by the team....

During the June 13, 2023 RIOC Public Safety Department (PSD) Community Engagement meeting, residents discussed Roosevelt Island parking problems with PSD Chief Kevin Brown.  

According to a resident speaking at the meeting:

... parking is getting worse and worse every week on Roosevelt Island. Every spot on every street is taken... 

and once Manhattan congestion pricing is implemented, Roosevelt Island parking will be even a greater problem than it is now.

Among the ideas discussed were limiting street parking spots to holders of permit stickers issued by RIOC.

Here's the discussion.

and a March 5, 2024 WNYC radio report on NYC residential parking permit issue.

Passion To Create A Happier World For Cats And The Humans Who Love Them Sparked Idea For First Children's Book By Author And Roosevelt Island Resident Stephen Quandt - Follow The Adventures Of Happy Comes Home

Roosevelt Island resident Stephen Quandt works as a nationally recognized, certified feline training and behavior specialist, based in New York City with his company Stephen Quandt Feline Behavior Associates. 

Mr Quandt is now a recently published children's book author of Happy Comes Home.

According to Mr Quandt:

I started working with cats and clients in 2002, and in time began working for the ASPCA. I now work at one of the largest open admission shelters in the country, the Animal Care Centers of NYC. My passion is to create a happier world for cats and the humans who love them, and this passion sparked an idea for my first children’s book; Happy Comes Home. My husband Thom illustrated the book and we wrote it as a way of connecting with people, children and their families who either want to get a cat, or maybe have a cat who has some behavior challenges, or just love a great feel-good story about a cat!

Photo Credit Linda Becker

The premise is we have a family: mom, dad and their child Avery who all want a cat (Avery very much wants a cat!) and they go to a shelter and find a sweet looking cat whom they name ‘Happy’. They adopt Happy and bring this wonderful cat home imagining all the great things Happy would do, like stretch out on the sofa purring, sleep at the foot of Avery’s bed, and eat yummy food while the family ate their dinner. But when they got Happy home, it was a “cat-tastrophy!” Happy scratched up the sofa, stole the family’s dinner and woke the parents up in the wee hours of the night. The parents wanted to return Happy but Happy was Avery's best friend, so something had to be done.

The family did some online research and found a certified ‘Catsultant’ named Mr. Top Cat who coincidentally resembles a feline version of myself. Mr. Top Cat appears at the door to help set things right. And what follows are a series of easy to take in teachable moments that help guide the family and Happy so that everyone can be the happiest versions of themselves. Mind you, Happy has always been a super happy cat, just a cat without manners!

Thus begins the adventures of a cat, a child, and a family trying to find the happiness so many of us seek with our feline friends. Would Happy be allowed to stay? Would Happy settle down? The answers lie in the bond between Happy and Avery, and the common sense behavior tools that Mr. Top Cat brings to the family using his deep understanding of the nature of cats.

You can purchase Happy Comes Home at Amazon.

Learn more about Mr Quandt at his website.

Also, Mr Quandt shares his experiences Helping The Dogs Of Chernobyl at this prior post.

Watch Video Of Last Night's Roosevelt Island Public Safety Community Engagement Meeting With Residents Discussing Variety Of Local Issues - NYPD Narcotics Search Warrant/Arrest/ Main Street Traffic Safety, Sidewalk Marijuana Smoking, Unleashed Dogs On Ballfields, Duane Reade Shoplifting & More

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD) hosted a Community engagement meeting last evening, May 21. RIOC PSD Chief Kevin Brown and Communications Department Director Bryant Daniels spoke with and answered questions from about a dozen Roosevelt Island residents at the Good Shepherd Community Center.

Chief Brown emphasized the low level of crime on Roosevelt Island but acknowledged there are instances of domestic violence and incidents related to mental illness. 

Among the issues discussed were:

• Petit larcenies (shoplifting) at Duane Reade have decreased from 46 at this time last year to eight this year. Chief Brown attributes the decrease to having a PSD officer stationed  in Southtown near the Duane Reade,
• Main Street traffic safety - cars, motorcycles, bicycles, delivery drivers, (average 800 parking summons a month and 20-25 moving summons)
• NYPD Narcotics Officer executed a Search Warrant and arrested a juvenile at 460 Main Street,
• Dogs running unleased on ballfields chasing children and adults,
• PSD giving tickets and towing cars from private building driveways,
• Decrease in quality of life caused by outdoor marijuana smoking and loitering in front of Roosevelt Landings. Chief Brown replied that it is legal to smoke marijuana outdoors and there is nothing PSD can do about it. 
• Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso met with local girl scout troop to learn personal safety skills.

Here's the full video of the May 21 RIOC PSD Community Engagement meeting.

Turn on the subtitiles/closed captions if you're having trouble hearing what is being said.

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Roosevelt Island Main Street Retail, Roadway Improvements, Coler Berm Design Process, Steam Plant/Stacks/Tunnel And Master Lease Extension Among Agenda Items For May 22 RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee is meeting Wednesday May 22.

According to RIOC:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. at the Good Shepherd Community Center, 543 Main St, Roosevelt Island, New York 10044.

AGENDA:

1. “Focus on Main Street” Discussion Regarding the Responsibilities of the Housing Companies, Hudson Related under the Master Retail Sublease, and the Retail Tenants.

2. Update on Current Projects:

• a. Roadway Improvements
• b. Coler Berm Design Process
• c. Steam Plant/Stacks and Steam Tunnel

3. Discussion of Possible Master Lease Extension

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

Main Street retail was discussed during the May 1 RIOC Operations Committee meeting. RIOC Directors asked Hudson Related's David Kramer and leasing representative Didier Ruiz about the current status of Main Street retail including: 

• the process by which tenants are selected,
• the appearance of Main Street storefronts,
• obtaining a medical practice and
• some RIOC directors expressed unhappiness with what they believe is Hudson Related's lack of communication with the Board. 

Here's video of the May 1 Operations Committee meeting. The Main Street retail discussion begins at the 1 minute 10 second mark.

RIOC OPS Committee Meeting May 1 2024 from Diva Communications on Vimeo.

You're Invited To May 21 Talk By Artist Diana Cooper About Her Roosevelt Island "Double Take" Mosaic Mural - A Ten Year Odyssey From Start To Finish Before Installed In Front Of MTA's East River Ventilation Tunnel

As reported July 14, 2023: 

On Wednesday July 6, the plywood wall was removed from the front of the MTA's East River Ventilation shaft across from the Roosevelt Island F Train subway station to unveil the Double Take mosaic by artist Diana Cooper....

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) is hosting a free lecture by Ms Cooper about the "Double Take" mural tomorrow evening, May 21, at the NY Public Library Roosevelt Island branch (504 Main Street) beginning at 6:30 p.m. You're invited to attend the free lecture.

RIHS President Judy Berdy reported at the Double Take unveiling last July :

THE WALL IS REVEALED

IT TOOK OVER 10 YEARS!

The story starts in February, 2013 when the RIHS asked RIOC to find a better design for the wall outside the vent shaft building across from our subway station.

When at a RIOC Operations Committe meeting I learned of the project and that a brick wall was the idea planned for the wall. The RIOC Operations Committee approved the idea and informed New York Transit.

Little did I know this would be a 10 year odyssey.

The first step was for architects to come and examine the site. They arrived by subway and commented on the ugly site of the vent shaft building obstructing the Manhattan skyline.

A time later MTA Arts for Transit (now MTA Art & Design) held a meeting with a committee of professional including curators, artists, political representatives and staff to select a group of artists to be asked to submit designs. After reviewing the work of about 25 artists the group was down to five candidates.

After submissions by three artists (two were not available) Diana Cooper was chosen. This was just the beginning of the project that suffered from many delays....

I spoke with Ms Cooper

and Ms Berdy

  

in May 2022 about the Double Take mural.

More on the Double Take mural from Ms Cooper's website.

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Sponsored Post - NYC Small Business Services Hosting Small Business Month Expo Wednesday May 29 Providing A Variety Of Free Information, Resources And Services That Address Needs Of Small Business Owners At All Stages, Industries And Boroughs

According to the NYC Small Business Services:

In May 2023, Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kevin D. Kim announced the launch of “Small Business Month” to promote New York City’s diverse small businesses throughout the month of May, expanding on “National Small Business Week” recognized each year.

Join us to celebrate Small Business Month 2024

NYC Small Business Month Expo: Wednesday, May 29

SBS is hosting the first-ever NYC Small Business Month Expo to provide a variety of free information, resources, and direct services that address the needs of small business owners of all stages, industries, and boroughs.

Access 100+ free city programs, agencies, and partner resources – all under one roof:

• Faster city permits and licenses
• Financing and legal assistance
• Contracting with the City of New York
• Free consultations, workshops, and networking
• … and much more!

REGISTER TO ATTEND

📺 MUST WATCH: Commissioner Kim joined @JamieStelter and @StefManisero on @NY1 #MorningsOn1.

We talk all things #NYCSmallBusinessMonth, including our first-ever NYC Small Business Month Expo on May 29th!

Register for our free event! 👇https://t.co/I6uz3DrZR7 pic.twitter.com/ZYP9Re64zF

— NYC Department of Small Business Services (@NYC_SBS) May 16, 2024

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE MAY 29 NYC SMALL BUSINESS MONTH EXPO

Bring Your Instruments And Vocal Chords To Roosevelt Island Beatles Jam Session Sunday May 19 At RIVAA Gallery - Yeah Yeah Yeah, Twist And Shout

The Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery (527 Main Street) is hosting their second Beatles Jam Session Sunday May 19.

According to RIVAA Gallery: 

RIVAA Gallery Presents: Beatles Jam Session

Tomorrow: Sunday, May 19 from 3:00 - 6:00PM

Are you feeling nostalgic? Perhaps you have a sudden urge to sing some Beatles songs together with friends and neighbors? Whether you grew up with the Beatles or have only recently been introduced to their music, join us at RIVAA Gallery on May 19, 2024 from 3-6 PM for our second Beatles Jam Session. If you play a musical instrument, bring it with you. All contributions to the music are welcome. Play, sing or listen – the choice is yours. Whatever you do, have a good time.

Admission is complimentary. As always, any donation is very much appreciated.

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Here's a bit from the first RIVAA Gallery Beatles Jam session last February 25.

Have fun.

Q & A With Artist Jim Pignetti Currently Showing "The Unrelenting Eye" Exhibition At Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery - Describes Evolving Painting On Metal Surface Process And Creative RIVAA Community

The Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery is currently exhibiting the paintings of artist Jim Pignetti through Sunday May 26. 

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According to RIVAA Gallery:

Immerse yourself in Jim Pignetti’s world.

His latest paintings – filled with intense color – explode, splash and drip their way across a silver-toned metal surface. “The Unrelenting Eye” challenges the viewer to explore how the cold, hard surface of metal and the energetic movement of paint are reconciled in a single painting that keeps the eye engaged and constantly moving.

The exhibition runs from May 3-26 at RIVAA Gallery, 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island 10044. All are welcome, and entry is free.

Roosevelt Island resident and Gallery RIVAA member artist Laura Hussey interviewed Mr Pignetti earlier this week about his work in this question and answer format.

Q - Congratulations on your exhibition at RIVAA Gallery. Aside from the obvious fact that you own a business that sells metal what inspired your choice of material as the “canvas” for this series of paintings Inspired?

A - I needed something flat, and there were “drops” in the scrap barrel. With the early experiments, I noticed light bouncing off the surface, enabling the paint to float, and the playing began.

Q - Was this the first time that you painted on metal? Where did you draw your inspiration from?

A - Yes, this is my first substantial exploration of paint on metal. What kind of paint did you use?

Acrylic Paint – I prefer the brand, Golden.

Q - All the paintings seem to employ a similar technique with abstract imagery that uses drips and splashes on the metal surface yet you manage to make them all look different. How do you do that?

A - Over the six months that I did this series, and as a process painter, the technique would evolve, from standing on a ladder dropping, dripping pigment, to creating color washes which I then blew across the surface using fans, or altering inclines, and using whatever discovery I made along the way, including different viscosities concentrations, and fluidity. By the way, brushes are not used in these paintings . 

Q-  All your work has a lot of color. You didn’t, for example paint any in black and white. Would you comment on that?

A - No. I just didn’t use black and white. I might in the future… I did use complementary colors for one, Yellow/Blue.

Q - How do you choose the titles of your paintings ? Do they have a specific meaning?

A - No meaning. When it was time for naming, I free-associated a long list, writing them all down, woke up the next day and applied them to the paintings.

Q - When viewers comment on your paintings do you find that they understand what you are trying to convey.

A - Understand? Not sure. But I know that they feel what I’m doing. They tell me! The work is intended to be sensual; gesture expressing energy, feelings, and color tickling the retina. When I was mounting the exhibit, people would halt on the street, their eyes caught in the artwork. I knew something was happening!

Q - Do viewers reactions ever make you see your work in a new way or see things that you never thought of before?

A - Yes. One viewer showed me “gems” of pigment. And seeing the droplets floating on the shining aluminum, they did indeed seem gem-like.

Q - How long have you been painting?

A - Art making since I was a teen.

Q - Why did you want to be an artist ?

I didn’t want to be an artist. I just am an artist. 

Q -  How did you become a member of RIVAA?

A - I was in need of a creative community - I saw the artwork being exhibited at RIVAA, and felt it had a sensibility where I could be understood. It’s important for me to have the support of other creatives. RIVAA has become a place where as a board member, I give back, organizing art and music events for our larger community.

Q - If you could sum up these paintings in a few words, what would they be?

A - Painting is a way to be a more perfect and realized human being.

Wild Turkey Visiting NYC Leaves Congestion And Concrete Jungle Of Manhattan To Explore Open Spaces And Greenery Of Roosevelt Island This Week

A wild turkey has been roaming around NYC in recent weeks, spotted on the streets of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Astoria, Queens.

Astoria, the wild turkey, is the latest bird celebrity in NYC, and reminds us of the challenges all wild birds face in urban environments 🦃https://t.co/LhPs4bEJdQ

— NYC Audubon (@NYCAudubon) May 10, 2024

This week the turkey has been seen 

Photo By Lada Stasko

Photo By Lada Stasko

Photo By Lada Stasko

exploring Roosevelt Island.

Roosevelt Island resident and Wildlife Freedom Foundation President Rossana Ceruzzi reports:

It's a wild female turkey. She has been "traveling" for 3 weeks now. The first time I was called the bird landed on the street in Astoria and was walking on the sidewalk. Then she moved to a park. Later I got a few calls from Manhattan. And now she is visiting Roosevelt Island.

Please remember she is a wild Turkey and not a domestic Turkey. They should never be approached. Wild Turkeys are the largest upland game bird in North America and they reproduce this time of year.

Ms Ceruzzi shares these videos of the Wild Turkey's Roosevelt Island exploration.

More on the Turkey's New York adventure from Pix 11 News.

A resident walking his dog today shares this video of the wild Turkey roaming Roosevelt Island.

UPDATE 5/20:

Roosevelt Island is getting Turkey tourists.

Next time someone says it’s hard to get to Roosevelt Island, I’ll be like, “A turkey could fly there!”

— Nick Turner (@NewsyNick) May 19, 2024

Astoria the Wild Turkey loves 🫐, today on Roosevelt Island. 🦃 💙 pic.twitter.com/dDb75aLfrT

— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) May 20, 2024

Keeping up with Astoria the wild turkey. She seems to be enjoying the green spaces on Roosevelt Island.🤎🦃#birds #birding #birdcpp pic.twitter.com/6ah2sCiGpQ

— JacquelineUWS (@jacquelineUWS) May 20, 2024

Roosevelt Island Tram Maintenance This Afternoon By Operator Leitner-Poma Taking Longer Than Expected Causing Rush Hour Overcrowding On Single Cabin In Operation - Live Real Time Tram Traffic Cameras Will Soon Be At The Tram Stations Showing How Long Are The Lines

Received reports this afternoon of very crowded conditions at the Roosevelt Island Tram. I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications Director Bryant Daniels: 

Is there any problem at the Tram? I'm told only 1 cabin has been working since at least 4:20 this afternoon.

Platform is very crowded.

Mr Bryant replied:

Leitner-Poma is performing maintenance on the South Cabin that has run longer than expected. They're working to return the cabin to service as quickly as possible.

 A waiting resident remarked:

The Tramway was a nightmare.

Another resident commented on Roosevelt Islander Instagram post:

What I would give to bring back some, not all, of the yesteryears of Roosevelt Island. When you arrived at the island, the tram seemed to sync up with the RedBus—the days when even New Yorkers didn’t know anything about the island. When I moved here 20 years ago, New Yorkers would verbally spar with me on where I lived. I would say Roosevelt Island, and they would say, “Randells Island.” They were like, “No one LIVES on Roosevelt Island”. There should have been a limit on how many apartment buildings would be here. Oh well, in a year, I’m planning to leave the US. This country is no longer good for my mental/physical health.

During the May 7 Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee meeting, RIOC Interim Leadership team member Gerrald Ellis reported:

... that in a few weeks there will be a live traffic camera feed from both the Manhattan and Roosevelt Island Tram stations available for residents to see how large those line are so you can make a decision about using the Tram or the subway. 

UPDATE 4/16 - RIOC sent out this advisory at 7:35 AM:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

The South Tram Cabin is back in service. All maintenance is completed. Tram services are back to normal schedule.