Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council 2018 Election Results - RIRA Meeting Tonight At Good Shepherd, Out With The Old, In With The New Common Council

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, November 7 at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).

As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.

Below is the Agenda for tonight.

Tonight will be the final meeting of the 2016-2018 RIRA Common Council.

It will also be the first meeting of the new 2018-2020 RIRA Common Council following the election last night.

Here are the results of the election.

President:
1237. Lynne Shinozaki

Vice President

823. David Lawson
(469. Frank Farance)

Building Representatives by District:

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Vote Tuesday, November 6 For Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council - Watch Video Of RIRA President & Vice President Candidates And Statements From Building Representatives Too

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council is holding its 2018 election for President, Vice President and Building representatives on Tuesday, November 6.

All Roosevelt Island residents 18 years of age and older, regardless of citizenship can vote. Absentee ballots can be picked up at Public Safety Department (550 Main Street).

RIRA is recognized by local public officials and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) as the elected representatives of Roosevelt Island residents. Though RIRA has no formal decision making power on Roosevelt Island, they do sometimes have persuasive influence on specific issues with those that do have the power.

RIRA hosted a Meet The Candidates Forum on November 1. Many new faces volunteered to represent their respective building residents. All expressed the desire to help make Roosevelt Island a better place to live for their neighbors.

Lynn Strong-Shinozaki is running unopposed as RIRA President. Ms Strong-Shinozaki spoke to the November 1 Meet the Candidates Forum.



Frank Farance and David Lawson are running for RIRA Vice President.

Mr Farance



and Mr. Lawson



also spoke to the November 1 Meet the RIRA Candidates Forum and answered questions.



Below are statements submitted by RIRA Building Candidates.

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Meet Frank Farance Candidate For Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council Vice President- Meet RIRA Building Candidates Thursday November 1 At Westview Building (625 Main Street)

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council is holding their 2018 election for President, Vice President and Building representatives on Tuesday, November 6.

Roosevelt Island resident Frank Farance

is a candidate for RIRA Vice President and submitted the following statement to the community.

Frank Farance

Candidate for RIRA Vice President

Island resident for 38 years, RIRA Common Council for 22 years and served as: Island House representative, RIRA President, Planning Committee Chair, Communication Committee Chair, RIRA Secretary, Public Safety Committee member, Island Services Committee member, Constitution and By-Laws Committee member, Public Purpose Funds Committee member, Government Relations Committee and Maple Tree Group member. I'm a parent of 16-year old twins.

Efforts I've initiated, led, or helped significantly:

• Water/Air Quality: I investigated contaminated water (carcinogens) at parks' drinking fountains ― already a half-year project, and still ongoing. I led RIRA's air quality effort during the Cornell construction, and I was able to bring all the stakeholders to the table: Cornell, RICC, and experts.
• Emergency Response: Member of RI's CERT team since 2006, staffed Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Irene shelters, and staffed Hurricane Maria service center (Harlem) and worked at City's warehouse moving donations, supplies, and materiel to Puerto Rico. This summer, I developed with RIOC a drill and demonstration for flood mitigation for Roosevelt Island: quick-fill dams (8 minutes fill time) that can be deployed around the Island to protect buildings and infrastructure from hurricane flooding. I participated in the City's Dept. of Planning workshop on flood mitigation (sponsored by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer), analyzed updated flood planes for Island's buildings.
• Affordability and Housing: I've helped preserve affordable housing, including the Island House conversion (a 15-year effort led by a half-dozen people), and advocating strongly for Westview's conversion, which was stalled at RIOC. I opposed Gristede's withdrawal of the WIC (women, infants, and children) program, got Manhattan Park Pool to end its discriminatory pricing.
• Finances: I've helped reveal the Island's finances, including getting RIOC to increase their budget look-ahead from 5 years to 15 years (which revealed RIOC financial problems). I've given the community insight on the ground leases - their strengths and weaknesses. I exposed RIOC's billion dollar debt/liability, which is an issue that all of us need to work on as it will soon affect our housing costs (whether rent or maintenance, whether subsidized or market-rate).
• Health/Safety: I took "Rat Academy" training (City's Department of Health), reported the severe rat infestation at PS/IS 217 (250-rat colony), and got the City to teach the Rat Academy on the Island for residents and building/merchant staff. Reported multiple health and security problems at the Motorgate "vomitorium". Reported safety problems with helix reconstruction (immediately fixed).
• Public Safety: Worked on many issues over the years, including improper recordkeeping on vertical patrols, building safety, park/promenade safety. I seek to balance the Rights of the Individual (no gratuitous arrests) with the Rights of Society (Quality of Life issues, such as late-night noise).
• Youth: I have worked with 1000+ youth over the past 15 years, including personally teaching, mentoring, and supporting 200 Island youth. For a decade, I've taught STEM to Island youth in weekly classes (robotics, Minecraft, SAT prep, etc.).

In the 2018-2020 term, my focus is (1) expanding RIRA to include all the Island's residents, such as Coler and Cornell, (2) giving merchants a voice, (3) improving Island's infrastructure, (4) improving RIOC's communication and responsiveness towards community needs. I will continue to stand up for the residents and their concerns, continue to invest time/effort in our community, and (as always) Speak Truth to Power.

David Lawson is also running for RIRA Vice President.

Lynn Strong-Shinozaki is running unopposed for RIRA President.

As previously reported:

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council is hosting a Meet Your Building Candidates 7:30 PM Thursday, November 1 at Westview, 625 Main Street. The location has been changed from Good Shepherd to Westview).

You're invited to attend.

Click here for RIRA Building Candidates too.

Meet David Lawson, Candidate For Vice President Of Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council

As reported yesterday, the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council is seeking candidates to run for election as President, Vice President and to represent the various building complexes.

Roosevelt Island resident David Lawson

is a candidate for RIRA Vice President and submitted the following statement to the community.

My name is David LAWSON. A father of two, I am a Westview resident and have been living on Roosevelt Island since 1998. I have worked 20 years at the United Nations on political, social and economic affairs, defending human rights, women’ and girls’ rights and minority rights. I have presided over a UN civil servant organization and worked with various international and US organizations and associations for civil rights.

I was elected a RIRA Common Council member for the first time in 2014 and re-elected in 2016. RIRA Planning Committee Chair since 2015, I have spearheaded work and significant progress on critical issues for the community, including transportation (ferry, bike use and infrastructure improvement, F-train service improvement, electric vehicles), environment protection (air quality control during Cornell construction, drinking water quality, South Point Park wildlife protection), reflections on the long-term impact of Cornell Tech and growing population dynamics on the island and its infrastructure, and I have established and entertain a constructive dialogue with RIOC President on those issues.

I run again this year because I strongly believe in the power of community and associative work for public interest. RIRA is an essential forum of dialogue for the Roosevelt Island residents with RIOC and allows for the voice of the Roosevelt islanders to be heard. I run for Vice President because, building on my experience with the Common Council governance and as Committee Chair, I want to help foster and promote further the work and outreach of the Council for the greater benefit of Roosevelt Islanders. With the newly elected RIRA President and Common Council members, I hope to contribute to more Roosevelt islanders participating to RIRA work and associate other RI institutions to its proposals, as well as enhanced visibility of its achievements.

If elected, as Vice-President, I will support the President and Council, enhanced RIRA communications with the community, sustained membership participation, widened participation in RIRA, fundraising, and I will work closely with relevant Committee chairs for enhanced coordination and effectiveness. I will continue to contribute to RIRA Common council debates, supporting enhanced communication with Roosevelt islanders, and support the on-going work of RIRA on environment protection, transportation, infrastructure, well-being and equitable treatment of our residents of all conditions and all ages, the future development of our Island and protection of our wonderful RI community.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns you would like to share or discuss, please reach out to me at lawsondd@aol.com.

Against this background, I hope you will entrust me with your confidence and your vote on November 6th. I encourage you to go out and vote and to participate in RIRA Committees as these are open to all Roosevelt islanders! I thank you.

David LAWSON, RIRA Common Council Member and Planning Committee Chair

Will publish statement from other RIRA candidates as submitted.

If you wish to run for any RIRA Common Council seat, more info on nominating process here.

The RIRA election is Tuesday, November 6.

UPDATE 10/31 - Frank Farance is also running for RIRA Vice President.

Candidates Sought To Help Serve And Represent Our Community, Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council Building Elections Tuesday, November 6 - RIRA Nomination Forms Now Available, Fresh Ideas Needed And Welcomed

Are you interested in serving the Roosevelt Island community by becoming a member of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council?

RIRA's Election Nomination Committee Co-Chair Janet Falk tells us how.



According to Ms. Falk:

Friends,
As a member of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) and one of its 44 members representing the various apartment buildings, I write to you.

You can play an important role in the future of our Island when you nominate yourself to serve on RIRA as advocate for your building.

Working with the other representatives, you will promote your neighbors’ interests and build unity among Island groups.

As Nominating Committee Co-Chairs, Rossana Ceruzzi and I encourage you to share this note with your neighbors through your internal communication system and in informal conversation.

Here are three reasons to serve as one of 44 RIRA Representatives:

• Speak up for yourself and your neighbors
• Strengthen your community
• Make a difference

Nominees must be willing to volunteer and serve for FOUR hours per month.

Every resident of Roosevelt Island age 18 years or older is eligible to serve on RIRA and vote in the election. Learn more about RIRA and nominate yourself by completing the form at www.RIRAonline.com or email Janet Falk or Rossana Ceruzzi.

The election will be held on Tuesday, November 6.

Thank you for your support of RIRA.

With appreciation for your service to our Island community,

Janet Falk and Rossana Ceruzzi (RIRA Nominations Committee Co-Chairs)

New Roosevelt Island residents and any community member with fresh ideas are encouraged to be RIRA candidates for your buildings.

More info about RIRA nominations and responsibilities here.