Mayor Eric Adams Announces "Founded By NYC" Campaign Celebrating 400 Years Of The Greatest City In The World And Honors The Lenape Indigenous Peoples - A Current Lenape And Roosevelt Island Connection Too

Happy 400th anniversary, New York City!

From the Lenape to the Dutch, to all those who made our city, this year we're celebrating the history AND the people who have made NYC so great. Learn more about "Founded By NYC:" pic.twitter.com/AhDrsUMKxr

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) January 5, 2025

New York City Mayor Eric Adams submitted the op-ed article below to local NYC community media including Roosevelt Islander Online. According to Mayor Eric Adams:

Celebrating 400 Years of the Greatest City in the World

January 6, 2025

2025 marks a historic occasion — our city's 400th anniversary. It marks four centuries since the first European settlement of Manhattan in 1625, on land then known as Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Lenape people. The tiny Dutch colony began as New Amsterdam and then changed to New York when the English took control and expanded rapidly. A century ago, its boundaries increased beyond the island of Manhattan to encompass the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.

To celebrate our city’s 400th anniversary, we are proud to announce the launch of our “Founded By NYC” campaign, which focuses on commemorating and celebrating our city’s 400th birthday and honoring the Indigenous communities that came long before. The campaign highlights contributions from New York City that have shaped our nation and affirmed our country’s place in the world.

Our website, FoundedByNYC.com, features events and activities that showcase our city’s amazing 400-year history. You can also sign up for our newsletter, which will keep you up to date on events in the five boroughs and submit information about your own events that illustrate New York City’s past so that we can showcase it on our calendar.

Even as we look forward and celebrate all our great city has to offer, our administration is deeply committed to acknowledging and engaging with our city’s complex past. That is why we met with Chief Brad KillsCrow of the Delaware Tribe of Indians at Gracie Mansion and have proclaimed November 20 as “Lenape Heritage Day.” The Lenape people are the original inhabitants of this region, we acknowledge the pain they have experienced and the great contributions that have made — and continue to make — to our city.

Like the Lenape, our city’s story has ultimately been one of perseverance and triumph. Together, the many nationalities, religions, and ethnicities that have been a hallmark of our city from its earliest years have worked to build a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. For four centuries, New York City has been a beacon of hope for people from all over the world, a place of religious freedom and tolerance, a place to fulfill the American Dream; and our administration has been working hard to bring that dream a little closer for New Yorkers today.

We passed the historic “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” plan that will help build a new generation of affordable housing; proposed the “Axe the Tax for the Working Class” to eliminate and cut city income taxes for some of our hardest-working New Yorkers; driven down crime all last year by seizing illegal guns, getting ghost cars and other illegal vehicles off our streets, and closing down unlicensed cannabis stores. We also created a record number of new jobs and small businesses, shattered affordable housing records, and produced a record amount of public space for pedestrians across the five boroughs. And, as we commemorate our 400th anniversary, we are preparing for the next 400 years — prioritizing climate resiliency by instituting citywide composting, creating new parks, planting trees, and completing the first section of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project.

As mayor of the greatest city in the world, I am committed to fulfilling the great promise that is New York, and delivering for you. Every day. Everywhere.

Present day Roosevelt Island has a strong connection to the Lenape people. During the April 6, 2024  joint Sugi Project and iDig2Learn Healing Forest Planting at Southpoint Park, the co-Founder/Director of the Lenape Center Curtis Zunigha spoke

and 

planted the first tree.

Explore what NYC and Roosevelt Island (Mannahatta) looked like in the early 1600's from Beyond Manhattan, The Welika Project.

Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Restoration Receives Preservation League Of NYS 2024 Excellence In Historic Preservation Award - Watch Video Taking Us Inside, Up The Stairs And To The Top Of Roosevelt Island Lighthouse

Watch this fascinating video from the NY Preservation League showing the renovation of the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse and follow along as architect Thomas Fenniman takes us inside, up the stairs and to the top of the Lighthouse

The Preservation League of NYS You Tube channel reports:

The Preservation League of NYS is thrilled to recognize the restoration of the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse with a 2024 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award.

A comprehensive restoration led by the team at Thomas A. Fenniman, Architect has ensured that this James Renwick Jr.-designed beacon will continue shining for many more years to come. The project included restoring brick, stone, windows, and doors. Site improvements at the Lighthouse include installation of a new metal spiral staircase, new electrical and LED accent lighting, resetting and installation of new and salvaged stone pavers and curb stones, and the installation of new recessed ground lighting and controls. The project was completed by the construction team of The LIRO Group and ICC Commonwealth.

Now in its 40th year, the League's annual Excellence Awards program allows us to shine a light on the people who are using historic preservation to make all our lives better —through exemplary restoration projects, indispensable publications, individual action, and organizational distinction.

More info about the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse project can be found at https://www.preservenys.org/blog/exce...

According to November 21 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) press release:

On Friday, November 15th, the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Restoration Project was honored at the New York Preservation League’s 2024 Awards Ceremony as one of the League’s “Excellence in Historic Preservation” award winners. Accepting the award on behalf of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) were Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dhruvika Patel Amin, 

Ms Amin Standing In Middle Of Picture

along with architect Thomas Fenniman and his team, who designed and led the restoration project.

“We are humbled that the Lighthouse Restoration Project has been recognized by the New York Preservation League as one of their 2024 ‘Excellence in Historic Preservation’ award winners. On behalf of RIOC, we’d like to thank Tom Fenniman and his outstanding team for their expertise, as well as LIRO Group and ICC Commonwealth, the construction team that completed the work. The Lighthouse is a significant piece of island history, and this restoration will ensure it can continue to be enjoyed by residents and the public for many years to come,” said Dhruvika Patel Amin, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for RIOC.

The Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Restoration Project included extensive work to restore the brick, stone, windows, and doors of the lighthouse, originally built in 1872. As noted by the Preservation League in their review of the project’s award submission, the restoration also included the installation of a new metal spiral staircase, new electrical and LED accent lighting, resetting and installation of new and salvaged stone pavers and curbstones, and the installation of new recessed ground lighting and control systems.

The $3.1 million restoration project was also recognized by the Friends of the Upper East Side Historic District with their 2023 Rehabilitation Award, and The New York Landmarks Conservancy, which awarded the project its Lucy G. Moses Preservation Project Award.

Here's more on the

Image From Preservation League Of NYS

Roosevelt Island Lighthouse restoration from Preservation League Of NYS

Image From Linda Doyle

and from a May 18, 2022 post.

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS)

Image From RIHS President Judy Berdy

has more here. on the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse.

RIHS Invites You To A Lecture Presentation About The Beginnings Of Roosevelt Island As A Residential Community - Northtown 50 Years Later, The Ongoing Quest Of Historic Preservation

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) invites you to a very interesting talk about the beginnings of Roosevelt Island as a residential community.

According to RIHS:

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society Presents: Redeveloping Roosevelt Island 

NORTHTOWN 50 YEARS LATER

 

THE ONGOING QUEST OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION 

On April 25th, 1975, the first resident of Roosevelt Island moved into Eastwood. That was almost 50 years ago now. By 1978, a population of 5,500 had arrived to call Northtown home.

Constructed based on the principles of Philip Johnson and John Burgee's visionary 1969 master plan, Roosevelt Island was an experiment in American urban planning. Despite its positive reception, the plan fell short and Phase 1, known as Northtown, was the only original portion completed. 2,100 units beckoned families back to the city offering the comforts of small-town living, right in the middle of New York City. Today, Northtown represents one of the most diverse zip codes in all of New York City. 

Join us for a presentation hosted by The Roosevelt Island Historical Society, led by Hunter College graduate student Dylan Brown. Brown will explore the history and intricacies of Northtown and raise the question of whether Northtown should now be preserved an an historic example of American urban planning. Come join the open conversation about the future of preservation on Roosevelt Island. 

NOVEMBER 19TH, 6:30PM @ THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND NYPL BRANCH, LOCATED @ 504 MAIN ST.

Last March 19, RIHS hosted Mr Brown at the Roosevelt Island Public Library for a fascinating presentation about the development of Roosevelt Island.

Here's video of the presentation

and the accompanying

slideshow.

RIOC Celebrates Indigenous Peoples' Day By Remembering Contributions Of Lenape & Yakama Nation Leaders To Miyawaki Method Pocket Forest Tree Planting At Roosevelt Island A/K/A "Tekenink Atàm" (Let Us Go To The Forest)

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day by remembering the April 6, 2024 planting of the Sugi Miyawaki Method Pocket Forest at Southpoint Park initiated by iDig2Learn.

According to RIOC:

Today, on Indigenous Peoples' Day, we celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Indigenous communities. In April 2024, iDig2Learn, RIOC, SUGi, and the Lenape Center united to plant NYC’s first Miyawaki Method Pocket Forest on Roosevelt Island. Named "Tekenink atàm" (Let us go to the forest) by the Lenape Center, the forest symbolizes the regenerative power of collaboration and respect for our land.

iDig2Learn adds:

So grateful for our partnership. And wouldn’t ya know that the first tree planted by Curtis Zunigha #lenapecenter and Marylee Smunitee Jones @smunitee of the Yakima Nation - an Eastern White Pine - is thriving as we celebrate six months of the 1st #miyawakiforest in NYC thanks to @sugiproject and many, many local partners.

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Here are the remarks by Curtis Zunigha from the Lenape Center of the Lenape peoples and Marylee Smunitee Jones from the Yakama Nation during the planting of the first White Pine tree at the Roosevelt Island Healing Pocket Forest

and their remarks prior to the plantings.

Today is also Columbus Day celebrating Italian Heritage with the annual NYC 5th Avenue Parade.

Indigenous Peoples' Day was celebrated on NYC Randall's Island too.

Three years after President Biden became the first U.S. president to formally commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, more than a dozen states recognize some version of the holiday in lieu of Columbus Day. Here’s the history behind it. https://t.co/UfxUkMtNRG

— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 14, 2024

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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Thrillist Travel Adventure Channel Features Roosevelt Island Tram And Interviews Tram Operator Greg Paravati At The Controls Since 1976 - Watch The Video For Some Great Tram Stories Over The Years

The Thrillist travel and adventure channel visited the Roosevelt Island Tram recently and interviewed Tram operator Gregg Paravati who has been at the helm of the Tram controls for the last 48 years from the very beginning of it's opening in 1976. Also interviewed were Tram Supervisor Gary Burstell and Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting Chief Operating Officer Mary Cunneen. 

The video is very informative and Mr Paravati tells a couple of interesting stories including:

... The manager called me and says, "Listen, we're training a new person, so we want you to train him."

I said, "All right."

So the young fella gets on the cabin, and we're alone, just as we are now. And I'm going through demo motions and explaining things, and he says, "You know, I know you, and you just don't remember me."

And I said, "Excuse me?"

He said, "18 years ago, my mother got on the cabin, she was pregnant, and she had to get to the hospital, and you made a special trip for her to get her to the hospital, and had the ambulance waiting there." He says, "I'm the child that was born."

Now I'm training him! How about that? And he still works here....

Watch the full video. You'll enjoy it.

Watch Very Interesting Video About Roosevelt Island, A Unique And Historically Rich Area That Exemplifies Suburban Urbanism Feature Of City Planning - How About That?

Fourth Place is a You Tube channel that focuses on US geography, urbanism, transportation and city planning. Fourth Place recently published a very interesting video about our own Roosevelt Island. According to Fourth Place:

Roosevelt Island, located on New York City's East River between Manhattan and Queens is a unique and historically rich area that exemplifies one particular facet of urban planning, Suburban Urbanism. Wait, what does that even mean?

Well, Roosevelt Island may just be the only place located technically within the borough of Manhattan with both a suburban and urban Fabric and just how that was achieved and what exactly it looks like is quite extraordinary. if you're new here, this is Fourth Place your place to learn about US geography, urbanism, transportation city planning and more....

Watch the full video.

The Lunatics Project Latest Podcast Dark Side Of NYC Explores Roosevelt Island's Past, Historic Buildings And Nellie Bly - Very Interesting, Have A Listen

The Lunatics Project: 

... creates The Lunatics Radio Hour Podcast, Lunatics Magazine and short horror films. The Lunatics Radio Hour Podcast explores the history of horror and craft of modern day scary storytelling. Lunatics Magazine is a bi-annual creepy art zine that showcases creative work from a collective of talented artists around a central theme.

Based in New York City, Abby and Alan produce these creative projects from their apartments. Abby works in media and Alan is a production sound mixer and director of photography....

The latest Lunatics Project podcast features Roosevelt Island.

I am beyond thrilled to present today's episode, a collaboration with our friend Alan at A Storied Native. We discuss Roosevelt Island, the New York Lunatics Asylum and Nellie Bly, the lost estates of Astoria, Queens and North Brother Island. https://t.co/zDlmKssVLZ pic.twitter.com/bXq1r10WsV

— LunaticsProject (@lunaticsproject) July 3, 2024

Have a listen to the Roosevelt Island portion of the podcast.

and learn more about the history of Roosevelt Island's historic buildings and legendary journalist Nellie Bly's investigation of conditions at the Octagon Asylum.

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More info about the Lunatics Project available at their website.

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Juneteenth Means Freedom For Everyone Not Just Black People Says Grandmother Of The Federal Holiday And Civil Rights Activist Opal Lee - Roosevelt Island Celebrated Juneteenth With Storytelling, Music And Dance Last Saturday At Good Shepherd Plaza

One of the most important laws of my presidency was making Juneteenth the first new federal holiday since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Ms. Opal Lee is the grandmother of the movement that helped make it possible.

She made it her mission to make history, not erase it. pic.twitter.com/w4hembcaY5

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 19, 2024

According to this White House Proclamation:

On June 19, 1865, freedom finally came for the 250,000 enslaved people of Texas. That day, which would become known as Juneteenth, the Army arrived to enforce what had already been the law of the land for two and a half years — the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, we recognize that Juneteenth not only marks the end of America’s original sin of slavery but also the beginning of the work at the heart and soul of our Nation: making the promise of America real for every American....

The Smithsonian National Museum Of African American History & Culture reports on the significance of Juneteenth:

... In 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday, opening it to symbolic and global interpretation and providing a better understanding of the evolution of our nation and its people. Juneteenth celebrations then, like now, recognize the ongoing fight for human rights and equality and are commemorated through family cookouts, faith services, musical performances and storytelling. Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American resilience and achievement while aiding in the preservation of those historical narratives that promoted racial and personal advancement since Freedom Day....

The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) and Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) organized a Roosevelt Island Juneteenth Celebration last Saturday June 15 at Good Shepherd Plaza with storytelling, 

Image Provided By RIDA's Wendy Hersh

refreshments, music and dance performances 

Image Provided By RIDA's Wendy Hersh

 by the Glassdolls Dance Company

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Happy Juneteenth, New York City!

This holiday was hard-won by the fortitude and hope of our ancestors. Every day, we're building a stronger, fairer city to continue their legacy. pic.twitter.com/AVQPnvqpxi

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) June 19, 2024

Learn more about the Juneteenth holiday

 

at the Smithsonian National Museum Of African American History & Culture website.

Watch Fascinating Video Of RIHS Lecture About Redevelopment Of Roosevelt Island From Blackwell's & Welfare Island To Visionary Phillip Johnson/John Burgee 1969 Master Plan To Present Day Deviations

Last Tuesday, March 19, the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) hosted a presentation by Hunter College Urban Policy and Planning graduate student Dylan Brown. He is currently working on a research project with RIHS President Judy Berdy exploring the history of Roosevelt Island's development  from its beginning as Blackwell's Island to Welfare Island to the 1969 Roosevelt Island Master Plan by architects Phillip Johnson/John Burgee and continuing to the present day. Approximately 30 residents attended his very interesting and informative lecture at the Roosevelt Island NYPL branch.

RIHS President Judy Berdy introduced Dylan and reported he:

... has been working with us the last few weeks going through our treasure chest and it is a treasure chest. We have things from the from the 60s the welfare Island days the early development days...

According to Mr Brown:

... Last semester I started a research project on Roosevelt Island and that is how I met Judy. That research project has still not finished ... because it is so detailed and in depth. I really felt like I could not wrap myself around how much history has happened on Rosevelt Island ... to focus on just one aspect is almost impossible. What I'm going to try to do to you guys today is explain a very long history about probably one of the most interesting places in New York City...

My research prompt for this was: How did Roosevelt Island deviate from its master plan in 1969 and why?

... I'm a nerd. I like urban planning. I knew about Rosevelt Island beforehand and I read the Master Plan. I thought it was fascinating but I never really dove into it until this project. I noticed that there was a lot of things that either happened or didn't happen or were altered so basically the presentation we're going to go through will be in four sections. 

The first section is going to be history. We're going to be looking at the history of Roosevelt Island pre-development and post-development.

Then we're going to be looking at the Island That Nobody Knows. That's the 1969 plan devised for the Island.

Then we're going to be looking at building Northtown which is where you're sitting in right now... 

... Finally we're going to look at the deviations and how, what you experienced of Roosevelt Island from the 1969 plan that was laid out.

Here's video of Dylan Brown's Redeveloping Roosevelt Island lecture,

his slide presentation

and the Phillip Johnson/John Burgee Roosevelt Island Master Plan.

RIHS President Judy Berdy adds:

Over the last 40 years we have collected all sorts of island artifacts Luckily we have storage unit in the Octagon as well as our office. We have hundreds of photos and paper documents that can be used for research. Here a some of our unique collection...

And:

TREASURES REDISCOVERED 

This is an original poster that publicized the exhibit “Welfare Island: An Interim Report” which was presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for two weeks October 6 through October 19, 1970 

Did you know that there was a scale model of the future island exhibited at the Met in 1970? This is just one historical item that is stored in our office/archive in the Octagon 

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