The mosquito borne West Nile virus has been detected in some NYC
neighborhoods. According to the
NYC Health Department:
West Nile virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. West
Nile virus can infect humans, birds, horses and other mammals.
Most people infected with West Nile either have no symptoms or experience
a mild to moderate illness. People who are older than 60 have the highest
risk of becoming severely ill. There is increasing evidence that people
with weakened immune systems are also at higher risk.
West Nile season in NYC occurs between May and October.
The NYC Health Department
will be spraying pesticides in these neighborhoods to kill mosquitos and prevent spread of the West Nile virus.
25 years ago, West Nile virus was detected in people for the first time in
the U.S.—now it’s the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the
country.
I asked the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) today if there will be mosquitio spraying to reduce the risk of West Nile
disease on Roosevelt Island?
RIOC Communications Department Director Bryan Daniels replied:
RIOC and New York City do not have any scheduled spraying on Roosevelt
Island.
West Nile virus has not been detected yet in the Roosevelt Island 10044 zip
code
Mr Farance's description is from his comment to this April 28 post which included statement from a 4 River Road Tenant Tipster that:
PS/IS 217 doesn't put their garbage in containers and it's a playground for rats...
Responding to my inquiry about the the courtyard garbage and rats, PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman replied:
... Despite raising concerns with the NY Department of Sanitation, 217 has been advised by the Sanitation Department that 217 is not permitted to use dumpsters and the Sanitation Department from Queens does not always come to remove the school's garbage on the scheduled days.
We look forward to working with the community to improve the situation. We also look forward to working with our PTA, students, parents and members of the community to replant and rebuild this Spring.
Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA President Erin Olavesen adds:
217 is following the protocol of the Department of Sanitation. We have tried without success to have them consider an alternative such as a small dumpster. I know you have looped Ben Kallos in and the PTA and administration are also interested in seeing if he can help.
The DOE has come out to inspect the area and we are waiting to see what solutions are possible in creating a safe, clean egress.
and:
As a mom, I absolutely understand the concerns with the rat situation behind the school. But it is something the school is proactively working to address. The Department of Education was out a few days ago in fact to assess the situation. (It wasn't possible to access all of the burrows until the roots of the removed trees were ground down, which was just recently completed.)
Additionally, the sanitation company that the DOE uses for our school does not permit the school to place its trash in plastic bins or to place a gate around it. The school is required to leave it in bags.
It's frustrating waiting for the wheels of the DOE system to turn. If anyone has specific questions or concerns, or has suggestions for solving these issue more quickly, I welcome you to contact me directly.
On May 18, 4 River Road Tipster Tenant reported:
I just watched a 217 kitchen worker throw 2 bags of food waste right on top of the rat trash pile just a few feet away from their cafeteria- a couple people from the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) came by to look at the alley and the rats...
A few hours later 4 River Road Tipster Tenant followed up:
Rira people were out looking at it, but after they left I saw the worker throw 2 more fresh bags of cafeteria garbage on to the pile.
and:
Interesting- the trash is gone now! THere were at least 6 bags of it around noon...
Today, Mr Farance shares these photos taken yesterday (Sunday May 21) at the PS/IS 217 courtyard and reports:
PS/IS 217, Principal Mandana Beckman, PTA Allow More Vermin: Mosquitoes (Zika/West Nile?), Pigeons, Ants, and Bigger Rat Colonies.
More dumping food garbage, more rats ripping into bags,
very big ant problem,
pigeons found a new home, and rat colony appears to go further back to the plants on the west side of school (promenade).
I think the fly/mosquito problem is yet another health hazard.
The walls are swarming with young flies/mosquitoes. Given the food, moist soil, and standing water/liquids, the school might be a good breeding ground for flies/mosquitoes. (As a CERT member, I did Zika/West-Nile training last year, these are the kinds of conditions they asked us to report.)
- Does PS/IS 217 dump open garbage? Yes.
- Is this something the Principal can do something about? Yes, e.g., don't dump open garbage on top of the rat colonies, but it in the garbage area.
- Is this something the PTA can do something about? Yes, it can report the problem, it can complain to the principal.
Obviously, if these trivial solutions are not being done to reduce the hazard, the Principal/PTA doesn't care, or is ineffectual. Merchants on Roosevelt Island have been more responsible than PS/IS 217.
There's open food garbage left out for two days, that is rat infested, and now we have flies, mosquitoes, ants, and pigeons. Nothing you can do about that? Baloney!
And how do you feel about your neighbors in 2-4 River Road having to live with your garbage? How to you feel about potential Zika virus breeding ground and pregnant mothers?
Mr. Farance adds:
Recently, I did my Rat Academy training (yes, that's what it is called) on waste/rodent management as taught by NYC Department of Health (DoHMH) and Department of Sanitation (DSNY)....
RIRA's Island Services Committee Chair Aaron Hamburger writes today:
We are actively working on the problem. We've notified both the Dept. of Sanitation and the Board of Health and hope they will inspect the site soon. As you know, any trash outside, by New York City regulations, must be put in containers or bins that are tightly closed to prevent rats from getting to the waste food.
We also have a meeting with RIOC's President this Friday and are trying to get a meeting with PS 217's Principal.
...has just informed us that they are in the process of scheduling a walkthrough to see conditions.
Manhattan Community Board 8 program CB 8 Speaks recently interviewed Caroline Bragdon, Director of Neighborhood Intervention - NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene's Bureau of Veterinary & Pest Control on the Rat Academy.
Watch below. At the 24 minute 30 second mark, a discussion of what schools can do to properly remove garbage and control rat infestation.
Some supporters of PS/IS 217 have objected to Mr. Farance publicly reporting on the rat problem in the PS/IS 217 courtyard. For instance, one supporter asks Mr. Farance:
Why do you need to scare new families who intend to have their children there next year?! I have one child there and I will have my other child starting in the next school year....
I simply love the school! My child is very happy there, the teachers are amazing and I had the opportunity to meet other families and make new friends!
Rats?! We live in NYC!!! We see rats everywhere! Subway, streets , everywhere! If you go for a walk on Roosevelt Island you definitely see rats! Do you think they do not exist in other schools?! Yes, they do!
Regarding the PTA, Erin is doing her best and as she mentioned here, they are doing their best to solve the situation!
Please do not put more ashes into the fire....
My view is that without Mr. Farance calling attention to this issue, nothing would get done to solve the problem, or it would take much longer to be addressed.
A Roosevelt Island Riverwalk resident is concerned about the puddles
of standing water
next door
at Firefighters Field.
The Riverwalk resident reports:
What's with all the standing water on Firefighters Field? There's been standing water for weeks.
It's a breeding ground for mosquitoes. We've noticed way more bugs this summer in our building, mosquitoes and others.
I think the sprinkler system is broken.
Yesterday, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Susan Rosenthal:
Received message today from a resident concerned about standing water puddles at Firefighters Field that have been there for several weeks. Worried that they could attract mosquitos and Zika virus.
Any statement from RIOC on the matter?
Also, is there any spraying to prevent mosquitoes on Roosevelt Island? According to NYC Health Department, it does not look like Roosevelt Island gets any spraying.
6 Sq Ft shows locations where NYC is spraying for mosquitoes
UPDATE 9/7 - Acting RIOC President Susan Rosenthal replied on August 31:
We have adjusted the timer for the sprinkler system from 20 minutes to 5 minutes per zone to ensure the fields are not saturated. We also put soil and reseeded the areas that were ponding to alleviate that potential puddles of water. Please let me know if you have any additional questions as we will be monitoring the area closely.
produces a high frequency sound (less audible to older people) in order to drive away teenagers hanging around in front of shops.
The device, called the Mosquito, first showed up in England but is now being tried out in a Jamaica Queens apartment building to prevent teenagers from hanging around the lobby.
“These devices are indiscriminate and target all children and young people, including babies, regardless of whether they are behaving or misbehaving,” Sir Al told the BBC. “The use of measures such as these are simply demonising children and young people, creating a dangerous and widening divide between the young and the old.”
The view of English shopkeepers is very different. According to the Washington Post:
... he has never seen anything quite as effective for dispersing young people. Two years ago, he affixed the box, which has a picture of a mosquito bug on it, a few feet above the entrance to his store.
He estimated that petty crime has decreased 80 percent. He balked at the idea that he was infringing on human rights. Youngsters loiter outside his shop and pester customers to buy them alcohol and cigarettes, he said.
"They harass customers, and I lose business," Parshad said. "You can't keep everybody happy. You have to look after the customer first."
There are about 3500 units installed in Great Britain and 200 in the United States. None on Roosevelt Island as far as I know. But then again, I can't hear it.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
