Ben Fhala Resigned Today From The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Board Of Directors - Appointed In June 2023, He Brought Much Needed Accountability, Transparency & Community Engagement To RIOC But Angered Some With Perceived Aggressive And Confrontational Style

Roosevelt Island resident Ben Fhala has been a breath of fresh air on the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors. He was a needed change agent calling for accountability, transparency and community engagement from the RIOC staff and other RIOC Board Directors which had been sorely lacking for a very long time before his appointment in June 2023. 

But, Mr Fhala's style and behavior could sometimes be perceived as overly aggressive and confrontational which angered some and others thought his tactics were counter productive at times.

Image Of Ben Fhala At September 29, 2024 RIOC Board Of Directors Meeting

Rumors were swirling yesterday that Ben Fhala would soon be removed from the RIOC Board of Directors after Mr Fhala was spotted by several residents outside the Good Shepherd Church during last Thursday evening's RIOC Board of Directors Executive Session. The speculation was that he was outside during the meeting because he was one of the subjects being discussed in the Executive Session.

Today Mr Fhala's removal was confirmed when he shared the following email he sent to NY Governor Kathy Hochul this morning:

Dear Governor Hochul, 

I am writing to formally submit my resignation as a member of the Board of Directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), effective immediately. It is my sincere hope that this decision might also help to motivate board members whose terms have long expired to consider stepping down to pave the way for others to step up and lead with the commitment, energy and vision required to address the many challenges ahead.

For the past year, working alongside dedicated individuals, together we advocated for and advised implementation of policies that benefit the Roosevelt Island community. 

Among these achievements:

Revised Updated Bylaws: 

Governance Committee updated the bylaws aimed at engagement, transparency and setting the stage for a more localized governance and decision-making process. The revised Bylaws received the approval of the ABO and the COOG and are ready for the consideration of the full board.

Addressing Negligence/Deferred Maintenance in Repair of Pavement and Zebra Block Maintenance: 

Initiating the repairs has already led to a dramatic reduction in slip-and-fall incidents, directly improving public safety and accessibility of our Island. Safer streets reduce accidents and lawsuits.

Empowering Island Leadership to Engage with Stakeholders: 

Facilitating deeper engagement between Island leadership and stakeholders, including local media, to enhance transparency and community engagement in decision-making processes.

Increased Public Funding for Local Non-Profits: 

Successfully aligned public purpose funding with the needs of local non-profits, ensuring that resources are distributed more effectively to directly support community-driven initiatives.

Reducing Motorgate Waitlist: 

From a waitlist of well over a year to immediate availability for all residents, significantly improving access and increasing revenue for the corporation.

Despite these accomplishments, many critical issues still require urgent attention to ensure the continued growth and well-being of the Roosevelt Island community. These include:

Corruption and Misconduct in Contract Selection: Numerous allegations of corruption, favoritism, and misconduct in the selection of RIOC contracts, contractors and consultants seems to be substantiated. This issue requires urgent investigation and reform to restore trust and integrity.

Unjustified Salary Increases for Senior Staff while lacking Critical Skills required for performance tasks : Salaries within RIOC’s senior staff have ballooned over the years without clear guidelines regarding the professional responsibilities, success parameters, or alignment with current market rates for comparable government positions. Multiple whistleblowers have reported unmerited salary increases, but no action has been taken by the board or its handlers. At the same time, critical skilled roles such as a structural engineer remain unfilled. The lack of a professional staff with appropriate qualifications results in the hiring of outside consultants at significant additional expense.

Enabling Strong, Experienced Local Leadership: With de facto vacancies in our CEO, COO and General Counsel roles, it’s critical to appoint qualified and capable leadership that serves the public interests of Roosevelt Island. Meanwhile, the continued payment for the current at-home administration adds a strain on resources

Self-Funded Investigations: The ongoing practice of self-funded, open-ended investigations has cost Island residents millions of dollars over the years. Often they are without clear guardrails, control mechanisms, or transparency. These investigations need to be scrutinized and brought under board oversight.

Neglect and Disrepair of Island Infrastructure: Years of deferred maintenance and negligence have left many structures on the island in disrepair, from a sinking Main Street to structurally compromised railings to unresolved issues with steam tunnels that could pose catastrophic risks. Immediate action is needed to prevent further deterioration and ensure public safety. The current bus crisis is evidence that advanced organization and budget planning is critical but is rarely, if ever, done. Preventive maintenance of all systems and operations should be done on a routine basis.

Capitalization of Tram Tourism Ridership: The current focus on subsidizing tram ridership for tourists is negatively impacting the quality of service and strains public resources. The increase in tourism should provide an injection of revenue to increase the quality of life of all stakeholders on the Island but no strategic vision has been discussed let alone implemented.

Finding New Funding Avenues: It is crucial to explore new ways to fund RIOC initiatives, such as building out a grants department or hiring an advocacy group to secure long-term operational funding and consider tourism as a source for economic growth.

However, it has become increasingly clear that I have become a focal point of discussions and controversies that detract from the essential work that needs to be done. The focus and efforts should always be on the real and critical issues the Island faces. The work of RIOC and its board, as a public benefit corporation, should be exclusively to improve the quality of life for the stakeholders of this Island—the residents, businesses, and communities we serve. In light of this, I believe that my continued presence on the board is counterproductive to achieving the progress the stakeholders of this Island deserve.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve the people of Roosevelt Island. I remain deeply committed to the community and will continue to support it in any way I can.

Cordially,

Ben Fhala*

Junior (Resident) Board Member

*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC or the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders.

You can see some of the tension between Mr Fhala and RIOC Board Chair designee Megan Anderson representing NY State Department Homes & Community Renewal (DHCR) Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, and fellow RIOC Board members Howard Polivy, Faye Christian and David Kraut during last Thursday's RIOC Board Meeting. Mr Fhala appeared to be trying to make some information public which was objected to by some of the other Board members.

Reliable sources say that a majority of the RIOC Board had the votes to pass a resolution recommending Mr Fhala's removal from the Board.

Mr Fhala's resignation leaves vacant one of the 9 RIOC Board seats vacant. The Board seat will not be filled to at least January 2025 when the NY State Senate is in session and more likely many months later.

Mr Fhala will be thanked by many residents who appreciate the good work he accomplished. 

Stay tune for more on Mr Fhala's resignation from the RIOC Board.

RIOC Governance Committee Meeting Wednesday June 5 After 6 Years Of Inactivity At Urging Of New Roosevelt Island Resident Board Directors - Let's See What Happens

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Governance Committee is meeting tomorrow, Wednesday June 5.

According to RIOC:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Governance Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at The Good Shepherd Community Center, 543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York 10044.

AGENDA:

1. Creating process recommendations for the governance function to: - Keep Board of Directors informed of best governance practices

- Review corporate governance trends

- Recommend updates to corporate governance principles

- Advise on skills and experiences for potential Board members

- Examine ethical and conflict of interest issues

- Conduct Board self-evaluations

- Recommend by-laws which include rules and procedures for conduct of Board operations.

2. Community Concerns

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

During the February 1, 2024 RIOC Board of Directors meeting, RIOC Directors Lydia Tang and Ben Fhala strongly advocated for the appointment of Board members to the Governance Committee, which according to Mr Fhala, has not been active for more than 6 years. Watch the video. There's alot going on.

Apparently, the resistance by some at RIOC or their NY State overseers for the revival of the Governance committee has been overcome by Ms Tang and Mr Fhala.

Let's see what results. 

RIOC Director Plans To Discuss Reset With Local Roosevelt Island Media, Hostile Work Environment Where Staff Afraid To Interact With Board Members And Community And Much More At January 17 Operations Advisory Committee Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Of Directors Operational Advisory Committee (OAC) will meet tomorrow. As reported by the RIOC website meetings page, the OAC has not met since June 17, 2021, more than 2 1/2 years ago.

According to the RIOC OAC meeting agenda for tomorrow:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Operations Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at the RIOC’s Operations Office, 680 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York 10044.

AGENDA:

1. Departmental Updates

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

* * *

The Open Meetings Law of the State of New York requires that all public bodies conduct meetings, convened for the purpose of officially conducting public business, in a manner open to attendance by the general public to observe and listen...

But it could be much more than the items listed in the Agenda.

As reported January 5:

Ben Fhala was among the three local residents, including Lydia Tang and Dr Michal Melamed, appointed to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors last June. During the last 7 months, these three new directors have attempted, with varying degrees of success, to bring some transparency and oversight to RIOC....

Image From November 14, 2023 RIOC Board of Directors Meeting

On January 12, Mr Fhala sent this message to publishers of local Roosevelt Island media, specifically Roosevelt Islander Online and the Roosevelt Island Daily, as well as Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee chair Paul Krikler about the upcoming RIOC OAC meeting.

The Operations Committee is the ideal platform to address the business item we previously discussed. During the last public board meeting, I inquired about the $170k contract with First Page Management, specifically questioning whether its main focus was to hinder or diminish the reach of articles about @Haynes, Shelton J (RIOC) and @Jamal, Akeem (RIOC)  published by Roosevelt Island media outlets, specifically Roosevelt Island Daily and Roosevelt Islander Online. The response, after some back and forth, directed me to the Operations Committee, emphasizing that such questions are better addressed there.

Fortunately, after seven months, we are finally convening an Operations Committee meeting, and it appears the agenda is not densely populated. Despite obstacles from @Haynes, Shelton J (RIOC)/ @Robinson, Gretchen (RIOC) with the active support of @Visnauskas, RuthAnne (HCR), Dr. Melamed has generously allowed me to use her chair for this session to conduct this critical engagement with the public and staff members.

While the specific topics remain uncertain and potential opposition from Shelton Haynes or RuthAnne Visnauskas looms, I am optimistic that your attendance will draw sufficient attention. Positive pressure exerted on our elected officials, who genuinely care about our residents and RIOC's well-being, may prompt them to send representation. Ideally, this could encourage  RuthAnne Visnauskas to officially include this item on the agenda or, if not, make it publicly clear that she does not prioritize RIOC's core goal of serving the community. I have faith that a bit of political pressure can redirect her focus from lawyers and advisors whispering in the silence.

Though it's challenging to set clear agendas, here are a few bullet points for our conversation with the public and staff in the upcoming meeting:

1.  Reset with Media: Explore how we can engage with local media, define terms for both media and RIOC to benefit our communities. If Shelton Haynes refuses engagement, we'll discuss how resident board members can negotiate these terms.
2. Work Environment: Investigate why staff members are apprehensive about interacting with community members, board members, and the media. Brainstorm solutions to reset this potentially hostile work environment.
3. Engagement with Paul representing community board #8: Discuss the structure of long-term engagement with Paul's committee work, debating whether it should involve staff members, board members, or both.
4. First Page Management Contract: If time permits, delve into the details of the contract and it's implementation —its purpose, ethics, potential damage to the relationship with local media—and strategize on taking ownership, preventing such behaviors, or understanding the rationale behind them and support the contract.
5. Communication Practices: Discuss the language and repetition in RIOC announcements, addressing concerns such as why they start with "Shelton presents" and why they lack signatures or clear ownership. Explore how board members can voice objections if/when needed.

These are initial topics, and the discussion may evolve based on emerging questions by the invited guests and public. I am hopeful for an engaging conversation with all invited members, leading to impactful conclusions beneficial for RIOC and the communities we serve.

Looking forward to your participation and the collaborative exchange. As such, I expect this to be added into the agenda and it if does not I will pick up the lead once the scheduled items conclude. adding the agenda again as an attachment.

Thanks,

Ben Fhala*

Resident Board Member

*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC or the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders.

Last December 5, I asked RIOC President Shelton Haynes and the RIOC Board:

RIOC Directors

During the November 14 RIOC Board meeting, Director Ben Fhala asked RIOC CFO Dhruvika Patel Amin if she was aware of the $170 thousand contract with First Page Management LLC doing business as Status Labs.(see video link here)

Ms Amin answered that she was not aware of the contract but she would look into it and get back to Mr Fhala.

Did RIOC Board members received any answer from RIOC's CFO or anyone else to Mr Fhala's question about the First Page Management contract or any further information regarding any practice by RIOC to engage in Search Engine Optimization practices for the purpose of enhancing the Corporation's reputation or any of its employees including RIOC President Shelton Haynes?

During the November 14 RIOC Board meeting, RIOC President Shelton Haynes announced that Assistant VP of Communications Akeem Jamal is no longer working at RIOC. (See video link here) Was Mr Jamal's leaving RIOC after a little more than one year related to this contract?

Also, what is the dollar amount of a contract that does not have to be approved by the RIOC Board of Directors. My understanding is that this contract was not approved by the RIOC Board. Is that correct? If the contract was not approved by the RIOC Board, why not and who approved it?

Here's video of Mr Fhala asking about the First Page Management contract during the November 14, 2023 RIOC Board of Directors meeting.

Maybe we'll get some answers to these questions and more tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE 5 PM: According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp: 

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) Board of Directors received notice of several employee concerns about the RIOC workplace. The Board has determined that it is necessary to conduct a review of these concerns by way of an outside professional. During this review, Shelton Haynes (RIOC CEO) and Gretchen Robinson (RIOC General Counsel) will be placed on administrative paid leave.

During this period of review, the day-to-day operations of RIOC will be overseen by an interim leadership team that includes Dhruvika Patel Amin (RIOC’s Chief Financial Officer & Vice President) and Gerrald Ellis (RIOC’s Assistant Vice President & Deputy General Counsel). In addition, RIOC Board member and Audit Committee Chair, Howard Polivy, will serve as a dedicated Board member liaison and will provide additional support to the interim leadership. No further comments about this matter will be made by the RIOC Board until the review is completed. We thank all of our RIOC staff for your full cooperation and support during this period of time.

Shelton Haynes, Gretchen Robinson (Standing), RIOC Chair Ruthanne Visnauskas at 11/14/23 Board Meeting

NY State Senator Liz Krueger, who represents Roosevelt Island, adds:

I respect the decision of the RIOC Board, which exists to look after the wellbeing of Roosevelt Island. Now, we must await the conclusion of the investigation. The Board has access to information and details to which I am not privy. However, I do know that RIOC is a public benefit corporation, and it is the responsibility of each of its employees, from top to bottom, as public servants, to act in the best interest of the community. I will continue to do all I can to assure RIOC functions as it should, particularly during this challenging time.

RIOC Director's New Year's Resolution To Engage With Local Roosevelt Island Media - First Question On Roosevelt Island Transportation And Resident/Worker Tram Priority Boarding Preference

Ben Fhala was among the three local residents, including Lydia Tang and Dr Michal Melamed, appointed to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors last June. During the last 7 months, these three new directors have attempted, with varying degrees of success, to bring some transparency and oversight to RIOC.

Mr Fhala sent the following message yesterday to local Roosevelt Island media.

Dear Roosevelt Island Media,

I trust you had a wonderful New Year. As part of my New Year's resolution, I am committed to fostering more extensive discussions on operational and governance topics, particularly with you. My intention is to engage in ongoing dialogues until I am satisfied with the performance of the communications team, executive leadership, and board oversight concerning our fiduciary duties to RIOC and responsibilities to the community.

These communications do not represent official RIOC or full board responses; rather, they reflect my role as an appointed resident board member. My communications often receive approval from multiple board members and, over time, hopefully from the administration. It is imperative that these communications are published in their entirety to avoid any misinterpretation due to the sensitive nature of the topics discussed.

Feel free to respond or challenge any of these communications as you deem appropriate. If you agree, I am willing to address a list of your questions in a structured interview. Should these terms be acceptable to you, I am open to sharing my perspectives on oversight, myself, and general topics of interest.

I look forward to your response. Please understand that, given the significance of these matters, it may take a few days for me to reply. If you decide to publish my communications, kindly ensure they are presented in full to maintain context and prevent any misconceptions.

Thanks,

Ben Fhala* Resident Board Member

*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC nor the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders. 

A few hours later I responded to Mr Fhala:

Ben & RIOC Board Members

Ben, thank you for your efforts to communicate with the Roosevelt Island community on important issues of concern.

As you may know, there will be no Roosevelt Island F train shuttle service this weekend. As a result, the Roosevelt Island Tram is expected to be even more overcrowded than usual with very long waiting time for residents and workers trying to get back and forth between the Roosevelt Island and Manhattan 2nd Avenue Tram stations.

What preparations has RIOC made to reduce the transportation problems this weekend caused by the lack of F Train Shuttle service?

Will RIOC give Roosevelt Island residents and workers preference on the line waiting for the Tram this weekend? It could be as easy as allowing anyone with a Metro Card preference on the line since most tourists will use the OMNY payment system?

Will Seniors, Disabled and Parents with strollers be allowed to use the Tram elevator without waiting on the line?

Will there be a Red Bus shuttle to Manhattan?

Also, the RIOC General Counsel issued an opinion several months ago wrongly claiming that it would be illegal to create a separate Tram line for residents/workers who use the Tram for essential transportation and others who use the Tram as a Sightseeing attraction.

Is the RIOC Board aware that on December 7, Governor Hochul announced preferential treatment for residents of Queens and the Bronx who use the Henry Hudson Bridge and Cross Bay Bridge with a Toll rebate program which is not available for those who do not live in Queens or the Bronx. See Governor Hochul's announcement here.

If Queens and Bronx residents can receive preferential treatment for use of these bridges not available to others, will the RIOC Board provide a preference for Roosevelt Island residents using the Roosevelt Island Tram? If not, why?

Please let me know if the RIOC Board or staff have any comment on this matter?

Thank you. 

 Mr Fhala replied:

Thank you for your prompt response.

I am inclined to focus on more enduring questions, steering clear of any interference with the current administration. My hope is that lessons were learned from the past shutdown, and improvements will be evident. I hope that with the track switch the executive team has coordinated with the MTA to confirm the station will remain accessible.

As I understand it, PSD will be on-site managing traffic. I wish to express my confidence in Chief Kevin Brown's ability to assist commuters, especially those of age, disabled, and with young children. To my knowledge, there hasn't been any change in this directive. Despite the known conflicts between certain resident board members and the executive team, I am optimistic that a focus on the best interests of both RIOC and the community will prevail. @Brown, Kevin (RIOC) can you confirm and/or add any additional notes?

In the coming week, I plan to brainstorm with fellow resident board members articulate more comprehensive answers and thoughts in regards to your non-weekend specific questions.

A final note to our fellow residents: ther is no doubt that this weekend will be challenging one; If possible, consider avoiding the tram this weekend to alleviate stress on the RIOC operated systems. Instead, explore the alternative options of utilizing the ferry and the Q102.

@Daniels, Bryant (RIOC), is there anything additional you would like to contribute beyond the advisory sent out?

Thanks,

Ben Fhala*

Resident Board Member

*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC nor the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders.

 RIOC Director Fay Christian replied today:

As stated in the RIOC announcement, this weekend, the MTA will provide bus transportation to subway lines in queens. The bridge situation in queens and Bronx was overseen by Governor Hochul.

I replied to Ms Christian:

Thank you for the response.

Could you clarify what you mean by: "The bridge situation in queens and Bronx was overseen by Governor Hochul."

RIOC"S reasoning is that it would be illegal for a preferential resident/worker line at the Roosevelt Island Tram.

Why does RIOC deem it illegal for resident/worker preferences on the Roosevelt Island Tram when it is legal for preferential resident rebates to be given to Bronx and Queens residents using the Bridges?

Is it within the power of the RIOC Board to set a policy of resident/worker preference on the Tram?

If not, why?

Thanks again.

Ms Christian answered:

Below is the quote taken from your email. I merely restated your comments. 

"Is the RIOC Board aware that on December 7, Governor Hochul announced preferential treatment for residents of Queens and the Bronx who use the Henry Hudson Bridge and Cross Bay Bridge with a Toll rebate program which is not available for those who do not live in Queens or the Bronx. See Governor Hochul's announcement here."

The answer to your questions can all be solved in your quote.

Mr Fhala, together with RIOC, the Executive Chamber of Governor Hochul's Office as well as other NY State Officials

Image From November 14, 2023 RIOC Board Of Directors Meeting

are currently being sued by RIOC President Shelton Haynes and General Counsel Gretchen Robinson. 

According to the lawsuit:

This is a case about how the Executive Chamber for the Office of the Governor of New York (the “Chamber”) and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (“RIOC”) have unfairly subjected Shelton J. Haynes and Gretchen K. Robinson (“Robinson,” and together with Haynes, the “Plaintiffs”), two African American executives, to continuous and pervasive discrimination by, including but not limited to, subjecting Haynes and Robinson to frequent unwarranted investigations by the New York State Inspector General (“NYSIG”) as well as ordering an independent investigation by an outside counsel—something not done for other, more serious allegations—based entirely on specious allegations of wrongdoing. The Chamber did so while simultaneously thwarting Haynes’s and Robinson’s efforts to fight back against the discrimination and defend themselves and RIOC against a multitude of defamatory statements made by a local blogger and a group of disgruntled former employees. After a seven-month investigation by an outside counsel—an investigation that was wholly out of step with prior practice of the RIOC Board of Directors (the “RIOC Board”) and referred to by one RIOC Board Member as a “f****** racist witch hunt”—State officials close to the Governor, led by Defendants Alejandro Valella (“Valella,” who provided updates to the Chamber on the investigation) and Diana Lopez (“Lopez”) intentionally delayed outside counsel’s publication of a report that exonerated Plaintiffs of wrongdoing, and instructed outside counsel to sanitize the first draft of the report to remove and cover up the findings that confirmed and supported Plaintiffs’ ongoing complaints of experiencing racial discrimination while working at RIOC. Other Chamber officials, including Defendants Roger Maldonado (“Maldonado”), Tania Dissanayake (“Dissanayake”), RuthAnne Visnauskas (“Visnauskas”), and Lopez, who were aware of the discrimination findings in the report, have discriminated and retaliated against Plaintiffs by, among other means: (1) installing RIOC Board Members (Ben Fhala (“Fhala”) and Lydia Tang (“Tang”)) —who, from the beginning of their board tenures, have been antagonistic to Plaintiffs—without consulting Plaintiffs (a departure from prior practice); and (2) preventing existing RIOC Board Members—who are supportive of Haynes and Robinson—from filling committee vacancies. Moreover, since Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit, Defendants have continued—and even escalated— their unwarranted targeting of Plaintiffs by initiating yet another frivolous investigation into them, interfering with their ability to do their jobs, and criticizing them to the media. Through their actions, Defendants have also subjected Plaintiffs to a hostile work environment. In doing so, they have made their message to Plaintiffs clear: GET OUT....

Mr Fhala's New Year's resolution is a good start.

RIOC PSD Tries To Shut Down "We Need A Functioning & Competent RIOC" Petition Signature Collection Drive At Last Saturday's Roosevelt Island Farmers Market In Good Shepherd Plaza - PSD Says Entire Area Is Permittted Only For Use Of Farmers Market

During the November 18 Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market at Good Shepherd Plaza, local resident Paul Krikler was among a group of three or four residents speaking  to other residents passing by

and collecting signatures for a "We Need A functioning and Competent RIOC" petition to directly elect Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors. 

At about 1 PM, a Roosevelt Island Public Safety Officer instructed the petition gatherers not to approach anyone to collect signatures in the area of the Farmers Market because the PS/IS 217 PTA had a permit for that area and it was only for the use of the Farmers Market

According to the PSD Officers at the scene, someone raised an objection to the residents gathering petition signatures in Good Shepherd Plaza during the Farmers Market. The PSD officer refused to say who raised the objection.

The Co-President of the PTA was at the Farmers Market at the time. She said she did not raise any objection to the petition gatherers and was trying to find out what was going on.

Initially, the PSD officers told the petition seekers they would have to leave the Good Shepherd Plaza area to collect signatures and suggested going across the street or any area other than the Plaza. 

After a discussion, it appeared that PSD agreed the residents could collect signatures outside the Plaza area on the sidewalk. 

Here's what happened.

 

Asked to comment, Mr Krikler said:

I have total sympathy with the idea that we should not be in the actual market area. People here feel very strongly about this and are keen to engage when they stop. I can see how that would be disruptive to the Farmers Market.

Do not know if the PTA objected or not.

If you wish, clich here to sign the petition. So far, 438 signatures have been collected.

Update On RIOC President And General Counsel Workplace Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against NY State Governor's Executive Chambers And DHCR Staff - More Filings From Lawyers And RIOC Director Provides Added Insight Into What Is Going On - Roosevelt Island Residents Petition Demanding Functioning And Competent RIOC

An update on the September 12 racial discrimination lawsuit filed in the Southern District Of New York by Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Shelton Haynes and General Counsel Gretchen Robinson against members of NY State Governor Kathy Hochul's executive chamber staff and NY State Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR) Commissioner Ruthanne Visnauskas and staff member Alejandro Valella.

The DHCR Commissioner or a designee serves as RIOC Board of Directors Chair.

Ms Visnauskas made a rare public Roosevelt Island appearance at the November 14 RIOC Board Of Directors meeting sitting and chatting frequently with Mr Haynes and Ms Robinson

and she was joined by Mr Vallela.

Whatever matters discussed were done in whispers so the subject of conversation between the Plaintiffs and Defendants in the lawsuit is not known although from all appearances it was very amicable.

As reported November 15:

During the November 14 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Meeting Public Session, Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy spoke for many residents frustrated and angry with the ongoing dysfunction of RIOC...

Following Ms Berdy, I asked:

How can the Roosevelt Island community be assured that RIOC will operate efficiently and competently when it's President and General Counsel are suing the Governor's staff? 

 

There was no answer.

Roosevelt Island resident Roberta Kleiman has previously asked:

Please let's fix this broken system!

Dear RIOC Board,

How can we fix this????...

On November 16, Ms Kleiman wrote to the RIOC Directors and Mr Haynes asking:

Dear RIOC Board and Mr Haynes,

First I wish to thank all the residents and select board members who spoke at the board meeting this past Tuesday and helped fight for an effective, and elected RIOC Board of Directors. 

Unfortunately I was unable to attend but my main question is How can RIOC fairly and effectively govern Roosevelt Island when it’s 2 senior most executives are basically suing US!  We, Roosevelt Islanders, ARE the state!

Again, I wish to thank those who spoke on behalf of the community for their efforts to bring democracy to Roosevelt Island.

Thank you!

RIOC Board Director Ben Fhala (Seen at far right of image taken from November 14 RIOC Board Meeting video screenshot)

replied to Ms Kleiman today:

Dear Roberta,

I appreciate your ongoing contributions to the dialogue and engagement with this board.

As a Jewish Middle Eastern man with roots in Libya, I've drawn inspiration from the wise teachings of our spiritual leaders. These figures instilled in me a deep understanding that all humans are created in the image of God, and there's always something to learn from each person. Even when faced with adversity or actions I perceive as immoral, unethical, or lacking fiduciary care for RIOC's long-term needs, I strive to embody these teachings.

The most significant conversation I've had with Shelton Haynes and Gretchen Robinson occurred on July 19th. In that meeting, I witnessed a man in genuine distress, making serious claims of racial attacks against him and his staff. While he vaguely referenced members of his oversight, he specifically named multiple individuals in our community and asserted that he had been actively blocked by Chambers and HRC from addressing these attacks on his reputation and character, preventing him from sharing his experience freely. In my understanding, he believed these actions were racially motivated.

During this meeting, I asked Shelton if he could substantiate his claims and if he would be willing to present them to the board members. He agreed, indicating he would do so in the upcoming board meeting. However, during the same meeting, RIOC's General Counsel, Gretchen Robinson, acted more as Shelton's personal lawyer, frequently interjecting into my questions and statements and making me feel like a hostile witness.

At one point, the General Counsel warned me that continued public and RIOC engagement could lead to legal action against me. Despite this, I understood the invalidity of her claims and reported them to new board members Dr. Melamed and Professor Tang. We collectively sought an emergency meeting in August, but the chair, aligned with the General Counsel, denied our agenda items and arranged an executive session to train new board members, a session I deemed illegal under New York laws.

Despite raising concerns about inappropriate topics in the "welcome" meeting and subsequent executive session, in my only meeting with Shelton Haynes, I observed a distressed man in real pain. I genuinely want to hear his perspective and understand if his oversight has been acting in a way that is inappropriate, enabling others to damage his reputation and character.

While the new board members are uncomfortable with many issues presented to us over the last few months, we don't know enough about the claims between the defendants, and our focus is on being true oversight to RIOC and creating an access point and voice for our community.

Bringing me full circle, having a claim against your oversight doesn't translate into an inability to govern fairly and effectively. I remain hopeful that Shelton Haynes and Gretchen Robinson will enable the new board members to exercise genuine oversight going forward, despite actively denying us this opportunity over the last few months.

Please note that I've included Gretchen Robinson, our legal staff, the newly positioned Chair designate, and BCCed Dr. Melamed, who hasn't received access to her government email due to administrative delays at RIOC.

Thanks,

Ben Fhala* Resident Board Member

*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC or the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders.

Back to the Haynes/Robinson lawsuit.

As reported October 2, according to the Haynes/Robinson lawsuit: filed last September 12

This is a case about how the Executive Chamber for the Office of the Governor of New York (the “Chamber”) and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (“RIOC”) have unfairly subjected Shelton J. Haynes and Gretchen K. Robinson (“Robinson,” and together with Haynes, the “Plaintiffs”), two African American executives, to continuous and pervasive discrimination by, including but not limited to, subjecting Haynes and Robinson to frequent unwarranted investigations by the New York State Inspector General (“NYSIG”) as well as ordering an independent investigation by an outside counsel – something not done for other, more serious allegations – based entirely on specious allegations of wrongdoing. The Chamber did so while simultaneously thwarting Haynes’s and Robinson’s efforts to fight back against the discrimination and defend themselves and RIOC against a multitude of defamatory statements made by a local blogger and a group of disgruntled former employees....

 And reported September 16, 2023:

... Though not named as defendants in the lawsuit, Mr Haynes and Ms Robinson claim in their lawsuit that NY State Senator Liz Krueger, NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and Roosevelt Island Daily publisher David Stone contributed to a "racist backlash" against them.

The lawsuit also claims that Mr Haynes and Ms Robinson were excluded from the appointment process of 3 new RIOC Board Members in an attempt to undermine their authority and "ability to discharge their job functions." Haynes and Robinson claim the 3 new RIOC board members are antagonistic to them.

Read the full lawsuit complaint....

Mr Fhala, Dr Melamed and Professor Tang are the 3 new RIOC Board members alleged by Mr Haynes and Ms Robinson to be antagonistic to them.

On November 7, the attorneys for Mr Haynes and Ms Robertson wrote to the Southern District NY Court Judge hearing their case:

...I write on behalf of Plaintiffs Shelton J. Haynes and Gretchen K. Robinson (“Plaintiffs”) to respectfully request that this Court stay proceedings pending the issuance of a Notice of Right to Sue Letter (“the Notice Letter”) by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). Defendants do not consent to this request....

Attorneys for the defendants opposed the requested stay and replied on November 13:

... To the extent Plaintiffs’ legal strategy has always been to name the Chamber and RIOC alongside the individual Defendants, they prematurely filed this action before exhausting the administrative remedies as to those potential parties. Now Plaintiffs ask this Court to stay their own case indefinitely—a decision that would delay the individual Defendants’ right to respond to serious, although meritless, allegations—as they wait for an EEOC determination.

... More significantly, Defendants have been publicly accused of racial discrimination and retaliation and will suffer prejudice if they are prevented from promptly defending themselves. Defendants are government employees who are the subjects of serious allegations of wrongdoing. The lawsuit appears intended to inhibit Defendants’ ability to execute the duties of their offices, which has posed operational challenges for RIOC. Justice demands a prompt resolution of this case....

On November 16, the Haynes/Robinson attorneys responded:

... At this stage, all that Plaintiffs need to allege are “minimal” facts “suggesting an inference” of such animus. Id. Plaintiffs’ allegations easily meet that threshold. Notably, after its internal investigation, the law firm RIOC hired drafted a report confirming Plaintiffs’ claims of racial discrimination, and Defendants instructed the law firm to remove and sanitize those findings. Compl. ¶ 85. The only plausible explanation for Defendants’ instruction, particularly in light of the favorable inferences afforded to Plaintiffs on a motion to dismiss, is that Defendants sought to cover up the ongoing racial discrimination Plaintiffs faced. This fact alone is fatal to Defendants’ argument.

Plaintiffs’ allegations comparing the adverse conduct against them to the lack of adverse conduct against their white predecessors also raise an inference of racial animus. Plaintiffs allege, for example, that Defendants excluded them from the selection of new Board members, id. ¶¶ 1- 2, 92, and allowed them to be subjected to unwarranted investigations, id. ¶ 46, but treated their white predecessors differently—supporting an inference of racial animus. That racial animus is further demonstrated by Defendants (1) removing an African American Board member with an expiring term while permitting two white Board members to remain despite their expired terms, id. ¶ 103, and (2) preventing African American Board members from serving on their requested committees while appointing a white Board member to his requested committee, id. ¶¶ 103, 107.

Indeed, Plaintiffs’ comparators engaged in more severe misconduct (e.g., using racist and sexually inappropriate language, id. ¶ 7, and drinking alcohol and golfing on the job, id. ¶ 70)— which ultimately cost them their jobs—than that alleged against Plaintiffs, yet they were never investigated by an outside law firm. This raises an inference of racial animus sufficient to defeat a motion to dismiss.... 

Here are the letters from the attorneys for the plantiffs and defendants excerpted above.

Heres the Haynes/Robinson lawsuit complaint.

While this mess all plays out in Albany and the court:

NEW: absolutely wild stuff is happening on Roosevelt
Island. The CEO of the island’s governing body is suing his own bosses—Gov. Kathy Hochul’s admin—alleging they stopped him from going after the ex-employee whistleblowers who accused him of corruption:https://t.co/pc6egb0oTu

— Nick Garber (@nick_garber) September 21, 2023

Roosevelt Island residents have organized a petition drive 

demanding: 

A FUNCTIONING AND COMPETENT RIOC

You can sign the Petition here, if you agree or at the very least, demand attention be paid to Roosevelt Island residents, workers and all who care about the community.

NY Post Reports On Wild, Swinging Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin, Overcrowding And Long Lines, Does RIOC Keep Metrics On These Incidents? Line Monitors And Dynamic Pricing Suggested As Possible Ideas To Consider

My Main Way Of Getting To Work Is Now A Terrifying Nightmarehttps://t.co/gkQpml7RmK

— Chris Klemmer (@ChrisKlemmer) November 9, 2023

Reported repeatedly over the last couple of months: 

Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin Swinging Wildly While Suspended In Air Again Today, "Everyone Super Scared" Reports Resident - NYC Council Member Julie Menin Asks RIOC President To Review Incidents, RIOC President Replies "No Imminent Threat To The Health And Safety Of Our Passengers"

Last evening at about 6:30 PM, the Roosevelt Island Tram again began rocking and rolling on it's way back from Manhattan as it was nearing the Roosevelt Island station.

According to an observer:

I'm seeing another swinger.

Another person noted:

This can traumatize people. If this happened to me, I would get really bad anxiety.

The NY Post picked up the story yesterday about the swinging Roosevelt Island Tram, overcrowded cabins and long lines.

Roosevelt Island tram has wild swinging moments: ‘Very scary’ https://t.co/GKMaw6V8Hp pic.twitter.com/Qet9JKrqlh

— New York Post (@nypost) November 9, 2023

According to the NY Post article:

... Residents of enclave are getting fed up.

“Transit as a whole is a huge issue on the island right now and the swaying is a huge part of it,” Community Board 8 member Paul Krikler told The Post....

As reported October 25, responding to NYC Council Member Julie Menin's letter inquiring about the swinging tram cabins, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Shelton Haynes answered:

... The POMA Management team stated, “This tram undergoes very frequent inspections by the state to ensure code compliance, as well as many third-party inspections to ensure the highest of passenger safety. The Roosevelt Island Tramway has an excellent track record with most months reporting a 100% availability record, with overall availability at over 99.93% since the 2010 replacement. No injuries have been reported as a result of a tram malfunction to date. We take pride in this amazing machine and can assure you that the tram responded appropriately.”

Additionally, POMA informed RIOC that the issues you mentioned relate to a communications system message that can appear randomly and requires an employee to confirm the message. When this message appears and awaits acknowledgment from an employee, the Tram will stop, causing it to sway if it is already in operation.

They have emphasized that there is no imminent threat to the health and safety of our passengers. We are actively working with POMA, to address the communication systems messaging issue. Once it is resolved, we will send out an update to the public.

We would like to reemphasize that the Roosevelt Island Tram is a safe and functional mode of transportation...

On October 26, I asked Mr Haynes:

... It appears that the Tram stopping and swinging in mid air is happening much more than in the past.

Why is that?

Does RIOC keep metrics on how often this happens and has there been a recent increase in occurrences?

If you do have metrics, please send them over so I can include them in the story.

If you don't keep metrics, why not?...

No response from Mr Haynes.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy shares this message sent to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Shelton Haynes and RIOC Board Directors following the October 19 Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island committee meeting discussion of transportation issues.

After listening to our neighbors discuss the tram crowding tonight, here are my thoughts:

Line monitors are a great idea. We use it at elections where they keep order in the line and let seniors/disabled go ahead. Someone in a bright vest can be an obvious choice. It can be a diplomatic, pleasant, patient person who can gently keep order.

Poma staff are better at customer service and putting up signs is only part of their job. Give them funding to have more staff on hand to deal with the turnstiles. It is exhausting to spend a shift dealing with unruly crowds. Let's keep order on-line, before the turnstiles, and a limit on 100 persons on the platform.

PSD can be at the base of the staircase to prevent staircase lines.

The tram is being denied staffing, security and customer service. RIOC should let the tram staff manage the platform and fund extra staffing.

We need large obvious signs that seats are for senior disabled only. Signs above seats on cabins and above bench on Manhattan platform.

We love our visitors most of whom tell us how great the island is. Take a look at any of the attractions below and we know that there is organization at these attractions.

Remember, many of them stand on long organized lines for the following.

FOR COMPARISON, PRICES FOR A VIEW:

ONE VANDERBILT $42

EMPIRE STATE 44

EDGE

36 TOP OF THE ROCK 34

AND WE ONLY CHARGE $2.90!!!!!

Let's get our act together and get a calm organized tram ride.

I asked Ms Berdy, Mr Haynes and the RIOC Board Directors:

Perhaps Rioc/Poma can formulate a dynamic price charging system for those using the Tram as a tourist/amusement attraction with prices closer to the Empire State Building and the other attractions ($34-42) while keeping the MTA’s $2.90 commuter fare for those using the Tram for transportation purposes. At least study the concept to see if it is possible to implement?

RIOC Board Director Ben Fhala replied:

You both have fantastic ideas. I find it odd to stuff 100+ people on a car, and it's questionable whether tourists would enjoy that experience.

From my brief introduction to RIOC, government processes move slowly, and RIOC can be even slower, especially when they disagree with board members and actively obstruct them. However, I lack the complete legal perspective, and I believe this should be discussed in a committee as an open conversation involving the public and our legal team.

With an advertising background, I understand that to promote a product like the Tram effectively, we need to define its main mission and target users, potentially tailoring packages for different user groups (while complying to all contracts and laws). I value tourists and believe the island can benefit more from their visits.

I've been advocating for a public/private venture where the tram ride becomes part of a package tour in collaboration with non-profits such as the historical society and local businesses. The details are complex due to legal requirements and as such I've waited for a more engaged executive/board and after the subway work completes as this seems like a possible longer-term solution.

I appreciate your innovative ideas, such as offering dedicated sightseeing rides with limited capacity, premium pricing, and local adventure elements. However, until committee work resumes and there's more engagement with the executive staff and board leadership, it's challenging to make progress or provide further feedback.

I genuinely appreciate your thoughtful and innovative ideas and hope we can have an honest conversation about them with the team in the near future.

PS I've added our legal team for their awareness, as this isn't an item the communications department can address without their guidance.

Thanks,

Ben Fhala*

Resident Board Member

*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC or the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders.

A Roosevelt Island resident who prefers to not be named shares these thought on the Tram:

A thought from a 40-year resident, former Tram champion / advocate, who is presently not just afraid to take the Tram for cable/tower safety reasons which RIOC seems unconcerned about — but also afraid, for a year now, of the ridiculous overcrowding of cabins to accommodate tourists & visitors and the total disrespect for the RI resident & employee community for who the Tram is still their Public Transit & not an amusement park ride...

... Will it take another emergency stop w severe swinging where someone falls & ends up with a head injury — or worse, though it’s hard to imagine something worse — in mid-air.

At what point are RIOC & POMA liable for negligence?

UPDATE 7:00 PM: Roosevelt Island humorist Weird Roosevelt Island adds:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Weird R.I. (@weirdrooseveltisland)

Roosevelt Island Resident Says It's "Insane" RIOC Board Members "Not Privy To Operational Matters", Asks How Can We Fix "Beyond Broken" RIOC? - Petition Drive By Residents Demands A Functioning & Competent RIOC

On November 2, recently appointed Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Director Ben Fhala responded to this email message from a concerned Roosevelt Island resident requesting:

Please can you let RIOC know that it is a ridiculous plan to take one tram out of service THIS Fri/Sat on a weekend when NYC will see a huge increase of tourists ( and likely Tram use) because of the NYC Marathon as well as use by guests from a fully booked Graduate Hotel.

The lack of oversight and foresight is absolutely absurd. Why are we paying senior staff at RIOC so much when they don't even have the intelligence to look at a calendar. 

Mr Fhala replied:

Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, I cannot comment on operational matters as most board members, including myself, are not regularly updated on daily operational affairs. My main source of information is the RIOC Advisories, and that is the extent of our access to such matters.

I don't have information about the urgency, complexities, vendor coordination, expected time frame, or whether the work will conclude before the afternoon rush hour.

The chair has forwarded your feedback to Shelton, Our CEO, who has acknowledged receipt. We hope he will either forward it to the relevant department or provide you with more context.

We appreciate your engagement with the board and look forward to hearing from you in our next Board meeting scheduled for November 14th.

P.S. I usually wait a few days before responding to allow time for others to contribute. As a new resident board member, I've made it my mission to ensure that all emails sent to the board receive a response, even if it's just an acknowledgment when we lack additional information to share.

Another Roosevelt Island resident, Roberta Kleiman shares this message she sent to the RIOC Board of Directors on November 3 after reading Mr Fahla's response:

Please let's fix this broken system!

Dear RIOC Board,

How can we fix this????

I feel compelled to comment that Ben Fhala's statement:

"….Unfortunately, I cannot comment on operational matters as most board members, including myself, are not regularly updated on daily operational affairs. My main source of information is the RIOC Advisories, and that is the extent of our access to such matters.” 

is extremely disturbing to read. I don’t mean Mr. Fhala per se. He seems like a responsible Board member, and I appreciate his forthrightness. It’s just unfathomable to me that the Board who is supposed to oversea our governance, is not privy to operational matters. That’s INSANE! Sadly, it’s consistent with what you reported on recently regarding communication between the board and RIOC staff, something along the lines of RIOC employees not being allowed to talk to RIOC board members and vice versa. (I hope I have that straight). This system is beyond broken.

The RIOC Board needs to obtain the tools necessary to effectively and fairly govern our Island. Isn’t that supposed to be RIOC’s and the Board's purpose?

Please let’s fix this!

I will do my part to help. Just say the word!

Best Regards,

 Mr. Fhala replied to Ms Kleinman:

I concur with your assessment that "This system is beyond broken."

We are committed to shedding light on the situation, recognizing that the issues extend beyond the current executive team. Unfortunately, the lack of governance and oversight permeates the organization from top to bottom and has been enabled by the designated RIOC board chair from NY State Homes & Community Renewal (HCR). Historically, board members had unrestricted access to RIOC staff and executives, and while some existing members still do, the notion of blocking oversight board members from engaging with executives and staff is a recent development under the leadership of Shelton Haynes. According to whistleblowers, he has directed his staff to respond only when he approves communications. In fact, the staff received an email from RIOC's Chief of Staff instructing them to direct all interaction with board members to Shelton Haynes and Gretchen Robinson in late August. The new resident board members have raised this issue with the board chair designee, who has chosen to ignore it. The chair designee informed us multiple times that we should not involve ourselves in "operational matters." Unfortunately, given the pending lawsuit filed by Shelton Haynes and Gretchen Robinson against RIOC oversight members, it appears they have adopted a legalistic and secretive approach, leaving new resident board members without guidance or direction.

Nonetheless, we remain optimistic that shedding light on these matters will eventually lead to positive change. In the meantime, our commitment to transparency and genuine oversight drives us to bring these issues to the forefront. Currently our attention is on macro matters of gaining access and figuring out who has accountability to oversight if we can't gain access to staff, contracts or operational matters.

Thanks,

Ben Fhala*

Resident Board Member

*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC or the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders.

Ms Kleiman followed up responding to Mr Fhala:

Thank you for taking the time out of your weekend to give such an informative, thoughtful, and dare I say, courageous response to my email!

I appreciate the work you and your fellow new resident board members are doing to create a board that can lead. I wholeheartedly agree with you; shedding light on the situation is a necessary and powerful first step. I too hope this will be the catalyst for change. However, I fear that “light” alone will not fix a deeply broken system. Especially given the information you provided regarding the push back from other RIOC directors and the designated board chair from HCR. It surely is a complicated situation, and I am not close enough to have an inkling of what to do. But surely ACTION is needed. Perhaps getting our politicians involved is the answer, or maybe members of our various community groups? Or something else?

Rick, from the Roosevelt Islander has been a consistent, major force in getting information to the community. But again, that alone doesn’t seem to be the answer while we are in crisis mode. I feel like we are being held hostage by Shelton Hayes, Gretchen Robinson, and their lawsuit.

I wish I could offer something in terms of ACTION and a solution, but as I said before, I will surely do my part (letters, petitions, etc.). Just say the word!

Thank you again!

PS. Since we both feel strongly about the need for transparency, I assume not included the Roosevelt Islander in your cc was an oversight

Mr Fhala replied:

When communicating with members of our community, I make a point not to add individuals to the cc list out of respect for their privacy, in this case yours.

On my part, I neither expect nor seek privacy. All of my communications are, and should be, public records. My purpose is to serve the public and safeguard RIOC's long-term interests. As long as the executive team and those working behind the scenes maintain my position, I am dedicated to fulfilling these responsibilities.

That said, I respect your judgment in deciding with whom you choose to share my public record communications and whom you wish to include in the cc list.

Regarding the impact of light, The Lubavitche Rebbie once said that the smallest of candles can illuminate an entire room. I tend to agree. Whether it brings about change, I cannot say for certain, but from my small and seemingly unimportant role, I will keep a candle nearby so I can see.

Thanks,

Ben Fhala*

Resident Board Member

*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC or the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders.

Among action items for Roosevelt Island residents to fix RIOC mentioned by Ms Kleiman was a Petition drive. 

It so happens that Roosevelt Island resident Paul Krikler, who has successfully organized previous Roosevelt Island petition drives to fix the Roosevelt Island Bridge bike lane and  bring OMNY to the Roosevelt Island Tram, has organized a new petition drive demanding:

We Need a Functioning & Competent RIOC

Mr Krikler adds:

I see the benefit of direct voting for RIOC Directors as not only providing much needed oversight but also opening the door for the many, many people here who have great ideas about how this community can be better served.

If you agree Roosevelt Island needs a functioning and competent RIOC, sign the petition here.