Last evening's Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council meeting was revealing of the long standing problems associated with the community organization.
For the third month in a row, the RIRA meeting lacked a quorum of members - only about 7 members showed up.
RIRA Common Council Alternate Frank Farance addressed those members present during the Public Session noting that there are problems with the organization that need to be addressed. He said December's meeting is the sixth this year without a quorum of Common Council Members present and added:
... we have to operate better....
RIRA President Lynn Strong-Shinozaki took strong exception to Mr. Farance's remarks blaming his behavior for the organization's loss of members and creating, what she describes as, a toxic atmosphere. Mr. Farance objected to Ms. Shinozaki's characterization and recited long standing complaints by him and others over lack of transparency, mismanagement of Cherry Blossom Festival and failure to properly inform RIRA members about recent financial mismanagement allegations
Following the contentious back and forth, Mr Farance left and Ms Shinozaki continued speaking with the remaining RIRA members, though this was not a formal meeting due to the lack of a quorum. Ms Shinozaki presented her President's report and various other issues including affordable housing and meeting with Roosevelt Landings new ownership/management.
RIRA is in real trouble and its a shame because despite much dysfunction, at times they do some worthwhile and important activities and representation for the Roosevelt Island community.
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting tomorrow evening, December 5 at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
Image Of November 2018 RIRA Common Council Meeting
The RIRA Common Council meets the first Wednesday of the month (except when not in session for July & August).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern. All members of the Roosevelt Island community are invited to attend.
Last month's November RIRA meeting was the final session for the 2016-18 Common Council and first session for the 2018-20 Common Council. Meet the new RIRA Common Council
Below is the Draft Agenda for December 5 RIRA meeting.
Preamble
We the residents of Roosevelt Island, come from diverse backgrounds and have diverse interests and circumstances. We all want to live together in harmony based on mutual respect and the voluntary sharing of certain responsibilities for our common good. We form this community association to enable us to define, maintain and promote our common objectives in a democratic manner.
Purpose
To represent the interests of its members to all governmental, quasi-governmental and private institutions that develop policy affecting Roosevelt Island and its residents: that supervise or manage our housing and that supervise or manage other Island operations;
To ensure that the health, safety and welfare of its members and the QUALITY of life in our community are maintained and improved.
Date: Wednesday, December 5th, 2018
Time & Place: 8:00pm, Good Shepherd 543 Main St Roosevelt Island (lower level)
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
2. Roll Call of Common Council Members
3. Adoption of Agenda
4. President’s Call for Treasure
5. President’s Report
6. Old Business
a. Approval of November 7th Report Common Council 2016-2018
b. Approval of November 7th Report Common Council 2018-2020
c. Treasure Pro Tempore November Report
d. Nominations Committee Report
e. Island Services Committee Report
f. Youth and Education Committee Report
a. Adoption of Consent Agenda
• Organization Expenses for 2018-2020
1. Mail Box expense
2. Paypal Fees
3. Meeting Agenda Packets
4. Tax Filing Costs
5. DOE Permit for Voting space at PS/IS 217 2020
7. President’s Call for Standing Committee Chairs
a. Communications Committee
b. Governmental Relations Committee
c. Housing Committee
d. Island Services Committee
e. Legal Action Committee
f. Planning Committee
g. Public Safety Committee
h. Social, Cultural and Educational Services Committee
8. New Business
At last month's November RIRA meeting, Frank Farance and the 2016-2018 Common Council thanked former President Jeff Escobar for his 5 years of service to the Roosevelt Island community. At the suggestion of his daughter, Mr Escobar ended his term with a mic drop saying:
Escobar out.
and thanked the 2016-18 Common Council members for their service.
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, November 7 at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
Below is the Agenda for tonight.
Tonight will be the final meeting of the 2016-2018 RIRA Common Council.
It will also be the first meeting of the new 2018-2020 RIRA Common Council following the election last night.
Last year, 2500 tickets were available for viewing the July 4 Fireworks at FDR 4 Freedoms and Southpoint Park. Advanced online registration was available for Roosevelt Island residents. But many residents were upset that tickets were sold out within a few minutes of becoming available or that they did not know about the advanced online ticket registration. Also, remaining unexplained by RIOC was why were there standby tickets available on July 4 when the advanced tickets were reportedly sold out.
Will RIOC's July 4 ticketing process work better this year than in the past?
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council discussed the July 4 Fireworks distribution system during their June 6 meeting urging RIOC to make known to residents as early as possible the process to get tickets.
Here's the RIRA discussion.
Today, I asked RIOC Public Information Officer Alonza Robertson about the July 4 ticket distribution:
How and when will tickets be distributed. Will RI residents again be given early preference for obtaining tickets?
Mr. Robertson replied:
The plan for the fireworks, tickets for the viewing area etc., will be available online. It is going to be released next week, once we get through RI Day.
said about the Roosevelt Island July 4 Fireworks celebration:
.... It's pretty clear that the Cornell Campus will remain open. Of course it's always subject to change if all of a sudden we have too many people and there is a public safety risk but the plan is to keep it open and most likely ticketing for Southpoint Park and 4 Freedoms Park as it has been in the past.
This is all in the planning stage and when we have something more definitive, I will share it with you.
The Roosevelt Island Parents Network Coordinator shared this message last year regarding difficulties some residents had in obtaining July 4 Fireworks tickets:
Dear Community,
Last Thursday I emailed president of RIOC Ms. Susan Rosenthal the responses I collected about families' frustration and requests about fireworks viewing, and on Friday I got to speak with her over the phone.
She explained that they had to set up such procedure and number limit because Four Freedom Park is a state park, and they even tried to remove some waterside structures to maximize the number of people allowed in the park. She is sympathetic that not all who wished to go could, however they have to ensure the safety of all those who did get tickets, e.g. if any emergency happens, emergency vehicles should be able to move around easily, and/or people should be able to evacuate quickly enough.
As to the online ticket claiming, they had an outside contributor to manage the process and she thinks that it is likely that a lot of people were getting it all at the same time in the first few minutes.
I also asked about how many standby tickets are, and whether they can have a separate area for family with small children, and she replied that the number will depend on the number of ticketed folks who actually come to the event. Also because of that it's not easy to set up separate spots for standby tickets. (We can however still submit it for their consideration for future events.)
She also invites all residents to continue submitting requests and suggestions and they will do their best to accommodate next year and beyond....
Hope those Roosevelt Island residents who want July 4 Celebration Tickets are able to get them.
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, June 6 at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
According to the RIRA Agenda:
If at all possible, please arrive 15 mins early to help set up tables and chairs
Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
2. Petition to Reseat, Westview Representative David Lawson
3. Roll Call of Common Council Members
4. Adoption of Agenda
5. Approval of Common Council Minutes
a. May 2, 2018 Common Council Meeting
6. President's Calls
a. Treasurer
b. Co-Chair Planning Committee (as called by Chair of Planning Committee, Mickey Rindler)
7. Committee Reports & Business
a. Communications Committee Meeting Minutes i. RIRA Community Calendar Update
b. Planning Committee Meeting Minutes
c. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes
8. Old Business
a. Southtown Delegation Report re May 23, 2018 Meeting with Susan Rosenthal, Races on Roosevelt Island
i. Resolution in Support of Southtown Delegation Efforts to Reduce Impact of Weekend Morning Races. (Movant: Mickey Rindler, on behalf of Southtown Delegation)
b. Update re Discussion: "Should the Roosevelt Island Residents Association's Common Council Objectives Change in the Face of a Changing Roosevelt Island Community?" (Speaker: Dave Evans, Southtown)
9. New Business
a. Discussion: "RIOC July 4th Celebration and Procedures for Roosevelt Island Resident Attendance" (Speaker: Chris Gassman, Manhattan Park)
b. Discussion: RIOC Disconnection of Fresh Water Source for Cat Sanctuary at South Point Park (Speaker: Rosanna Ceruzzi)
c. Discussion: RIOC Adoption of Cornell study re Sportspark
Roosevelt Island Station, P.O. Box 341, New York, New York 10044
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, February 7 at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
According to the RIRA Agenda:
If at all possible, please arrive 15 mins early to help set up tables and chairs
Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
2. Call to Seat Jim Livornese, as a representative for Southtown Delegation.
3. Call to Seat Chrispophe Abril, as a representative for Octagon Delegation.
4. Roll Call of Common Council Members
5. Adoption of Agenda
6. President's Call to Fill Vacant Committee Chairs:
a. Children Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee (co- chair)
b. Cornell Integration Ad Hoc Task Force
7. Committee Reports & Business
a. Island Services Committee Report (Oral)
b. Children Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee Report
c. Social, Cultural & Education Committee Report
d. Public Safety Committee Report
i. Resolution in Support of Barrier Free Living. Movant: Erin-Feely Nahem, Public Safey Committee Chair.
We work with people with disabilities — both survivors of domestic violence and homeless men, women and children — to thrive in safe, supportive communities.
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, January 3 at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
According to the RIRA Agenda:
If at all possible, please arrive 15 mins early to help set up tables and chairs
Date: Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
2. Roll Call of Common Council Members
3. Adoption of Agenda
4. Committee Reports & Business
a. Island Services Committee Update (oral)
b. Public Purpose Funds Ad Hoc Committee Update (oral)
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, December 6, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
AGENDA
If at all possible, please arrive 15 mins early to help set up tables and chairs
Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
2. Roll Call of Common Council Members
3. Adoption of Agenda
4. Committee Reports & Business
a. Public Purpose Funds Report
i. Resolution to Approve Public Purpose Fund Ad Hoc Committee 2017 Recommendations & Additional Recommendations. Movant: Dave Evans, PPF Ad Hoc Committee Chair
b. Children Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee Report
c. Island Services Committee Report
d. Public Safety Committee Report
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, October 4, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
AGENDA
If at all possible, please arrive 15 mins early to help set up tables and chairs
Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
a. Patrick Hayes, Starr Catering Group @ Cornell Tech
b. Christina Delfico, iDig2Learn
c. Mark Shinozaki, Roosevelt Island Time Capsule
d. Vorislav Psoncak, Electric Car Charging Station
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, June 7, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
Below is the Agenda for tonight's RIRA meeting.
Tonight's RIRA meeting is the final one before the summer break for July and August. The next RIRA meeting will be in September.
There's alot of nonsense, anger and tedium that happens at the monthly Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council meeting.
But, the bottom line is that the RIRA Common Council is made up of many people who genuinely wish to make a positive contribution to our small community and volunteer their time to make it a better place.
And they do make it a better place.
That can feel good.
Scott Piro is a recent RIRA Common Council member. Take a listen to what he said after last night's meeting.
Ms. Williams spoke at the RIRA Common Council Public Session last night asking for more volunteers to learn Hands Only CPR, including infant CPR, and to teach the technique at the upcoming June 17 Roosevelt Island Day.
RIRA is also working in partnership with the Roosevelt Island Seniors Association for the annual Roosevelt Island Day Blood Drive. RISA Secretary Sherie Helstien asked for blood drive volunteers during the RIRA Public Session last night.
Thank you Mr. Pirro, Ms Williams and Ms Helstien for making a positive contribution to Roosevelt Island.
UPDATE 1 PM - I agree with Great Big Sea, Good People Aren't Hard To Find
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, May 3, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
Below is the Agenda for tonight's RIRA meeting.
If at all possible, please arrive 15 mins early to help set up tables and chairs
Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
a. RISA re Annual Blood Drive
2. President's Call for Secretary
3. Roll Call of Common Council Members
4. Adoption of Agenda
5. Approval of Common Council Minutes
a. March 1, 2017 Minutes
b. April 6, 2017 Minutes
6. Treasurer's Report
7. Committee Reports & Business
a. Government Relations Committee Report
i. Resolution Authorizing Transmittal of Results of RIOC Referendum. Movant: Joyce Short, Government Relations Committee Chair
ii. Resolution Calling for RIOC Referendum Every Two Years. Movant: Joyce Short, Government Relations Committee Chair
b. Island Services Committee Report
c. Communications Committee Report
d. Planning Committee Report
e. Children, Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee Report
8. Old Business
9. New Business
a. Resolution Regarding the Validity of Ballots, Surveys and Other Election Instruments within the Purview of RIRA. Movants: Melissa Wade and Sharon Williams, Elections Committee Co-Chairs
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, April 5, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
Below is the Agenda for tonight's RIRA meeting.
AGENDA
If at all possible, please arrive 15 mins early to help set up tables and chairs
Date: Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
2. Roll Call of Common Council Members
3. Adoption of Agenda
4. Committee Reports & Business
a. Children Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee Report
b. Island Services Committee Report
c. SC&E Committee & Subcommittee Reports
5. Old Business
6. New Business
a. Call for RIOC Election Volunteers and Turnout
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Hands Only CPR subcommittee received a Prestan Infant CPR training mannequin donation from the Roosevelt Island Urgent Care medical facility last week. During the March 1 RIRA Common Council Public Session, Roosevelt Island Urgent Care Marketing Director Yaakov Landau presented the Infant CPR mannequin to RIRA Hands Only CPR Subcommittee Chair Sharon Williams.
Mr. Landau also spoke to the RIRA Common Council about the programs and services offered at Roosevelt Island Urgent Care and their commitment to the Roosevelt Island community.
Mr Landau added that long time Roosevelt Island Doctors, Jack Resnick and Kathy Grimm are moving their offices to the Roosevelt Island Urgent Care facility (520 Main Street).
Ms Williams thanked Roosevelt Island Urgent Care for their donation and told the Common Council that the RIRA CPR Committee has trained 1063 people to use the Hands Only technique to date.
Saturday April 22 Annual Cherry Blossom Walk (UPDATE 3/17 - Cherry Blossom Walk is Sunday April 30
The RIHS adds:
Reminder:
The Roosevelt Island Historical Society
Invites You to the
First of Four Free Lectures
North Brother Island: The Last Unknown Place in New York City
by Christopher Payne, Photographer
North Brother Island. Photo credit: Christopher Payne.
New York Public Library Branch on Roosevelt Island
Thursday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Travel to a place frozen in time: North Brother Island, which few have heard of, sits in the East River, between The Bronx and Rikers Island. Christopher Payne, photographer, will explore the colorful past, present and future of this island, where today nature is reclaiming the abandoned buildings, in a lecture at the New York Public Library branch on Roosevelt Island, on Thursday, March 2, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
North Brother Island once was the site of Riverside Hospital, a quarantine hospital originally situated on Blackwell’s Island, and later housed veterans' residences and a juvenile drug treatment center. Today, the island is a wildlife sanctuary. Payne was granted permission by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to photograph and document the island, which is closed to the public.
This lecture is the first in a series of four free programs sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society. Future programs include:
-On Thursday, April 6, RIHS President Judith Berdy will discuss the role that Roosevelt Island's Metropolitan Hospital played in World War I. This historic institution was one of a number of American hospitals that sent doctors, nurses and other staff members to run field hospitals in Europe during the Great War.
-On Thursday, May 4, photographer Charles Giraudet, who photographed Goldwater Hospital before that facility was demolished, will share his impressions and photographs of Queens' Triboro Hospital, now scheduled to be closed.
-On Thursday, June 15, Tom Campanella, historian-in-residence at the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in Cornell’s Department of City and Regional Planning, will discuss the environment. This program takes place at Cornell's new Architecture and Planning (AAP) facility in lower Manhattan. Details to come.
These events are FREE and open to the public. All programs begin at 6:30 p.m. The 3/2, 4/6 and 5/4 programs take place in the Roosevelt Island branch of the New York Public Library. RIHS will provide details about the 6/15 program in a future announcement.
DIRECTIONS to the Roosevelt Island NYPL branch: Take the Tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue or the F train to Roosevelt Island. Take the red bus (no charge) or walk eight minutes north to 524 Main Street.
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, March 1, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
Image Of November 30, 2016 RIRA Common Council Meeting
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
Among the items on tonight's RIRA Agenda are:
Cornell Integration Task Force,
Committee Reports,
Resolution To Protect Southpoint Park Wildlife,
Resolution To Hold Referendum On RIOC Directors Performance and
Requirements For Position Of RIRA Secretary (Another attempt to remove activist and current RIRA Secretary Frank Farance from RIRA)
Below is the Agenda for tonight's RIRA Meeting.
AGENDA
If at all possible, please arrive 15 mins early to help set up tables and chairs
Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
2. President’s Call to Seat Todd Caplan as Treasurer
3. Roll Call of Common Council Members
4. Adoption of Agenda
5. Approval of Minutes
a. February 1, 2017 Common Council Meeting Minutes
6. Treasurer Pro Tempore Report
7. President’s Report & Business
a. President’s Call for Ad Hoc Committee Chair, Cornell Integration Task Force
8. Committee Reports & Business
a. Children Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee Report
b. Planning Committee Report & Resolution
i. Resolution for the Protection of Ecological and Wildlife Balance and Limited Alteration to SouthPoint Park (Movant: David Lawson, Planning Committee Chair)
c. Island Services Committee Report
d. SC&E Committee & Subcommittee Reports
i. Hands Only CPR Subcommittee Report
ii. Pay-It-Forward Subcommittee Report
e. Public Safety Committee Report
f. Constitution & Bylaws Committee Report
9. Old Business
10. New Business
a. Resolution to Hold Referendum on Each RIOC Director and the Performance of Their Role on the RIOC Board (Movant: Joyce Short, Government Relations Committee Chair)
Come to tonight's RIRA meeting and learn what is going on.
UPDATE 3/2 - Resolution on RIOC Directors performance was not voted on but may be on the RIRA April Agenda.
Removing RIRA Secretary was not voted upon either. RIRA will see if anyone else wants the position before acting on removing current Secretary.
Following Ms. Matic's report, RIRA Common Council Member Micky Rindler responded saying that use of the Cornell Tech residential building units for housing a non-Cornell Tech entity such as Weill Cornell Medical staff was not included in the Environmental Impact Statement submitted prior to approval of the project.
RIRA President and Community Board 8 member Jeff Escobar noted that the Weill Cornell Medical apartments in the Cornell Tech campus residential building:
... is contrary to the resolution that the Community Board passed and is attached to the lease...
... it's actually a violation of the terms and conditions of the lease.
Here' is the discussion of subject at February 1 RIRA meeting.
Micky Rindler adds;
The recent, unexpected news that Cornell Weill plans to lease 66 apartments in the new Residential building to Cornell Weill Medical Center employees should be of great concern to the residents of Roosevelt Island who commute during the 8-9 am rush hour. While it is true that nurses and some postdoctoral fellows will have schedules that avoid rush hour, it is a safe guess that 30-40 people will travel to their campus during prime time. Spouses will also be commuting to other jobs in Manhattan. Moreover, because it is closer than the subway on R.I. and about the same distance from the subway in Manhattan, no doubt almost all will use the tram, which cannot accommodate that many commuters along with those that will be added in the planned Southtown buildings 8 and 9. Even the F train has become increasingly overcrowded as the economy has improved and more building rise in Queens. The impact of this decision will be profound for Island residents.
Also, we don’t know if some of the Cornell Weill employees will have small children which means more use of our playgrounds, daycare centers and even sports facilities. Cornell Tech did not offer any plans to accommodate their needs.
Moreover, in Chapter 14: Transportation of the Environmental Impact Statement filed before the City’s approval of the Cornell Tech campus, the consultants did not mention any Cornell Weill employees. They envisioned apartments would be occupied by 2 leaders, 77 faculty and visitors, 30 postdoctoral fellows and 463 students (all part of Cornell Tech). Very few of these residents were predicted to commute to Manhattan during rush hour. Therefore the new plan is a clear violation of the terms of the campus approval. Barring filing a new EIS with a plan to minimize rush hour commuting, Cornell Tech should be prohibited by the city and state from accommodating non-Cornell Tech personnel or students in the Residential building.
I asked Cornell Tech for comment. Julie Delay, Senior Director of Human Resources & Campus-Wide Initiatives, replied:
As discussed at the latest Cornell Tech Construction and Community Task Force meeting, it is anticipated that Cornell Tech will not have a population large enough to fill the residential building, The House, for the first 5 years. The lease allows for Cornell-affiliated occupancy as our populations scales. Weill Cornell Medical will have 66 apartments for 5 years. The occupants will be Weill Cornell Medical medical students, postdocs and possibly a small number of visiting academics. Weill Cornell Medical already has members of their population living in 455 and 465 Main Street on Roosevelt Island.
We do not anticipate this will affect rush hour commuting on the island. Commuting patterns for medical students and professionals are atypical and vary widely. Medical students in their 3rd year are typically at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. and return in the afternoon. If a student is doing a residency, their hours are long and never 9:00-5:00. Postdocs would commute during a range of hours with many getting to work later in the morning and working into the evening. They may have 15-18 hour days, and work on weekends.
Anyone with questions can reach out to Cornell Tech's operations and community staff via our website construction.tech.cornell.edu.
At their January 31st meeting, Cornell Tech informed the task force members that out of 352 apartments for Cornell affiliated institutions, 66 apartments would be used by Weill Cornell Medical School for five years. My office gave a full update on Cornell Tech’s meeting to the Roosevelt Island Residents Association on February 1st. I am committed to a process that is transparent and responsive to the Roosevelt Island community.
It is my understanding that the lease allows Cornell Tech affiliates to use of the residential building for a limited amount of time. However, I want to invite the community to submit their questions to my office so that we can make sure they are answered at the upcoming Town Hall prior to the opening of the campus this summer.
The Cornell Tech Town Hall meeting is scheduled for March 29.
UPDATE 3/2 - Below is provision of Cornell Tech lease with NYC dealing with Cornell affiliates leasing units in the Roosevelt Island Cornell residential building:
... "Academic Person" means a student, faculty member, administrator, staff member, educator, lecturer, academic researcher or counselor, in each case, who is involved in the University's degree-granting programs or related academic research and education at the Overall Project. In addition, when used with reference to a 'Residential Sublease' and'residences for Academic Persons', for the first 10 years of operation of the Phase I Residential Space only, an Academic Person may also include any of the foregoing University-related persons without restriction on whether or not such person is involved with the Overall Project, provided that in the eighth (8th) year of operation, at least 60% of the apartments shall be restricted to Academic Persons involved in the Overall Project, in the ninth (9th) year of operation, at least 75% of the apartments shall be so restricted, and in the tenth (10th) year of operation, at least 90% of the apartments shall be so restricted....
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council approved a resolution in support of celebrating Roosevelt Island's diversity, fairness and pluralism during the February 1 monthly meeting. The resolution was introduced by Common Council Member Andrew Giacalone and approved by a vote of 22 in favor and 2 opposed.
Below is the RIRA Statement:
Statement Affirming RIRA’s Support and Celebration of Roosevelt Island’s Diversity
Amid the widespread debate over bans on migrants and refugees as well as the growing climate of hostility towards people of color and other minorities, the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) reaffirms its solidarity towards all of Roosevelt Island’s residents, particularly those who feel most vulnerable and under attack during these times of national political tumult.
Roosevelt Island is a community built on diversity, fairness and pluralism. Our residents honor our community with the diversity of their national origins, faiths, ethnicities and identities and these form the basis of our community’s strength.
RIRA repudiates any language or action that offends the integrity of our community and the values that our community stands for. We celebrate our diversity and we reiterate our committed support for all our residents during these uncertain times.
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will hold it's monthly meeting this evening, February 1, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
Image Of November 30, 2016 RIRA Common Council Meeting
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
Among the items on tonight's RIRA Agenda are:
a Government Relations Committee resolution to support election of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors nominees,
Public Safety Committee statement regarding marijuana smoking,
A Cornell Tech Integration Task Force and
A Statement of Solidarity with and Celebration of Island Diversity
Below is the Agenda for tonight's RIRA Meeting.
AGENDA
If at all possible, please arrive 15 mins early to help set up tables and chairs
Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
2. Roll Call of Common Council Members
3.Adoption of Agenda
4. Approval of Minutes
a. November 9, 2016 Minutes
b. November 30, 2016 Minutes
c. January 4, 2017 Minutes
5. Treasurer Pro Tempore Report
6. President’s Report & Businesss
a. President’s Call for Standing Committee Chair, Housing Committee
b. President’s Call to Public for Treasurer
c. President’s Call for Ad Hoc Cornell Integration Task Force
7. Committee Reports
a. Public Safety Committee
i. May 16, 2016 PSC Meeting Minutes
ii. June 21, 2016 PSC Meeting Minutes
iii. September 27, 2016 PSC Meeting Minutes
iv. January 3, 2017 Meeting Minutes
v. January 31, 2017 Meeting Minutes
vi. PSC Committee Report re Public Forum
vii. Resolution to Adopt Public Safety Committee Statement re Legalities of Marijuana (Movant: Erin Feely-Nahem, PSC Committee Chair)
b. Government Relations Committee
i. Resolution to Support Election of RIOC Board Nominees (Movant: Joyce Short, GRC Chair)
ii. Motion to Fund RIOC Board Nominee Election (Movant: Joyce Short, GRC Chair)
c. Island Services Committee
d. SC&E Committee
i. SC&E Committee Report
ii. Egg Hunt Subcommittee Report
e. Budget Committee 8. Old Business
a. Confirmation of Ethics Ad Hoc Committee Membership
9. New Business
a. Discussion: RIRA Statement of Solidarity with and Celebration of Island Diversity (Speaker: Andrew Giacolone, Manhattan Park)
Roosevelt Island residents are encouraged to attend and learn about what is happening on Roosevelt Island.
During the January 4 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Meeting, RIRA Common Council Member Janet Falk asked RIRA Island Services Committee Chair Aaron Hamburger if he knew when Sportspark will re-open. Mr. Hamburger answered
... I'm convinced that it will be later than scheduled... I think we are at least a month or maybe two months away from opening....
Mr Hamburger added that RIOC will begin renovations of the locker room in April.
On January 5 I asked RIOC President Susan Rosenthal:
Any update on when Sportspark will reopen?
Is mid January still the plan?
Ms Rosenthal replied later that day:
It's still the plan but I cannot confirm the actual date since a few players need to be coordinated in order to make sure we have heat (the hook-up of the new boiler is in its final stage). Stay tuned....
One of the Soccer groups has announced that they will be using Sportspark on January 17.
RIOC Vice President of Operations Shelton Haynes replied:
At this time point in time, we are still awaiting dates for inspections for the work on the boiler. After which, they will authorize Con Ed and the manufacturer to finally turn on the boiler. We are doing everything in our power to expedite this process. As soon as we can confirm a date that is certain, we will advise accordingly.
So, still no firm date for opening of Sportspark - Stay tuned.
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.
