Today, Ms Seawright shares this letter she sent to Senior Vice President
Department of Buses/MTA Bus Company Frank Annicaro.
Dear Vice President Annicaro:
Thank you very much for your leadership at the MTA.
On behalf of my constituents on Roosevelt Island, I am writing you today
to request that a mobile sales vehicle return to the Island.
As you know, Roosevelt Island’s over twelve thousand residents have
limited public transportation options. The Tram’s recent, well-chronicled
overcrowding has only intensified these challenges.
Over twenty percent of residents are older New Yorkers and thousands are
people with disabilities. Both groups are eligible for reduced fare
and would benefit from the mobile sales vehicle. As Chair of the
Assembly’s Aging Committee, I request the return of the Roosevelt Island
mobile sales service providing access to reduced fare applications, OMNY
guidance and other customer services, that would otherwise be inaccessible
to older people and people with disabilities.
I remain thankful to your department for providing these vehicles to my
district on the Upper East Side. I have witnessed firsthand the benefits
they provide, especially during the current MetroCard-to-OMNY transition.
Thank you for your consideration. I appreciate your attention to this
important matter of accessibility. If we may provide additional
information, please do not hesitate to contact my Chief of Staff, Courtney
Ferrissey, at 212-288-4607.
I'm grateful to Speaker @CarlHeastie for this incredible opportunity to champion New York's nearly five million older adults. pic.twitter.com/ZMWDZr1pCf
— Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (@SeawrightForNY) January 9, 2025
Here's Assembly Member Seawright as Chair of the Committee on Aging,
speaking with the New York State Office for the Aging's Acting Director,
Greg Olsen, during a February 25 joint budget hearing on Human
Services.
... the Assembly Member is currently busy in Albany with session and
preparing for budget hearings as a member of the Ways and Means Committee.
Our office is currently in communication with the Governor's office. We were
informed of a couple of promising updates. We continue to press for clarity
surrounding the request for priority boarding and a waiver.
First additional swing dampeners will be installed to enable the Tram to
increase its speed resulting in more trips per hour. Second, Poma, which is
the tram contractor, has agreed to install the radio frequency system by
quarter 3 which is the summer as opposed to quarter 4 which would have been
December 2025. We're pushing for it to be moved up even further now as well.
We remain we remain supportive of the priority boarding resolution as
proposed by CB 8 to include priority for New Yorkers.
Several Roosevelt Island parents spoke seeking support for increasing the
number of 3k seats on Roosevelt Island. According to one parent:
... we understand the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery continues to write to whichever planning committee is responsible for allocating funds for 3K. They have the capacity to offer more spots and they have made that known to the Department of Education but they have not received approval to formally expand. Some of the parents have gotten together and we've got a petition and letter writing campaign...
February 18 Lecture program,
When Manhattan Was Dutch,
at the Roosevelt Island Public Library. Ms Berdy adds that the RIHS programs
at the Library are:
... a great way to meet your neighbors, to find out stuff about the island, to
find out stuff about history and we're always glad to answer some of those
innumerable questions that newcomers have to the Island...
... The Community Board has no power to implement such a policy but it's
support may be helpful in persuading RIOC and the Governor to do so....
Well, some progress was made today when NY State Senator
Liz Krueger, who
previously has not been supportive of Roosevelt Island residents and workers
Tram boarding priority, released a statement in support of NYC resident
boarding priority on the Roosevelt Island Tram. According to Ms Kreuger:
The Tram’s popularity during peak tourist season is having a severe impact on
Roosevelt Island residents, causing real hardship on their daily commutes to
work, school, or critical appointments. For this reason, I support the
resolution passed by Community Board 8 requesting NYC residents be given
priority boarding on the Tram.
However, I also understand the complex practical realities that make this
approach challenging to implement, including state Transportation Law,
contracts between RIOC and the MTA, and other franchise agreements with the
City.
I urge RIOC to explore workable options for implementing the resolution and
present their findings to the community. In the meantime, I continue to
press RIOC to increase the speed of the Tram to what it previously was, and
I am pleased that the FCC dedicated signal for the Tram has been approved,
which should expedite this process.
Note that Ms Krueger and Community Board 8 support Roosevelt Island Tram
priority boarding preference for NYC residents, not limited to only
Roosevelt Island residents and workers.
... regarding overcrowding on the Roosevelt Island Tram. I strongly favor
RIOC adopting an action plan that prioritizes access to residents of
Roosevelt Island.
The Tram is essential to the transportation of needs of the community.
There are numerous categories of people who rely on the Tram, including
those with disabilities, senior citizens, workers in all fields, parents
and school-age children. Whether it is used for transportation to a
medical appointment or a place of business, the Tram is a vital mode of
transportation.
While we welcome visitors to enjoy the vibrant life and attractions of
Roosevelt Island, a plan is needed that will result in a reduction of wait
time and an improved schedule that recognizes resident's usage. In the
past, we have successfully advocated for ways to address transportation
issues, including the expansion of RIOC's Red Bus service to ameliorate
sharp service reductions. Similarly, we fought hard to ensure an F train
shuttle during the Direct Track Fixation repairs last year.
Now is the time for RIOC to step up and present an action plan that fully
prioritizes resident use of the Tram.
I have sent a copy of my comments to the RIOC leadership as well....
As a supporter of Roosevelt Island residents and commuters, I value the
importance of ensuring their needs are considered regarding tramway access.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation should ask for further
clarification of existing New York State Transportation laws to determine
the feasibility of prioritizing access to existing public transit.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams supports the idea too:
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) is still claiming that any Tram boarding preference for residents is
illegal. Today, in the
RIOC January 2025 newsletter
Interim Leadership report, RIOC continues to claim:
... that while we recognize residents’ efforts advocating for the Tram
priority boarding, the reality is that the Tram is a common carrier and a
form of public transportation subject to state laws and certain inter-agency
agreements....
... a copy of the full legal analysis (not the previously released public
statement) that RIOC is relying on for its current position that
resident/worker Tram boarding preference would be illegal. If necessary,
please consider this a FOIL request.
and followed up:
... Also, please include copies of any Franchise Agreement with NYC that
RIOC is relying on to assert that a resident and worker boarding preference
for the Tram is illegal....
On January 9, 2025, I received this response from RIOC to my FOIL request.
As far as I can tell, there is nothing in the NYC Franchise agreements
provided by RIOC that addresses the legality of Roosevelt Island Tram boarding
priority preference.
After receiving RIOC's response to my FOIL request, later that day I replied to
RIOC:
... Does your response to my FOIL request mean that there are no agreements
other than what you just sent that RIOC is relying upon to assert that a
resident and worker boarding preference for the Tram is illegal?
If there are any other agreements with any party including the MTA that
RIOC is relying upon to assert that a resident and worker boarding
preference for the Tram is illegal, please send me copies and consider my
request an extension of the prior FOIL request.
Also, please consider this an appeal of the decision not to provide RIOC's
full legal analysis for Tram boarding preference....
On January 10, RIOC Associate General Counsel Lada Stasko answered:
Please be advised that RIOC did not enter to any Tramway franchise
agreement with the City other than that was provided to you.
RIOC hereby acknowledges receipt of your appeal below. We will respond to
it pursuant to Public Officer Law (POL) §89(4)(a) within ten (10) business
days of the receipt on January 9, 2025.
RIOC also acknowledges your follow-up FOIL request for additional records.
Please be advised that we need to review the responsive records – which
are inter-agency agreements with MTA - to ensure that they are not exempt
from disclosure under POL §87(2). We will notify you of our progress
within twenty (20) business days.
Thank you for your attention.
On January 13, I suggested:
Can a solution be found that overcomes RIOC's purported legal obstacle for
providing priority Roosevelt Island Tram boarding to those who use the
Tram for essential transportation purposes before those using the Tram as
an amusement sightseeing attraction?
How about this?
RIOC sets up a permitting system to issue an annual Roosevelt Island Fast
Line Pass that is available to everyone, resident, worker or visitor. The
Fast Line Pass must be picked up in person on Roosevelt Island at least 24
hours before it can be used.
The Fast Line Pass allows the holder to board the Tram before a person who
does not have a Fast Line Pass. A person who only rides the Tram as a one
time sightseeing attraction is less likely to obtain the Fast Line Pass
than a regular user of the Tram.
Logistics would need to be figured out for how the Fast Line Pass would
work in practice, but the bottom line is that Roosevelt Island residents,
workers and anyone else who uses the Roosevelt Island Tram for
transportation purposes will have priority boarding over those using it
for one time sightseeing amusement attraction.
Tomorrow the supporters of Roosevelt Island Tram boarding priority
preferences for residents and workers are holding a strategy planning
session. You're invited to share your ideas.
We do not to want to wait while RIOC conducts a search for the new CEO. That
alone could easily take 6-9 months. Presumably, that person will want some
time before taking any big decisions, of which this will be but one of many.
We are not prepared to wait for 12-18 months.
Roosevelt Island's NY State Assembly Member
Rebecca Seawright is sponsoring a no-cost community shredding Thursday August 22 from 9 AM - 12
PM at Motorgate Plaza.
Manhattan Community Board 8 (CB8) Roosevelt Island Committee
Chair Paul Krikler moderated an interesting
Zoom meeting
last night with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Communications Director Bryant Daniels, NY State Senator
Liz Krueger and NY
State Assembly Member
Rebecca Seawright
talking with residents about a variety of local issues. The meeting began with
Mr Daniels providing a RIOC update and answering questions on the:
RIOC interim leadership changes
- (Deputy General Counsel Gerrald Ellis left RIOC for a job in the private
sector. Acting Chief Operating Officer Mary Cunneen and Associate General
Counsel Lada Stasko will join Chief Financial Officer Dhru Dhruvika on the
interim leadership team),
Red Bus service outages
- Of the 4 Red Buses, 2 buses are currently working on Main Street. 1 Red
Bus is out of service and is expected to be back in service this week
which will restore Octagon Bus Service. The 4th Bus is out of service for
maintenance and no date yet for when it will be fixed. 2 new Red
Buses are on order.
Red Bus Real Time Schedule Tracking service will be working soon and
integrated in
NY Transit app
as well as the soon to launch Roosevelt Island
Citizens Project platform.
Weekend Volleyball Players
at Firefighters Field taking over entire area with no room for others to
use the field - RIOC is aware of issue and will look more into it.
NY State Senator Krueger and Assembly Member Seawright then discussed Roosevelt
Island governance issues including:
According to Ms Krueger, any Governor is unlikely to give up the power to
appoint RIOC Directors by way of a direct election. Ms Seawight said that
Mayor Adams has agreed to use direct elections for appointment of the two
Mayoral appointments to the RIOC Board.
Governor Hochul has previously vetoed legislation requiring residency for
RIOC President and for resident
Board members who move away
from Roosevelt Island.
Watch the very interesting discussion on these issues.
CB 8 Roosevelt Island Committee meeting are scheduled for the first
Monday of every month except August. The
next meeting will be on September 9.
You're invited to attend, share your thoughts and ask questions.
COME TELL YOUR STATE ELECTED REPS YOU WANT A BIGGER SAY IN HOW RIOC IS RUN
The next CB8RI meeting is on July 1 at 630pm on Zoom.
We will be joined by State Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright.
Our State elected representatives are the only ones who can help us with the imbalance of power many of us feel in dealing with RIOC.
Almost 1,100 people signed our petition demanding direct election of all Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) board members; this is a very significant number out of 12,000 residents. We need this for two reasons:
(i) Better oversight of RIOC
(ii) A bigger say in how things are done for the betterment of the community.
RIOC Communicaitons Director Bryan Daniels is also expected to attend and available to discuss Roosevelt Island issues.
There will be no Roosevelt Island weekend F Train service to and from
Manhattan beginning February 10 -12 and continuing for the next two weekends of February
17-19 and 24-26....
... Project completion is still slated for Q1, 2024, subject to change....
During the January 24 NY State Joint Budget Hearing on Transportation, Roosevelt Island's NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright asked MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber:
Right now there are two elevators in service. One is out. Many of the residents are people with disabilities.They're not able to walk up and down the stairs for two levels and so I would like to know what the MTA is planning to do to bring some relief for these citizens as well as the F Train shuttle that runes every 20 minutes.
There will be no shuttle service at all in 3 weekends in February. The Tram that services the Island is the same. Residents have been telling me that the line can stretch all the way to 3rd Avenue and it is just not feasible
RIOC has stopped the Red Bus shuttle service on the Island to Manhattan
It doesn't have the capacity to run the shuttle because of the strong demands on the Island. The MTA has been very reluctant to offer adequate supplemental service for the residents. So If you could just address this, I would appreciate it.
According to Mr Lieber:
We are on schedule with completion of the track work in the 63rd Street tunnel....
At yesterday's Joint Budget Hearing on Transportation, I asked MTA Chairman & CEO Janno Lieber about urgently needed elevator, F-Train, and tram repairs, along with service improvements on Roosevelt Island. Watch: https://t.co/o0vjtnjtfdpic.twitter.com/130au8fKTY
— Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (@SeawrightForNY) January 25, 2024
Watch the full Q&A between Ms Seawright and Mr Lieber.
Roosevelt Island's NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright is bringing a free Roosevelt Island community Shred-A-Thon to Roosevelt Island on Saturday September 16 and Sunday November 19.
Roosevelt Island NY State Assembly District Moving To Queens In Proposed Redistricting Map - "You Can Make This Nonsense Stop" Says Local Activist Supported By Political Leaders, Join Your Neighbors At Public Hearing February 7
Today, it was announced that Roosevelt Island will not be moving to a Queens Assembly District but will remain in the Manhattan 76 Assembly District represented by Rebecca Seawright.
Any comment on the good news that Roosevelt Island staying in your Assembly District?
Ms Seawright replied:
The redistricting commission today voted to advance the new and final Assembly maps to the state Legislature including Roosevelt Island in the 76th Assembly District. We submitted robust testimony along the way in opposition to shifting representation of the island to a Queens District. Ultimately it was the unified and strong support of indelible Roosevelt Island resident activists that made the important first-hand arguments to help the commission put forth a favorable district map.
Ultimately it was the unified and strong support of indelible Roosevelt Island resident activists that made the important first-hand arguments to help the commission put forth a favorable district map. pic.twitter.com/SlYDatDfkG
— Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (@SeawrightForNY) April 20, 2023
Congrats to Joyce Short and all the other Roosevelt Island activists
...The new Sportspark rates revealed
yesterday by a 400% increase in a press release and without community input
are shocking and unacceptable. I am calling on our Governor Hochul to
intervene in the rate hikes pricing people out of Roosevelt Island. From
parking to the pool, these hikes add insult to injury at an already
consequential time for people’s pocketbooks.
Roosevelt Island residents were outraged that RIOC's new Sportspark pricing structure was more in line with a privately owned Equinox Gym than an affordable community recreational center.
Today, RIOC announced via Twitter and Instagram that they are suspending until further notice the price increases for Sportspark.
— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) March 9, 2023
Roberta Kleiman, the organizer of the Sportspark petition, reacts to RIOC's announcement:
I remain cautiously optimistic until I see that RIOC structures prices in line with other NYC and NY State Facilities.
A small reduction from the first pricing structure would be UNSATISFACTORY.
Also, I hope RIOC will consider separate pricing for pool only or gym only, as many residents requested this in the online petition.
I raised the question of Sportspark affordability at a budget hearing so I am pleased to see RIOC made the decision to heed our call suspending the proposed membership and permitting fees until further notice. The fight is not over. We have to stay engaged to ensure that any changes to the pricing structure is met with an open discourse, bringing all stakeholders to the table. Affordability and equitable access to essential services for Roosevelt Island residents is the highest priority. I am closely monitoring this and other matters of governance on Roosevelt Island.
RIOC made no announcement as to the new rates or when Sportspark will finally re-open.
RIOC's Instagram page has pictures inside Sportspark.
UPDATE 10:00 PM - Roosevelt Island's NY State Senator Liz Kreuger adds:
I was proud to add my voice to the concerns raised by the community, and I'm glad to see that those concerns were heard, and that this public facility will continue to be widely available and affordable to the public.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation has dropped the latest in a series
of increases for Roosevelt Islanders. The new Sportspark rates revealed
yesterday by a 400% increase in a press release and without community input
are shocking and unacceptable. I am calling on our Governor Hochul to
intervene in the rate hikes pricing people out of Roosevelt Island. From
parking to the pool, these hikes add insult to injury at an already
consequential time for people’s pocketbooks.
During the March 1 NY State Senate Budget hearing, Ms Seawright raised the issue of Sportspark and Motorgate price increases with NYS Division of Housing & Community Renewal (DHCR) Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas who is also the Chairperson of RIOC.
Ms Seawright asked Ms Visnauskas:
... We sent a letter recently with some questions about the newly implemented Motorgate garage fee and we got back a very disappointing and unacceptable letter... What I would like to do is set up a work group to examine this... I would ask that you comment on the garage and the Sportspark...
Ms Visnauskas replied:
We would be happy to work with you on a Task Force and to have a larger conversation with the community about both the Parking and the Sports Center. We understand that it's a challenge and the rates seem a little inconsistent, so happy to work with you on it...
Earlier today, I asked Roosevelt Island and Upper East Side Assembly Member
Rebecca Seawright:
Rioc announced yesterday their plans for the newly renovated Sportspark
membership user fees once the facility reopens.
The announced fees are huge increases over past practice and more typical of
private luxury gym memberships such as Equinox or Crunch Fitness than a NY
State or City public recreation center such as Riverbank or others.
Residents have initiated a petition protesting the increase and asking for
rates similar to other public facilities.
Does Assembly Member Seawright have any comment on the matter?
Ms Seawright replied:
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation has dropped the latest in a series
of increases for Roosevelt Islanders. The new Sportspark rates revealed
yesterday by a 400% increase in a press release and without community input
are shocking and unacceptable. I am calling on our Governor Hochul to
intervene in the rate hikes pricing people out of Roosevelt Island. From
parking to the pool, these hikes add insult to injury at an already
consequential time for people’s pocketbooks.
As of 7:50 PM tonight,
226 people have signed the petition
protesting the proposed RIOC Sportspark fees structure. Among the many
comments to the RIOC proposed Sportpark rate increases are:
Achmed - Was supremely excited about the renovation and re-opening of the
facility until I saw the price... Like seriously a LUXURY gym with state of
the art equipment, spas, and boutique classes costs nearly the same as this
gym. Terrible for the community. And terrible business model. No way
non-residents will pay this fee when you can get a
LUXURY gym across the tram:
And for residents -- there just isn't remotely enough value in the new
facility to justify the price. Especially considering many of the buildings
on RI -- have basic gyms in the buildings. . Really hope someone talks sense
into the management.
There has been no response from RIOC President Shelton Haynes and
Communications Vice President Akeem Jamal to press inquires or the community
petition.
... Last March,
NYC Council Member Julie Menin
told me that the MTA and
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) assured her that the OMNY payment system will be installed on the Roosevelt
Island Tram within this year....
The Roosevelt Island Tramway still continues to lack OMNY. Can you tell us why
this has been delayed and when you expect it to be installed so that our
Roosevelt Island residents and visitors can benefit from this service?
Mr Janno replied:
The answer is it's projected to happen in the second half of this year... ...
We didn't have software in some of the specialty locations like Roosevelt
Island Tram, the Air Train in Jamaica Station and a few other places. The
software has to catch up and we are working on it but that right now the
projection it's going to be the scond half of this year....
Yesterday, I asked Ms Seawright:
Thank you for asking the MTA Chair Janno Lieber about when the OMNY payment
system will be installed on the Roosevelt Island Tram and why it has been
delayed.
Mr Lieber said OMNY is projected to be installed on the Tram in the second
half of the year which is another in a long line of delays. He blamed
software and vendor delays as the reason for OMNY not being installed on the
Tram.
He did not say anything about issues agreeing to a new revenue sharing
arrangement with RIOC which RIOC has previously said was an obstacle with
the MTA to install OMNY on the Tram. Mr Janno said he "would be happy to get
in a specific dialogue with you".
Can you ask him if there are any issues other than software and vendor
problems to installing OMNY on the Tram and specifically including any issue
agreeing to a revenue sharing arrangement with RIOC for payment by riders
using OMNY on the Tram as well as transfers from the Tram to the subway and
bus.
Ms Seawright replied:
At yesterday’s legislative hearing in Albany, I asked MTA Chair Janno Lieber
about the effort to enable OMNY card holders to use their cards to transfer
onto or off the Roosevelt Island Tram — because the long delay in implementing
this capability is simply unacceptable. We need better answers from the agency
officials responsible. I’ll be following up to press for solutions that get us
past inter-agency squabbling and instead address the needs of Roosevelt Island
residents and New York City riders.
Roosevelt Island has been waiting for the MTA OMNY payment system to be
installed at the Roosevelt Island Tram stations as far back as 2020.
Former RIOC Chief Financial Officer spoke to Manhattan Community Board 8 in
September 2021 about
efforts to get the OMNY system
installed at the Roosevelt Island Tram
and during a June 8, 2022 RIOC audit committee meeting
(at 7 minute mark),
CFO O'Reilly reported that RIOC receives only $2.00 of the $2.75 Roosevelt
Island Tram fare.
On February 18, 2022, a MTA spokesperson responded to my inquiry saying:
The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an essential part of the city’s transit
network and it has been the MTA’s plan to have OMNY available to everyone
including riders of the tramway by integrating the contactless payment system
to help New Yorkers and visitors travel to and from Roosevelt Island. The MTA
is thrilled that our transit partners at the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp
(RIOC) want to join the OMNY team and we are working with them to offer OMNY
to those who use the Tramway.
In November 2022 a MTA spokesperson added:
The Roosevelt Island tram will be integrated with OMNY sometime in 2023. The
MTA is building out OMNY functionality for New York City Transit first, before
addressing other agencies, however we look forward to welcoming tram riders to
OMNY next year.
Over the last several years, the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse comments on the
lack of OMNY at the Tram.
This is great. But I can’t wait for OMNY to come to the Roosevelt Island
tram! 🚠 https://t.co/zPoJpFZkdO
Good afternoon. The Roosevelt Island Tram is not operated by the MTA. As
outlined in our OMNY rollout plan, OMNY expansion to outside agencies will
take place later on in the rollout pending those agencies' agreements to
adopt OMNY. We encourage you to reach out to
@RIOCny. ^JTG
while we're complaining it's the stupidest thing that the tram doesn't
acccept
#omny
yet. Every subway station and bus, yes, but those ~six turnstiles at two
stops is too much to ask?
Heck, if you wanted to cheap out you
could do it with *one* turnstile each stop.
Hello Christopher, the Roosevelt Island Tram is operated by the Roosevelt
Island Operating Corp. (RIOC). It would be up to the organization to add
OMNY to their fare collection systems. ^JG
🚨🚨🚨BIG WIN FOR ROOSEVELT ISLAND: Last week, my office sent a letter
to @RiocCeo asking them to expedite the adoption of OMNY on the Roosevelt
Island Tram. Today, RIOC and
@MTA told our
office that in response they have made changes to plans and will now
expedite this. (1/3)
pic.twitter.com/wAxC8AofBy
@NYCTSubway
neither of the metrocard machines are working on the Roosevelt Island tram
and no OMNY so NO WAY to access the tram if need to refill card - no sign on
machines either. YOU SUCK!!
@NYCTSubway@RIOCny second
weekend in a row (at least) that neither metro card machine at the tram on
Roosevelt Island is accepting credit cards. One isn’t taking cash either. Do
we really have to wait 6+ more months for the Omny? This is ridiculous.
UPDATE 2/9 - On February 7, I followed up on a November 28, 2022
email inquiry to RIOC President Shelton Haynes and Communications Assistant Vice
President Akeem Jamal about the status of OMNY installation on the Roosevelt
Island Tram. I asked:
I am following up on email below regarding installation of MTA OMNY system
on the Roosevelt Island Tram.
When do you anticipate the OMNY system to be installed on the Roosevelt
Island Tram?
What is the reason for the long delay?
Former RIOC CFO John O'Reilly has reported that a reason for the delay
installing OMNY on the Roosevelt Island Tram is because RIOC and the MTA
have not reached an agreement on a revenue sharing arrangement for payment
by riders using the Tram and switching from the Tram to the subway or bus.
Is that true?
Does RIOC have any comment to the Roosevelt Island community on installing
OMNY at the Roosevelt Island Tram?
There has been no response from RIOC about the status of OMNY installation
on the Tram, continuing the practice of Mr Haynes and Mr Jamal in refusing
to answer questions by local press in order for RIOC to:
... Roosevelt Island resident Joyce Short was a leader in the successful organizing efforts to keep Roosevelt Island in the traditional Manhattan State
Senate and City Council Districts. Ms Short is getting ready to organize
against the draft Assembly map removing Roosevelt Island from the rest of
Manhattan....
Ms Short reports today:
Tomorrow is the day for the NY State Independent Redistricting Commission's
hearing on whether Roosevelt Island's Assembly District will be drop kicked
to Queens.
As a Manhattan Island with strong ties to the mainland of Manhattan for
close to 50 years, and a government infrastructure from the State of NY
where Manhattan representation is essential to voice our interests in
Albany, this change could be extremely harmful for our community.... for our
school, for operating our tram, for construction during the expansion of
Cornell Tech, for our policing, and more.
The public is invited to testify beginning at 4 PM tomorrow afternoon. 4 PM
today is the cutoff for written comments.
Commissioners on New York's redistricting panel voted Thursday to advance a
new proposed map for state Assembly legislative boundaries. I am very
disappointed to see that the proposal for our AD76 would eliminate Roosevelt
Island and redistrict it to a Queens Assembly District. I am committed to
fighting alongside constituents to keep Roosevelt Island where it belongs.
Roosevelt Islanders were so powerful in their testimony during the New York
City Council districting process, I believe together we can make an
unequivocally strong argument to keep Manhattan's Roosevelt Island with our
Manhattan Assembly District 76. The process for state redistricting requires
rigorous scrutiny, consistent with a process that ensures fairness, provides
a platform for all voices, and carefully reviews all options.
The next steps are a series of public hearings around the State. The hearing
in Manhattan will be on February 7, 2023 at the Hunter College Kaye
Playhouse. I urge all concerned to share their views by testifying in person
or submitting comments to the Commission directly at
www.nyirc.gov/participate.
Roosevelt Island and Upper East Side Democratic Party leaders oppose splitting
Roosevelt Island Assembly District representation from the Upper East Side.
We can do this! Wear your best Roosevelt Island RED and show up for our
community even if you don't want to speak. Travel with the "Group Meet",
F train, RI station, 3 PM Tuesday, 2/7.
Here's the proposed NY State Assembly map moving Roosevelt Island from the
Manhattan 76 AD to the mostly 36 AD.
UPDATE 2/8 - Here's the testimony delivered on behalf of Assembly Member Seawright at the NYS Independent Redistricting Commission hearing yesterday afternoon at Hunter College. Ms Seawright was in Albany for the legislative session.
Roosevelt Island resident and Main Street Dems founder Joyce Short was a leader in the successful organizing efforts last year to keep Roosevelt
Island in the traditional Manhattan NYC City Council District which had been moved to Queens in the Draft redistricting proposal.
Ms Short reports:
Just as Roosevelt Islanders felt comfortably secure in Manhattan, the State of NY has thrown us a curveball!
The redistricting map which was approved for the recent Assembly election was vetoed by NY State’s appellate court. While, for now, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright remains our representative, if the new map prevails, we will have a Queens Assembly Member, not a Manhattan Assembly Member from the 2024 election.
Important steps for Roosevelt Islanders…..
The next meeting to plan the community’s presentation at the NYIRC hearing (at 4 PM on February 7th) will take place Thursday, January 19th at the Senior Center at 546 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, at 7 PM. You do not need to be affiliated with any party or be a registered voter to participate in our resistance to change.
Redistricting our community to Queens spells disaster for several reasons. By NY State’s own redistricting rules:
Districts must consist of contiguous territory and shall be as compact in form as possible.
The commission must take into account the maintenance of existing districts, pre-existing political subdivisions, including counties, cities, towns, and communities of interest.
Commissioners on New York's redistricting panel recently voted to advance a new proposed map for state Assembly legislative boundaries. I am very disappointed to see that the proposal for our AD76 would eliminate Roosevelt Island and redistrict it to a Queens Assembly District. I am committed to fighting alongside constituents to keep Roosevelt Island where it belongs.
Roosevelt Islanders were so powerful in their testimony during the New York City Council districting process, I believe together we can make an unequivocally strong argument to keep Manhattan's Roosevelt Island with our Manhattan Assembly District 76. The process for state redistricting requires rigorous scrutiny, consistent with a process that ensures fairness, provides a platform for all voices, and carefully reviews all options.
The next steps are a series of public hearings around the State. The hearing in Manhattan will be on February 7, 2023 at the Hunter College Kaye Playhouse. I urge all concerned to share their views by testifying in person or submitting comments to the Commission directly at www.nyirc.gov/participate.
Here is January 12 Main Street Dems Zoom meeting on the NY State Assembly redistricting issue.
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.
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