Hybrid Monster Lampposts Appear On Roosevelt Island Says Resident, Abomination On Main Street Says Another - They're Wireless Cell Antennas To Increase Roosevelt Island Verizon & T Mobile Wi-fi Connectivity

Some sort of hybrid monster lamppost has appeared on the #RooseveltIsland promenade😳 (@ Roosevelt Island Promenade in New York, NY) https://t.co/ry2savi5Fz pic.twitter.com/8UYGoHUqXo

— NamelyNorm (@NamelyNorm) December 19, 2018

Well, it's not really a hybrid monster lamppost but rather one of 22 wireless cell antennas placed upon Roosevelt Island lampposts to provide increased Roosevelt Island Wi-fi connectivity by Crown Castle International.

As reported last October 30:

... WIRELESS SMALL CELL ANTENNAS

Wireless device connectivity on Roosevelt Island is about to be vastly improved, and less congested, during the next few weeks.

Crown Castle International Corp., the nation’s largest provider of shared communications infrastructure, will be installing 22 unique small cell locations on the Island covering from north to south. The antennas and fiber-optic cable-based networking will provide coverage and capacity for up to four data/phone service carriers including Verizon

Small cells are important wireless infrastructure that increase capacity and connectivity for mobile devices. They are small, low-powered antennas that can be installed on light and utility poles, street signs, and even on rooftops. Crown Castle, under a 10-year licensing agreement, will be building and maintaining this fiber ring around Roosevelt Island to supply various locations with better connectivity.

As the Roosevelt Island community continues to grow, more residents, businesses, students and visitors are relying on wireless devices to connect to the Internet and communicate (more than 50 percent of all U.S. households rely only on wireless phones; and some 80 percent of all 911 calls are made from wireless devices). When too many people try to use their mobile devices, the network can become overloaded: calls drop or don’t connect.

Small cells, like the ones being installed around the Island, can and will relieve this wireless congestion....

Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy spotted this "hybrid monster lamppost" yesterday at Good Shepherd Plaza and does not like it.

The abomination on Main Street.

Today, this object appeared at the Chapel Plaza.

This is another example of RIOC's disregard for the cityscape, appearance, and necessity of an obtrusive object. Along with the "RI" letters at the Tram Plaza we now have the WI-FI tower smack dab in front of the Chapel Plaza. The Chapel is a landmark structure, but unfortunately the Plaza is not, which means inappropriate objects can be placed there.

I attended RIOC meetings where the installation was discussed and never saw a rendering by Crown Castle the contractor that was anywhere as obtrusive as this wifi tower

The RIOC staff hides the truth from the community and insults our cityscape with obtrusive installations.

The RIOC Grinch has stolen our Chapel Plaza from us, again.

According to this excerpt from Castle Crown's November 2017 presentation to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors:

Pole attachments in the public right of way proposed in 23 unique locations (some of the pole attachments will be colocations):
     • 22 for T-Mobile
     • 21 for Verizon
     • 20 attachments are colocations with both Verizon and T-Mobile

All locations will feed back to a Hub location via fiber optic cable which will be located off of the Island for both Verizon and T-Mobile

1. License will enable Crown Castle to access the public right of way poles on Roosevelt Island
2. License is for a 10-year term with 3 – successive terms of 5-years.
3. Compensation for use of the poles to RIOC from Crown is $3,390.48 per location with an annual CPI adjustment.
4. Crown Castle is responsible for its own electrical utility charges.
5. Crown Castle will be building and maintaining a fiber ring around Roosevelt Island to supply the locations with connectivity.

Crown Castle will provide RIOC 4 strands of Dark Fiber along planned deployment route....

I asked RIOC today:

Are the new lampposts with WiFi connections the same design as renderings approved by RIOC?...

RIOC Public Information Officer Alonza Robertson replied:

Crown had worked with the Real Estate Committee prior to bringing the presentation to the full board at the December 2017 meeting.

The actual lampposts’ height and light fixtures’ height were adjusted at the behest of members of the committee; from 25 feet to 22 feet; and from 20 feet to 14.

The small boxes attached to the light poles, and the cell tower that encompass the light fixtures are the same.

The equipment attached to the wood telephone poles is larger than the renderings that were presented in November.

We have scheduled a meeting tomorrow with the company to discuss that.

Below is the presentation made by Crown Castle to the RIOC Board.

Crown Castle Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island Hudson Related Southtown Buildings 8 & 9 Proposed Agreement On August 22 RIOC Real Estate Committee Meeting Agenda - Cell Service Infrastructure Too

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Advisory Committee is meeting tomorrow.According to the RIOC:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC Administrative Office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Agenda:

1. Presentation by Crown Castle NG East LLC on Cell Service Infrastructure on Roosevelt Island

2. Chair's Motion for Executive Session to Discuss Proposed Agreements Related to the Southtown Buildings #8 and #9 Developments

3. 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.

The Hudson Related Southtown Building 8 is supposed to have a significant number of affordable housing units although we don't know yet what that means in terms of number of apartments and financial requirements for tenants.

Unfortunately, the discussion of of Southtown buildings 8 & 9 will be in Executive Session, meaning that the public and press will not be able to attend. According to Section 105 of the NY State Open Meetings Law:

... the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition of securities, or sale or exchange of securities held by such public body, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof....

In July 2014, Hudson Related's David Kramer spoke to me about the layout of Southtown Buildings 7-9.



Hope to find out more soon.

Pokemon Go Mobile Phone App Species Discovered On Roosevelt Island - Catch One Or More Yourself

Roosevelt Island is often the site of television programs and films.

Always at the forefront of technology, Roosevelt Island has now entered the virtual world with the newly released Pokemon Go mobile phone app.

The Twitterverse reports:

I wasn't first exited about Pokemon Go. But now I sure as hell am! I caught these all on Roosevelt island! #Pokemon pic.twitter.com/yRLf8jOGMN

— Melon Lord (@Melon_Lord88) July 7, 2016

What is this virtual world?

According to Pokemon web site:

Travel between the real world and the virtual world of Pokémon with Pokémon GO for iPhone and Android devices. With Pokémon GO, you’ll discover Pokémon in a whole new world—your own! Pokémon GO is built on Niantic’s Real World Gaming Platform and will use real locations to encourage players to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon. Pokémon GO allows you to find and catch more than a hundred species of Pokémon as you explore your surroundings.

The Pokémon video game series has used real-world locations such as the Hokkaido and Kanto regions of Japan, New York, and Paris as inspiration for the fantasy settings in which its games take place. In Pokémon GO, the real world will be the setting!

Get on your feet and step outside to find and catch wild Pokémon. Explore cities and towns around where you live and even around the globe to capture as many Pokémon as you can. As you move around, your smartphone will vibrate to let you know you're near a Pokémon. Once you've encountered a Pokémon, take aim on your smartphone's touch screen and throw a Poké Ball to catch it. Be careful when you try to catch it, or it might run away! Also look for PokéStops located at interesting places, such as public art installations, historical markers, and monuments, where you can collect more Poké Balls and other items....

With Cornell Tech campus opening next summer, we may see Roosevelt Island pop up more in future mobile phone apps.

Mayor de Blasio Announced New Cell Phone Policy For NYC Public Schools - Roosevelt Island's Principal Explains PS/IS 217 Cell Phone Policy

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday the lifting of ban on cell phones

Image From RobertLovesPi

 in NYC public schools.

Thrilled to announce that we'll be lifting the ban on cell phones in public schools. http://t.co/czquzNKm85 pic.twitter.com/sOqzooFRMX
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) January 7, 2015

I asked Principal Mandana Beckman how the new cell phone policy will be implemented at Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217.

 Image Of Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217

Principal Beckman answered:

Our policy is students are not permitted to have a cell phone on their body. All cell phones must be turned off and kept in their lockers for middle school students and in their back packs for elementary school students. Should a student need to contact their parent or a parent needs to contact their child they must do this via the school phones.

According to Mayor di Blasio's office:

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña today announced the City will lift the ban on cell phones at schools, a policy affecting all 1.1 million students. The change will better enable parents to stay in touch with their children, especially before and after school. It will also end the inequity under the current ban, which was enforced mostly at schools with metal detectors in low-income communities.

The existing Chancellor’s Regulation bans cell phones and other electronic devices like iPads from school property. Students are required to leave their cell phones at home or leave them outside the building, often incurring a daily charge for private storage that can cost a family on average $180 each year.

The reform announced today lifts the ban, and, if approved by the Panel for Educational Policy in February, will take effect in all schools on March 2. It allows for each school’s principal to consult with School Leadership Teams in developing a cell phone policy tailored for the unique needs of their students. As part of the change, schools will increase education and training to identify and prevent cyber-bullying, including a “Misuse It, You Lose It” policy.

“Parents should be able to call or text their kids. That’s something Chirlane and I felt ourselves when Chiara took the subway to high school in another borough each day, and we know it’s a sentiment parents across this city share. Lifting the ban respects families, and it will end the unequal enforcement that has penalized students at so many high-needs schools. We are giving educators the tools and the flexibility to make this change responsibly,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Lifting the cell phone ban is about common sense, while ensuring student safety as well as high-level learning in our classrooms,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “As a parent and a grandmother, I know that families and children feel safer when our students have access to cell phones. I also know that it’s simply not fair that members of school communities without metal detectors are more likely to have that sense of comfort than other families and students. With today’s changes, we are demonstrating our commitment to student safety and community concerns, as well as our respect for principals, as we allow them to develop a cell phone policy that best addresses their individual school’s unique challenges and circumstances.”

The new changes would remove cell phones and electronic communication devices from the list of banned items in schools, and create a new regulation, A-413, that specifically governs their use in school. Under the new regulation, principals will consult with School Leadership Teams in deciding among a range of options for their schools, depending on what they feel best meets the needs of their students, families and educators. In the coming weeks, schools will receive guidance on how to create an appropriate use policy. Among the options are:

• Store mobile devices in backpacks or a designated location during the school day
• Allow mobile devices to be used during lunch or in designated areas only
• Allow mobile devices for instructional purposes in some or all classrooms

For schools that do not develop a written cell phone policy promptly, the default will be a policy that allows students to bring cell phones into the building, but requires that the school or students store the phones out of sight for the duration of the school day. All cell phone policies must prohibit the use of cell phones during examinations, as well as during internal emergency preparedness drills and exercises, and be consistent with the DOE’s Discipline Code. Schools will have a range of options for discipline in cases where cell phones are misused, including confiscation.

... The proposed changes to the Chancellor’s Regulations must be approved by the Panel for Educational Policy. These changes will be voted on at the Panel’s February 25 meeting.

Click here for full statement.

Also, PS/IS 217 will be the location for January 12 Manhattan Community Board 8's Youth & Education Committee meeting  featuring a discussion of the Gifted & Talented Program.

Roosevelt Island Grand Larceny - Cell Phone Grabbed, Suspects Apprehended By Public Safety Department

Image From Android Authority

The 5/9 -10 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Report noted:

Grand Larceny - Two male subjects grabbed cell phone from victim. PSD apprehended subjects and they were placed under arrest.

On May 10, I sent the following inquiry to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)

Can you please provide additional details as to time of day this occurred, where it occurred, any injuries, how old was victim and suspects, was victim male or female, how long after the incident were the suspects apprehended and any other relevant information.

Thank you.

 Will update if a response is received.

This is how the 5/5 -6 Public Safety Report (on middle sidebar) described the May 5 death of woman falling from Manhattan Park apartment:

Aided- Medical Examiner was on scene, Aided deceased.

Thursday Evening Robbery and Assault At Roosevelt Island's Blackwell Park

I sent the following inquiry to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez and Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra last Friday:

The 9/15 -16 Public Safety Report notes the following robbery.

Robbery - Possible subjects know to this department. NYPD notified and prepared report. Search of the island made with negative results.

Can you provide any further details or information on this incident as well as this one from the 9/11 -12 Public Safety Report that I asked about in the email below.

Robbery - Search made with negative results. NYPD filed a report.

Thank you.

I received the following response today from RIOC Community Relations Specialist Erica Spencer-El (formerly Wilder):

On Thursday, September 15th, two young adults were robbed near Blackwell Park by three subjects. The three subjects assaulted the young adults, forcibly removing several items from their backpack and purse including a cell phone. One of the victims was a Roosevelt Island resident who was able to recognize the perpetrators.

After descriptions of the robbers were gathered, Public Safety apprehended two of the three subjects and processed their arrest at the 114th precinct on Saturday, September 17th. There is currently an arrest warrant out on the 3rd subject. 

I followed up asking:

What time of day did this incident occur? How old were the victims and subjects arrested? Young adults is a bit vague. 

Ms. Spencer-El replied:

The incident occurred at 6:13PM. The victims are both 18 years of age.

UPDATE 4:40 PM - The NY Post Daily Blotter adds:

Two teen punks were busted for beating and robbing a pair of victims on Roosevelt Island, cops said.

A 15-year-old thug and his accomplice set upon the victims at 6 p.m. Thursday on Main Street, court papers say.

They bit the male victim’s arm, punched him in the face and yanked his backpack away before slapping his female friend, bending her fingers and ripping off her purse, cops said.

The teens were arrested and charged with assault and robbery.

Roosevelt Island Resident Robbed Saturday Night Near Subway Station - IPhone Snatched, Suspects Arrested By NYPD With Assistance From Public Safety Department

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Report for 8/20 - 21 indicated:

Robbery - PSD assisted NYPD in the arrest of two subjects.

I inquired of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez and Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra for additional information.  Mr. Guerra replied:

On Saturday, August 20th at approximately 11:02 PM, a female island resident was robbed near the Train Station by two male juveniles; also island residents. Said juvenile male subjects assaulted the female victim while stealing her I-Phone. PSD & the NYPD were called. A canvass was performed by Officers from both agencies and subsequently, both subjects were apprehended and placed under arrest for Robbery. They were transported to the 114th precinct by the NYPD for processing. The female victim was treated and released by EMS on scene.

There have been other incidents in the past of cell phone robberies and snatches near the subway station.

It's probably a good idea to have the Public Safety Department Booth stationed near the subway, though not necessarily in front of the entrance where it currently is.

As reported in previous post, the Public Safety Department Booth is temporarily located at the subway entrance until it is moved across the street after completion of construction work by the MTA and RIOC.

The Daily Roosevelt Island Public Safety reports are published and archived on the Blog's middle sidebar.

Blackberry Stolen & Another Attempted Theft Of Roosevelt Island Iphone Near Subway

Image of Blackberry Phone From Slipperbrick

Commenting on yesterday's post about a Roosevelt Island Good Samaritan who chased after two thieves attempting to rob a woman of her cell phone by the Subway Station at 9:35 PM on April 6, a reader wrote:

I think these people tried to steal my phone as well. Yesterday as I was walking home from the subway 3 boys tried to rip my phone out of my hand. Luckily they didn't succeed and once I started screaming they left me alone. Hopefully they catch who did this.

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Report for 4/7 - 4/8 provides some additional information:

Attempted Robbery- Three males approached a female and attempted to take the cell phone from her hand. Female screamed and subjects fled. PSD responded and conducted a search with negative results. NYPD refused. No injuries.

Unfortunately, this Blackberry owner was not so lucky:

Grand Larceny- Male youth took a blackberry from a female and fled. PSD responded and conducted a search with negative results. No injuries. EMS refused. NYPD refused.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Chief Keith Guerra indicated yesterday that:

Our Ant-Crime Officers are looking further into the matter.

Stay Alert!

UPDATE 12:45 PM - Mr. Guerra adds the following information regarding yesterday's incidents:

At 4:04 PM, there was an attempted robbery of an I-phone by the west seawall. Thankfully, the victim was not injured and did not lose her phone, as she screamed loudly, and the unknown male subject fled southbound.

At 9:40 PM, an unknown male snatched a blackberry out of a woman's hand by the meditation steps and fled northbound.

Neither victim could give a full description of the male involved, but in both incidents, the male subject was described as African-American.

While neither victim did anything wrong, we do ask that everyone be aware of their surroundings while using their phones.

Roosevelt Island Good Samaritan Helps Another Resident Retrieve Stolen Iphone - Good Job!

Iphone Thief Image From Maximum PC

The 4/6 - 4/ 7 Roosevelt Island Daily Public Safety Report included this incident:

Robbery- Two male subjects forcible took an I phone from a female in the street. Witness ran after them. The cell phone was thrown on the ground. The witness returned the phone to the owner. PSD responded and conducted a search for the subjects with negative results. PSD crime unit to file a police report.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Chief Keith Guerra provides some additional details:

The Good Samaritan was a male who witnessed the I-phone being snatched out of the woman's hand. When he yelled and started chasing the subject, the I-phone was immediately dropped to the side by the fleeing subject. The Good Samaritan picked it up and returned it to the woman - who suffered no injuries. Our Ant-Crime Officers are looking further into the matter.

Mr. Guerra adds the incident occurred:

Yesterday, April 6th at approximately 9:35PM in front of 400 Main St. (Train Station).

Man Falls Asleep On Roosevelt Island Subway Platform - Pants Cut, Wallet & Iphone Stolen

Subway Sleeper Image From Through My Third Eye

Filed under the category of Don't Fall Asleep On The Roosevelt Island Subway Station Platform. According to the 1/6 - 1/7 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Report:

Robbery- In the subway. Male was asleep and unknown subject cut his pants and removed a wallet and an I Phone. PSD responded. EMS refused. Victim to file a report with Transit NYPD. search for the subject yielded negative results.

Subway Sleeper Image is for illustrative purposes only and does not involve the incident described.

2009 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident Statistics - Not Much Crime But Alot Of Parking Violations

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Stats 2009

How did the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department spend their time in 2009? Listed above are the 1524 Calls For Sevices/Responses Statistics for the Public Safety Department during 2009. The top five Service/Response categories were:

• Aided (EMS/Transport Cases - 603
• Investigations (Non - Crim) - 194
• Found Property - 104
• Unsecured Premises - 89 and
• Lost/Missing Property 80

There were 14 incidents of Assault, 10 Grand Larcenies, 9 Burglaries, 5 Robberies, 2 Grand Larceny Autos and no Roosevelt Island murders or rapes in 2009.

In addition, 9 incidents of Aggravated Assault, 32 Petit Larceny, 123 Criminal Mischief and 56 other Misdemeanors. Also, the following Violations Non - Crimes

• Noise - 31
• Graffiti - 54
• Trespass - 72
• Harassment -74
• Disorderly Conduct - 46
• Domestic Dispute - 73
• Other 116
• "A" Parking Violations - 3262 and
• "B" Traffic Violations - 659

Earlier this week, there was a robbery in the Motorgate Garage and an assault as described by the daily Roosevelt Island Public Safety Reports below.

0700hrs 01/15/10 - 0700hrs 01/16/10Robbery- Three male subjects robbed victim in the motorgate, motorgate attendee reported robbery to PSD and NYPD. PSD apprehended subjects, subjects were transported to PSD then 114th precinct.

1/16/10-7:00 AM to 1/17/10/-7:00 AM
Assault- 2 subjects punched an adult male while he was talking on a cell phone. They fled. PSD, NYPD responded and conducted a search with negative results. EMS transported the male to the hospital.

Click here for the archived 2009 Roosevelt Island Daily Public Safety Reports.