Keep Roosevelt Island Clean And Beautiful - Don't Be A Pooper-Trator, Pick Up After Your Dog, It's The Law And You Could Get A $250 Summons

Roosevelt Island resident Rossana Ceruzzi is a dog owner and Founder of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation (WFF). The WFF together with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) and NYC Department of Sanitation has initiated a public service campaign reminding everyone to:

Keep Roosevelt Island Clean and Beautiful. Don't Be a "Pooper-trator. Pick up after Your Dog. It's The Law

Including a $250 Fine for violators.

According to Ms Ceruzzi:

Commonly called the “Pooper-Scooper Law” the regulation cites that all pet owners must remove or clean up all fecal waste deposited by their dogs on the public and private property. The “Pooper Scooper Law” does not apply to guide dogs or service dogs walking with people who have disabilities.

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department enforces the Pooper Scooper Law and accepts reports of places where dog walkers regularly fail to pick up after their dogs. These locations include streets, sidewalks, and other areas

Failure of dog owners/walkers to pick up their dog poop has been a long term problem on Roosevelt Island.

In 2016, reported on a resident's complaint of:

I found some dog owners carelessly behave too often in this Island, especially behind of Roosevelt Landings.

... Whatever it takes, this problem has to be corrected.

I pick up some unpleasant dog's waste by myself when it's dropped middle of path, because I am afraid to step on it after dark.

RIOC Public Safety Chief Jack McManus discussed the problem of dog poop and dogs off leashes



during this 2016 Roosevelt Island Residents Association Public Safety Committee meeting.

Roosevelt Island Dog Owners Ignore No Pet Or Dog Signage At Rivercross Lawn - Dog Does It's Business

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports dog owners ignoring NO DOG signage on the Rivercross Lawn near Meditation Steps and allowing their pet to do its business.

Either they're blind or just don't give a shit. Pun intended. #rooseveltisland #nyc #disrespectful… https://t.co/WpvYgVnJKX

— NamelyNorm (@NamelyNorm) October 7, 2015

Either they're blind or just don't give a shit. Pun intended. #rooseveltisland #nyc #disrespectful #smh

A photo posted by @namelynorm on Oct 7, 2015 at 7:43am PDT

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) March 9 Operations Advisory Committee meeting discussed the problems of people not cleaning up after their dogs. RIOC Director Margie Smith asked for greater enforcement



including tickets and fines for dog owners not obeying the law.

RIOC Public Safety Deputy Director Lynda Marmara said the Public Safety Officers have to see the dog poop violation in order to issue a summons.

The April 2015 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council meeting also discussed the problem of curbing your Roosevelt Island dog.

UPDATE 11 PM - Below is an example of Pick Up After Your Dog signage in Sunnyside Queens. Notice the sign says area is under video surveillance and $250 fine for violators.

Roosevelt Island Rats, Urinating Dogs, Sportspark And Tram Station Among Topics Addressed By RIRA Island Services Committee At Common Council Meeting Last Night

Image Of Commercial Garbage Area Opposite 425 Main Street

Below is the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Island Services Committee (ISC) report to the April 2015 Common Council (CC) Meeting submitted by Chair Aaron Hamburger

RIRA – ISLAND SERVICES COMMITTEE (ISC)

REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL – 4/1/15
ISC met 3/24/15 with 7 members present from the membership of 11.

New Tram Elevators – The elevator project is in the 90 day design period, expected to be completed by mid‐May. As soon as the design is finished, ISC will urge RIOC to start negotiations with NYC to obtain the necessary park land to accommodate the larger foot‐ print for the new elevators.

Access to Tram for Strollers, Bicycles & the Disabled ‐ Wording for the proposed new signs on the Tram emergency gates has been submitted to RIOC. These signs remove the threat of a summons for anyone opening the gates.

Condition of Spotspark Facilities & Programs – A comprehensive report on conditions at Sportspark, prepared by Susy Perea, was discussed and endorsed by ISC. However, the report needs some rounding‐out before submission to RIOC. ISC members are adding additional information to the report. The final report, which should be available later in April, will be sent to appropriate people at RIOC. We will ask for a series of meetings to develop an action plan and timing for fixing the many problems at this facility.

Control of Rats & Pigeons – Rossana described the situation at the commercial garbage yard opposite 425 Main St. In a word, the area is a mess which is attracting many rats. Rossana is preparing a report describing the problem, suggesting procedures to solve the problem and citing NYC Health Dept. regulations covering storage and disposal of commercial garbage. The report will be presented to RIOC and the commercial businesses in Southtown who are responsible for proper handling of their garbage.

Dog Urination Problem at Roosevelt Landings Main St. Section. – Roosevelt Landings has begun weekly washing of the sidewalks under the Main St. canopy. We’ve requested that they post “Curb Your Dog”” signs at strategic locations along Main St.

There was nothing new to report on 3 other active issues – Condition of Sidewalks & Paths, Re‐establish Boy Scouts on RI, and Management of the Garden Club.

Mr. Hamberger updated the RIRA CC on the clean up of the Commercial Garbage area reporting that:

... some of the rats were invading 425...

Riverwalk building, but that the condition has now been mostly corrected by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC).

RIRA CC member Joyce Short commented on the dog urination portion of the report said that "curbing" your dog was not appropriate on Roosevelt Island because if you curb you dog on Main Street, the dog will be hit by a car. Ms. Short suggested dog owners bring their dogs behind Roosevelt Landings "to do their business" before walking on Main Street.

Here's the discussion.

Can Hamburg Germany Peeback Wall Solve Roosevelt Island Dog Wall Peeing Problem - Also, RIOC Discusses Dog Poop And Pigeon Dropping Mess During Operations Committee Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Island Services Committee (ISC) reported February 4:

Dogs are urinating on the outside walls of Roosevelt Landings under the Main St. canopy. The situation is particularly acute at the north end of the canopy. Walls are being damaged and there are unsightly messes in this area. We discussed a number of ways to attack this problem including getting Public Safety to issue summons, getting RL management to routinely hose down the sidewalk under the canopy, posting signs in the affected areas and experimenting with an anti‐urination spray for dogs.

and updated:

Dog Urination Problem – Roosevelt Landings Management has committed to washing the sidewalks at least once a week except in cold, freezing weather. Cynthia reports the dog repellent spray only lasted for one day. The spray needed to be renewed every day. So spraying is probably not a practical way to solve the problem. We will try to get Management to put signs up in strategic places which state” Curb Your Dog, Violators Subject to a Summons”.

Image Of Dog Urine On Roosevelt Landings Wall and Sidewalk

Hamburg Germany came up with a solution to humans peeing on walls

How Hamburg dealt w/public urination: "walls that pee back" http://t.co/MGjoJTuc1x #ultraeverdry @LESdwellers pic.twitter.com/eVdOfWJMXJ
— Zach Tumin (@ZachTumin) March 14, 2015

which may help solve the Roosevelt Island wall peeing Dog problem




On a similar issue, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) discussed the problems of Roosevelt Island dog poop and pigeon droppings during its March 9 Operations Advisory Committee meeting (full audio web cast of meeting here).



RIOC Director Margie Smith urged Public Safety Director Jack McManus to give out alot of expensive tickets for people not cleaning up after their dogs and for those feeding the pigeons.

RIOC Deputy Public Safety Director Linda Marmara reported that a summons can only be given out if an officer witnesses the incident. RIOC Public Safety Director Jack McManus said "I think we have to work a little harder on that".

RIRA Island Services Committee Active Roosevelt Island Issues - New Elevator For Tram Station, Sportspark Facilities, Tram Gate Access, Boy Scouts, Management Of Garden Club, New Public Library, Rat and Pigeon Control & Dog Urination

 Image of Out Of Service Tram Passenger Elevator and ADA Red Lift From May 29 2013

Below is the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Island Services Committee (ISC) report to the February 2015 Common Council Meeting submitted by Chair Aaron Hamburger

RIRA – ISLAND SERVICES COMMITTEE (ISC) REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL ‐ 2/4/15

The ISC met on 1/13/15 with 8 members present from the total membership of 12.

Active Issues – The ISC reviewed all active issues from the last term and decided to continue the 7 issues in the new term. ISC members were assigned “Lead Person” responsibilities for each issue.

The issues are:

• New Elevator at Manhattan Tram Station
• Condition of Sportspark Facilities
• Easy Access to Tram for Strollers, Bicycles and the Disabled at the Roosevelt Island (RI) Station 
• Re‐establish Boy Scouts on Roosevelt Island (RI)
• Management of Roosevelt Island Garden Club
• New Public Library
• Control of Rats and Pigeons on RI

New Issue – Dogs are urinating on the outside walls of Roosevelt Landings under the Main St. canopy. The situation is particularly acute at the north end of the canopy. Walls are being damaged and there are unsightly messes in this area. We discussed a number of ways to attack this problem including getting Public Safety to issue summons, getting RL management to routinely hose down the sidewalk under the canopy, posting signs in the affected areas and experimenting with an anti‐urination spray for dogs.

The ISC expects to next meet in mid‐February

Let the RIRA ISC know if you have an issue or concern about Roosevelt Island services and they may be able to help.

Please Clean Up After Your Dog Pooping And Urinating On Roosevelt Island Main Street Asks Resident - RIOC Public Safety Department Says Tell Us When You See Offender And We Will Issue Summons

A Roosevelt Island resident is concerned that:

Main Street is becoming a serious Dog's urinating place

and shares

these photos

showing the results.

The resident, who fears possible angry reaction of some Roosevelt Island dog owners to these concern prefers to remain anonymous, adds:

Here's an article that deals with dog pee and in it, there is this text:

Health Code § 161.03 Control of dogs and other animals to prevent nuisance.

A person who owns, possesses or controls a dog, cat or other animal shall not permit the animal to commit a nuisance on a sidewalk of any public place, on a floor, wall, stairway or roof of any public or private premises used in common by the public, or on a fence, wall or stairway of a building abutting on a public place.

Notes to § 161.03

This section is derived from S.C. § 227. Specific reference is made to cats as well as dogs. The reference to walls within premises is new. Under New York City Criminal Courts Act § 102c a magistrate is empowered to try and punish a violation of this section as an offense punishable by a fine of $25 or ten days imprisonment, or both.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) policy on subject is as follows:

ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION

DOG CONTROL POLICY

New York State and New York City animal control laws are intended to safeguard the health and safety of the public.

A dog control policy for Roosevelt Island intends to safeguard the health and safety of Island residents and visitors.

It is the intent of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) to have a policy that is consistent with the regulations of the City and State of New York. As such, it is the policy of RIOC that responsible dog owners on Roosevelt Island will:

• Have their dogs actively vaccinated against the disease of rabies and be able to provide proof of such vaccination:
• Obtain a license for their dog from the City of New York (New York City Dog License Law, Chapter 115 of the Laws of 1894 as amended);
• Attach a dog license tag to the dog�s collar when the animal is in a public place (New York City Health Code �161.04);
• Hold the dog on a leash no longer than six feet when the dog is in a public place (New York City Health Code �161.05);
• Remove their dog�s feces from any public areas (New York City Health Code �161.03 and New York Public Health Law �1310);
• Utilize only designated dog walk area(s) for off leash roaming of their dog.
• Effective immediately, Public Safety Officers will enforce this policy and issue notices of violations to dog owners who are not in compliance.

RIOC Public Safety Director (PSD) Jack McManus and Deputy Director Lynda Marmara discussed RIOC's dog control policy during December 15 meeting of Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Safety Committee. Director McManus said that if PSD is told of such an occurrence, they will issue a summons to the offending dog owner.



Also, reported previously on the filthy conditions, including dog urine and pigeon poop, at the Main Street Motorgate Garage.