Report From RIOC President Charlene Indelicato - Roosevelt Island Hate Crime Investigation, Fall For Arts Festival Planning, Security Cameras Operational, Cultural Center Renovation, Helix Upgrades, Emergency Preparedness & More

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato sends the following report to the community.

 Image From 2012 Roosevelt Island Fall For Arts Festival

In recent weeks, an incident that took place on Roosevelt Island has been portrayed as a test of the characteristic openness and acceptance that our community is known for. Our community has made it clear that we will not endure discriminatory or prejudiced acts in our neighborhood, and we thank those of you who have reached out to us with your concerns. This Island has a long history of openness and diversity that remains strong to this day, and we will continue to work alongside the community in support of tolerance.

Summer Movie Series

Thank you to all who came out to the final screening in Roosevelt Island’s Outdoor Summer Movie Series, Goldfinger. This year’s movie series was a great success, drawing hundreds of attendees to Southpoint Park and Firefighter’s Field. If you would like to help decide what will be shown next year, please visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/RIOCny and vote on next year’s theme.

Fall for Arts

Although the movie series has ended, planning has already begun for Roosevelt Island’s annual Fall for Arts Festival. This free community event will take place on Saturday, October 11 from 11 AM until 4 PM at Southpoint Park. This year, the festival’s theme will be “A Multicultural Renaissance,” highlighting the arts and creativity of the middle ages as well as the many cultural groups that live together on Roosevelt Island.

For those interested in getting involved: RIOC is seeking individuals and community groups who would like to participate. If you or your organization is interested in painting a mural during the Festival, providing an interactive art activity, theatrical or musical performance, or if you’d simply like to volunteer at one of RIOC’s art activity booths, please contact Anna Rankin at anna.rankin@rioc.ny.gov. This is a wonderful opportunity to reach out to and engage with members of our community, encourage creativity and to celebrate the arts.

Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month, and the best way to be prepared is to stay informed. All Roosevelt Island residents are urged to sign up for RIOC Advisories, the island’s emergency and community alert system, for up-to-date information on emergencies, disruptions and other important information. If you have not already signed up, you can subscribe to RIOC Advisories online at rioc.ny.gov/advisorybody.htm. In addition, New York City’s Office of Emergency Management provides Notify NYC, the official citywide emergency alert system. Sign up at www.nyc.gov/notifynyc.

Does your family have a plan in case of emergency? If you missed last month’s Citizens Preparedness Training on Roosevelt Island, we encourage you to sign up for another of New York State’s training sessions online at prepare ny.gov/training-events. These sessions provide valuable instruction and information about how to keep yourself and your family safe, as well as how to recover quickly from a disaster situation. All participants also receive a free “Go Bag” containing supplies and useful items, such as a first aid kit and emergency radio.

Helix Ramp

The Helix Ramp, which connects Main Street with the Roosevelt Island Bridge, underwent a thorough evaluation and structural analysis last year. Contractors inspected the ramp and made recommendations for improvements, repairs and maintenance. RIOC recently released a Request for Proposals seeking a contractor to perform these upgrades. Bids were received last week on August 20; RIOC will review all submissions and select the most qualified vendor to perform the work next year.

Cultural Center

Restoration is progressing at the Cultural Center. Construction on the interior of the building has moved forward with the completion of duct alterations and electrical roughing. The walls of the Center have been framed and a percentage of the sheetrock has already been installed. We anticipate the completion of construction by the end of the year and look forward to reopening this valuable community space.

Seawall Improvements

After Hurricane Sandy, repairs and improvements to the seawall which surrounds Roosevelt Island became necessary. Design work for the east seawall near Southpoint Park is now almost complete. Once the design is finalized, a permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be required before a Request for Proposals can be issued. Once responses to the RFP are received, RIOC’s Procurement Guidelines will be followed to determine which vendor will perform the work.

Camera System

The newly installed island-wide security camera system is substantially complete and currently operational. Right now, the system is undergoing a 30-day monitoring period to determine and address any potential issues. After this period is complete and any problems are resolved, the next phase of the project will begin. During this time, Public Safety will work with the IT department to identify additional locations for camera placement. A Request for Proposals will be released seeking qualified vendors to complete the last phase of installation.

Update On NYPD Hate Crime Investigation Of Assault On Roosevelt Island Sikh Resident - 15 Year Old Turns Himself In To Police Yesterday

 Image Of August 14 Sikh Coalition Press Conference (Dr Batra On Right)

Reported August 14:

... on an assault that took place near the Blackwell Park playground

Image Of Blackwell Plaza From Google Maps

against a Roosevelt Island Sikh resident, Dr. Jaspreet Singh Batra, that is being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force.

Yesterday, an arrest was made in the August 7 assault of Dr. Batra. According to a NYPD spokesperson, a 15 year old Roosevelt Island male, accompanied by his mother, turned himself in to the 114 precinct for the assault against Dr. Batra, No other arrests were made and the investigation is continuing.

Dr. Batra described the August 7 incident during August 14 press conference organized by the Sikh Coalition.





More information available from previous posts.

Update On Assault Against Roosevelt Island Sikh Resident - How Do Kids Learn To Hate And How Does The Community Battle Intolerance Asks Long Time RI'er?

 Image Of August 14 Sikh Coalition Press Conference (Dr Batra On Right)

Reported August 14:

... on an assault that took place near the Blackwell Park playground

Image Of Blackwell Plaza From Google Maps

against a Roosevelt Island Sikh resident, Dr. Jaspreet Singh Batra, that is being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force. Earlier today, Dr. Batra participated in a press conference, organized by the Sikh Coalition, explaining in greater detail the circumstances surrounding his assault.

A full report on the Press Conference is here.

Channel 7 Eyewitness News reports on the Roosevelt Island incident as well as other similar incidents in NY area.



In response to the assault against Dr. Batra, a long time resident of Roosevelt Island who wishes to be identified as Islandkrewe, sent in this observation to Roosevelt Islander Online. He hopes that:

... it will encourage constructive action and policy that might prevent further racist behavior by young people....

Islandkrewe can occasionally found in the Art Gallery on the Island playing jazz guitar. From Islandkrewe:

How do Kids learn to hate ?

A week ago , Dr Jaspreet Singh Batra and his mother, both residents of Roosevelt Island were subject to a shameful attack near Blackwell House.

His attackers were kids, described as "young people, around 12-15 years old" and fled into a key entry building on Roosevelt Island.

Regardless of how long one has known Roosevelt Island and its community, it is a painful and shameful event. But for those of us who call this Island home. the pain and shame is much much deeper.

How can kids who have grown up and live in a truly multi-racial, heterogeneous community such as ours learn to hate and inflict their hate in this manner ? Can a group of young people foster such thinking among themselves without their parents or elders knowing about it ? Could we have done better as a community ? Have we ignored or dismissed what might have been warning signals , or have we simply been unaware ?

These are troubling questions and there are no easy answers. What we can say, with some certainty, is that we have an issue that we must confront. And confronting the problem will take our entire participation ...  it takes a village.

The young people who led this attack were not born with these hateful and prejudicial thoughts. And living on this Island, they have surely encountered different cultures, both at school and outside the schoolroom. How could they have not seen what is around them on Roosevelt Island ? The diversity of color, creed and language, and the internationalism that is so much a part of this Island, and that gives it its special sauce.

So how do they learn to hate and how do they learn intolerance ? And what gives them the conviction to act on it ? And what should we do as a community to prevent this from happening again ?

Joyce Dubensky, CEO of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, who was at the Media briefing sponsored by the Sikh Coalition, was emphatic about the need to integrate and stress the importance of teaching respect for others’ beliefs, and inclusion, as early as possible in community schools.



The Tanenbaum Center published materials include Religions in My Neighborhood, a curriculum designed for K-4 students. It includes lesson plans about respecting others’ beliefs, teaches inclusion, and is compatible with common core standards.

Do our schools on Roosevelt Island include a program that is focused on Teaching Tolerance ? Do our city schools emphasize this issue in their curriculum ? How does the NYC Board of Ed bring this into the classroom ?

When we recognize hatred and bias in our community, what else must we do ?

Yes, the kids need to held accountable and counselled, and although this might not be something that would all agree with, such action could well be the best form of "punishment" rather than destroying young peoples lives with arrest records.

Sherrie Helstien, an Island resident had some concrete suggestions, which are quoted with her permission:

A “non-interested”/neutral party needs to find out if all the parties: kids and victim(s), and I assume, the kids’ parents, will agree to meet. The intent being, at the very least, a direct and sincere apology from the kids involved in their violent action. If so, then the non-interested party needs to arrange this meeting between/among them all. The kids/parents need to be asked privately and individually, so as to not influence each other. They need to do what is good for themselves, and they need to understand this concept and the seriousness of their decision, either way.

All/each of these kids (girls and boys alike) shall make the choice of either participating in the meeting, or alternately, having charges upheld in whatever form that might take, go on their records, if that is the procedure;

If a meeting is agreed to by all or various of the parties, one would hope the victim will also agree to take an active role in the process. Perhaps more than one meeting will be needed/desired [tbd by the parties involved] to continue to educate/enlighten the kids involved, or maybe it will be decided that this one is enough;

The first thing the kids must each do, individually is apologize to the man and his mother, whether she is available or not (I don’t know if she was visiting or lives with him), understanding the psychological harm and actual physical injury/ies they’ve helped perpetrate.

Then, these kids all must agree to be “enlightened” by their victim and mother, about their prejudice(s), to whit, they need to be educated about the Sikh sect. If the victim cares to go further and feels qualified to do so in a neutral way, he should talk to the kids about various cultural differences between South Asian sects, Arabic, and African ethnic groups (attire, etc.). They need to be made to understand that this “education” is not in any way saying that one group is better or more/less “dangerous” than the/another because we know that is just not true, of course.

I believe that, sometimes, when kids are given an opportunity to apologize directly to their victim, confronting their own shame, and taking responsibility for their own actions, and are even required to supply some form of mutually agreeable and reasonable direct restitution to their victim(s), they will have a chance to learn to see their victim and thus, others, as not apart from/unlike themselves, rather than learning nothing but negatives with negative interaction with “the law”.

If the kids choose to meet and work in good faith with the victim, the one thing that will bind the kids (and their parents) to their words is that they be required to sign a “contract” with the victim/s. If they fulfill the requirements of the “contract” then they should not have this “problem” appear on any record.

And they should know that the community’s “eyes” are now upon them for the future.

Sherrie adds:

There is a program offered specifically for schools to use by the Southern Poverty Law Center called “Teaching Tolerance”, and it’s offered for all age groups. This might be something to address with the PS/IS217 school principal.

Good thoughts and good ideas, which I am sure will stimulate additional constructive paths. Do we agree? Can we make this happen?

But there is more that needs to happen. If we accept that hate is a learned behavior, fed by various sources, including negative media, much more needs to be done. We cannot grapple with all the forces that contribute to creating intolerance, but what can do is to act as a "village" and take responsibility.

Responsibility includes stepping up and willing to 'be counted" when we see intolerance or prejudice in our community. Silence is assent. If you do not object, it is assumed that you accept something. We are not a community that will accept evil. There were witnesses to the attack on Dr. Batra. Speak up and stand up for Tolerance . Commend the young woman who stepped up to intercede. Attend and show your support at community events that rally around important causes such as this. Do the right thing. And never let this happen again.

More information on the incident available here including Dr. Batra's description of what happened.

Roosevelt Island Sikh Resident Describes Assault Incident Being Investigated By NYPD Hate Crime Task Force In Detail At Press Conference Today - He Asks Teenage Attackers To Turn Themselves In To Police And Start Healing Process

 Image From Sikh Coalition Press Conference Today ( Dr Batra On Right)

Reported last Friday on an assault that took place near the Blackwell Park playground

Image Of Blackwell Plaza From Google Maps

against a Roosevelt Island Sikh resident, Dr. Jaspreet Singh Batra, that is being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force. Earlier today, Dr. Batra participated in a press conference, organized by the Sikh Coalition, explaining in greater detail the circumstances surrounding his assault. According to Dr. Batra:

On August 7th, as I was walking with my mother for dinner to celebrate her birthday, I was attacked by a group of young people on Roosevelt Island. They called us “Osama bin Laden” and told us to “go back to your country.” One of them punched me in the face. Another one punched me in the back of the neck. I tried to pursue them but had to call the police and go the hospital. My family and I always deplored hate crimes from a distance. Ever since August 7th, we now had to experience not just the pain inflicted from such a crime but also have to bear the agony during the healing process.

Thankfully, we found much needed support from family, friends and from citizens of this country far and near. Unfortunately, I was surrounded by hatred during the incident but now we are surrounded by positive energy.

As much as the healing process is painful, it also gave us the time to reflect on certain things:

1. How come young minds that have so much to learn and explore have become the breeding grounds of hatred? Should we hold these teenagers accountable or their parents, or the education system here in New York City, which has failed them and as a result has failed us?
2. My mother and I were called “Osama bin Laden.” Is the “O” word the new “N” word?
3. Ever since 9/11 happened, the whole world changed forever. Sikhs became victims of hate crime in increasing numbers. Despite so many resources being channeled towards diversity awareness campaigns, Sikhs are still being attacked. We need more proactive strategies at all levels of society to end this bigotry.
4. Policy makers need to come up with a plan to develop and implement a mandatory diversity education program in schools and colleges that teaches young people about the value of all faiths and ethnicities. That's the right time to catch these young minds and offer them the opportunity to explore the beauty that lies in diversity
5. Not taking any action is a recipe for disaster and an invitation for further abuse/crime. I look for justice but not for vengeance. If these young people or their parents come forward and accept their fault, we can let the healing begin and take a positive approach to involve them in the community and pass a message of peace and tolerance to society at large.

Thank you.

Here's Dr Batra's statement from today's press conference



and a more detailed explanation of the incident including:

• Dr. Batra reporting that Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department video surveillance cameras were working in the area of the attack,
• parents with their children were in the Blackwell Park playground area during the attack. Dr Batra was not sure if they saw the incident,
• one young woman playing at the basketball court came forward to try and stop the teenagers from attacking him,
• there were witnesses at the basketball court who should have been able to see the attack and
• the incident lasted about 10 minutes

The Sikh coalition issued this statement at today's press conference:

Three Sikh men—all violently attacked because of their turbans in separate New York City hate crimes—today called on government and police leaders to enact policy reforms to address violence and discrimination against minority communities in New York City.

At a press conference organized by the Sikh Coalition, Dr. Jaspreet Singh Batra, a medical scientist, recounted how he was attacked and injured last Thursday on Roosevelt Island. Speaking via video because of the seriousness of his injuries, Sandeep Singh, a business owner and father, deemed his slow recovery a “miracle” after being run over and dragged by a driver in a pick-up truck on a public street in Queens late last month. Both assaults, which were accompanied by racial and religious slurs, occurred almost one year after Dr. Prabhjot Singh was attacked in Harlem. Dr. Singh joined the men in solidarity.

“This is not a Sikh problem,” said Dr. Prabhjot Singh. “This is a human problem, a New York City problem, and an American problem about how we take responsibility for each other. I hope that Mayor De Blasio and Police Commissioner Bratton will follow through on meeting with us to find a productive way forward. We can't afford to be satisfied with how things were.”

According to surveys by the Sikh Coalition, violence and discrimination affect Sikhs of all ages. According to one report, 60 percent of Sikh children in New York City have experienced bullying and harassment because of their religion, and 9 percent of Sikh adults have been physically assaulted because of their religion since 9/11. Sikh advocates believe that the New York Police Department (NYPD) contributes to the problem by refusing to hire turbaned Sikhs who wish to serve as police officers, and the Sikh Coalition has called on government officials to create a task force to systematically address hate violence and discrimination against all communities in New York City.

“Sikhs are repeatedly attacked because of the way we look, and the NYPD discriminates against us because of the way we look,” said Rajdeep Singh, Director of Law and Policy for the Sikh Coalition. “How can we expect the New York City government to prevent bias attacks against Sikhs when the government itself is biased against Sikhs? We need real reform, and we need it now.”

The statements from all press conference participants are available at the Sikh coalition web site. Will have more on today's press conference later and here's post from last Friday about the incident.

RIRA President Jeff Escobar On NY State Inspector General's Roosevelt Island Corruption Report And Possible Hate Crime Incident Against Roosevelt Island Resident

 Image From RIRA

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) President Jeff Escobar had the following to say regarding the recent NY State Inspector General's (IG) Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)  corruption report and the possible hate crime incident against a Roosevelt Island Sikh resident now under investigation by the NYPD.

From Mr. Escobar:

Regarding the IG report, please note:

The past administration of then RIOC President Torres, Vice-President Martinez and CFO Chironis was prior to the current RIRA administration, and well before my time as RIRA President. The community thanks the Inspector General for its service and report, and has every confidence that the current RIOC administration will not engage in such practices as identified therein.

As to the Blackwell Park attack:

Roosevelt Island is a diverse community that takes pride in its differences and ability to come together, no matter a neighbor's background. Violence of any sort or form on our Island should never be tolerated, regardless of its basis. News of any attack that occurs on Roosevelt Island is a disturbing one, and we will be asking our RIRA Public Safety Committee to closely monitor and report on the situation.

Still no comment for the RIOC Board of Directors on the IG Roosevelt Island corruption report.

RIRA Island House Common Council member Helen Chirivas added:

The RIOC governance structure is deliberately kept weak by Albany so that Albany leaders can exert maximum control over development decisions. Having a weak structure may suit the Governor and the legislative leaders, when it comes time to making development decisions that may be unpopular with the local populace, but having a such a weak structure also means the potential for corruption is “unlimited:” For every “scandal” that the IG uncovered, there are probably ten more that remain hidden. The RIOC governance structure, as weak as it is, is a recipe for disaster and an invitation to abuse.

And:

I am distressed by this violent attack on a man walking down the street on RI minding his own business – an attack that occurred because of prejudice and hate. He was attacked because he “looked different” or “dressed differently” than those that attacked him. This is prejudice and those that attacked this innocent man must be found and brought to justice for their hateful deed.

We are all brothers and sisters, and cultural differences should be celebrated, not looked upon with suspicion or hate. This is true everywhere, but especially on RI with its large number of residents of all nations employed by the United Nations, an organization dedicated to peace and brotherhood.

(1) I call on RIOC and PSD to immediately disseminate information to the community, perhaps starting with presentations at the school and/or at churches or other community organizations, pointing out that brotherhood is key and dispelling religious, cultural, ethnic, or racial prejudice, which has no place on RI, in NY, or in the US. Despite the monumental and long overdue achievement of electing and re-electing an African American President after approximately 265 years of the existence of the United States, bringing the hope that America had finally entered a “post-racial” age, cultural/ethnic prejudice still unfortunately exists. It is up to us to call for the preservation of our community’s peace and security by requesting that RIOC and PSD immediately implement an education program as outlined above.

(2) PSD needs to allocate officer resources more effectively. If necessary, if there are inadequate number of officers, the NYPD can supplement the presence of officers on the ground. To be the victim of hateful slurs and violently attacked at 8PM – when the sun is in fact still out at this time of year – is unacceptable here, in our community, or anywhere else in the US. Where was PS when this attack occurred? Residents need to be reassured that their reasonable expectation of security on the island is well-founded. Perhaps a Town Hall meeting wherein PSD can describe the measures they take to ensure residents’ security can be held.

It is important to note that no determination has been made by NYPD that a "hate crime" occurred. The incident is being investigated.

Roosevelt Island Sikh Resident Assaulted Near Blackwell House 8 PM Last Night - NYPD Investigating Possible Hate Crime Says RIOC

 Image From The Sikh Coalition

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Report listed today:

8/7/14 - 2015 - 500 Main St. - Assault - PSD/NYPD responded. NYPD report filed.

A NYPD spokesperson reported that a group of 12 - 13 year olds punched a male victim in the head at approximately 8 PM last night in front of 500 Main Street.

 Image Of Area Surrounding Blackwell House (500 Main Street)

The victim suffered minor cuts and bruises, was sent to Cornell Hospital and then released.

This evening, I received the press release below from the Sikh Coalition:

A Sikh resident of New York City was attacked and injured on Roosevelt Island last night in an apparent hate crime. The attack occurred just days after another suspected hate crime, in which Sandeep Singh—a Sikh American—was run over and dragged on a public street in Queens by a driver in a pick-up truck. The Sikh Coalition is calling on the NYPD to investigate both attacks as hate crimes and urges witnesses to come forward.

The target of the Roosevelt Island attack was treated at a local hospital and is recovering from his injuries. Although he has chosen to remain anonymous, he issued the following statement:

I am a physician scientist living and working in New York City. My mom and I were walking to dinner last night on Roosevelt Island. Both of us wear turbans and maintain uncut hair in accordance with our Sikh religious beliefs. As we passed a playground around 8:15pm, we were confronted by approximately 10 teenagers. They called us “Osama bin Laden” and told us to “go back to your country.” They called my mother a “bitch with facial hair.” I told them to stop, but they surrounded me. One of them punched me in the face. Another one punched me in the back of the neck. Another one tried to throw a filled soda bottle at me. As they ran away, I tried pursuing them but was dizzy and felt a lot of pain. I called the police and was treated at a hospital.

I want the New York Police Department to investigate this attack as a hate crime and arrest the people who attacked me before they hurt someone else. I want witnesses to come forward and contact the police immediately. My mom is visiting me from India. She thought that Americans respect religious freedom and that the police and the government here do everything in their power to prevent violence and arrest criminals. I don’t want her to lose faith that justice will be done.

The Sikh Coalition urges witnesses to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. The attack occurred at approximately 8:15pm on Thursday, August 7th near a playground on the Queens side of Roosevelt Island. The attackers consisted of approximately 10 teenagers. Of these, one was a white male on a small bicycle who initiated the hate slurs; the rest were black; and three were female. The Sikh Coalition has requested the intervention of the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force and urged investigators to preserve surveillance footage that may have recorded the crime.

“We’re tired of being targeted again and again by bigots, but Sikh Americans aren’t afraid and aren’t going to let a small group of narrow-minded individuals get us down,” said Rajdeep Singh, Director of Law and Policy at the Sikh Coalition. “We look forward to working with the New York City government, including the NYPD and Mayor de Blasio, to arrest the attackers, stop hate crimes in New York City, and make all of our communities safe.”

Headquartered in New York City, the Sikh Coalition is the largest Sikh American advocacy organization in the United States. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.sikhcoalition.org.

In response to my inquiries, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Director Jack McManus said:

The NYPD 114th precinct is investigating and treating the incident as a possible hate crime.

RIOC President Charlene Indelicato added:

In our very diverse community on Roosevelt Island, hate crimes are unacceptable and RIOC will work diligently with the NYPD to make sure Roosevelt Island is a safe community for everyone.

UPDATE 8/11 - Statement from members of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association.

UPDATE 5:20 PM - A NYPD spokesperson confirmed today that the incident is being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force.

The Huffington Post has more on the incident:

Doctor Jaspreet Singh Batra came forward on Monday as the victim of an alleged Sikh hate crime that took place in New York City...

... As he continues to process what happened, Batra said he hopes for justice -- but not for vengeance.

"I know that these kids live in my neighborhood," Batra said. "I know they're teenagers, and they're still in the process of making sense of the world. For me to have closure, I would prefer that these young people come forward and accept their fault, and that we take a positive approach to involve them in the community."

As part of a long lasting path to justice, Batra said he would like to see a mandatory diversity education program in schools and colleges that teaches young people about the value of all faiths and ethnicities.

"I think there should be a school program where a diversity education course is mandated to make sure all youngsters attend because that's the age you start making opinions. That's the right time to catch these young minds, to make them explore the beauty that lies in diversity."

Click here for the full Huffington Post article.