Roosevelt Island Corruption Allegations Against RIOC President And Senior Staff By 3 Former Employees In Whistleblower Lawsuit Getting City Wide Attention In Crains NY Article - Assembly Member Seawright Says Reports Are "Alarming"And Demands "Transparency And Accountability From RIOC"

Crains NY Business reported yesterday:

Claims of 'chaos,' corruption engulf Roosevelt Island governing body https://t.co/ZDcbp5WXIU

— Crain's New York (@CrainsNewYork) April 4, 2023

Roosevelt Island @RIOCny corruption allegations finally getting city wide attention. Read the article. https://t.co/SCuyitX2uE

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) April 4, 2023

Click here for the full article.

Yesterday, I asked NY State Governor Kathy Hochul and Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Chairperson (also Commissioner of NY State Homes and Community Renewal) Ruthanne Visnauskas:

Roosevelt Islander Online has previously reported on corruption allegations made by former RIOC employees against senior Rioc management including current Rioc President Shelton Haynes as well as a whistleblower lawsuit filed by former Rioc employees who allege they were fired because they reported their concerns to the NY State Inspector General.

Here and here for example.

Today Crain’s New York reported much of this information too. According to Crain's (article behind a paywall):

Three ex-employees of the state body that controls Roosevelt Island say their bosses steered public money toward a personal friend, concealed details about a drowning death, then fired whistleblowers who raised objections:

Does Governor Hochul have any comment on this matter of great concern to the Roosevelt Island community? Does the Governor have confidence in Shelton Haynes remaining as Rioc President?

A spokesperson for Governor Hochul answered:

We’ll decline comment due to the pending litigation.

I followed up:

I understand limitations caused by the lawsuit. 

But can you comment as to whether there is any investigation by the State regarding these charges and if Shelton Haynes will remain Rioc President while the allegations are pending?

These are very serious allegations of great concern to the Roosevelt Island community.

 Will update if there is a reply.

According to Roosevelt Island NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright:

The reports made by whistleblowers, 3 former Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) employees are alarming. I along with my Roosevelt Island constituents continue to fight for transparency and accountability from RIOC, the governing agency.

Ms Seawright adds:

Roosevelt Islanders deserve quality representation that is responsive and transparent. When I and other elected officials received an anonymous report from RIOC employees on March 21, 2022, I immediately referred the complaint to the New York State Inspector General for appropriate follow-up and action. Constituents consistently report that the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) has been unresponsive in the day to day operations of the agency. The dysfunction and veil of secrecy cited throughout the pending lawsuit is distressing and unacceptable. I will continue fighting to ensure RIOC is held accountable and that the people of Roosevelt Island receive the services and attention they most assuredly deserve.

Here's the lawsuit filed by former RIOC employees.

RIOC President Shelton Haynes did not respond to my request for comment on the matter.   

The Crains article adds:

... Through an attorney, Haynes and RIOC declined to be interviewed. Their attorney, Howard Miller, said in a statement that the allegations made against the corporation are “completely false and fabricated.” “The lawsuit itself is a means of exacting a settlement over the severance pay that was offered to the plaintiffs,” Miller said in a statement....

... RIOC has filed a motion to dismiss the suit, which remains pending. Meanwhile, in mid-March, the corporation hit back with its own defamation lawsuit against the three fired employees—the latest chapter in years of controversy that have clouded the agency’s work....

Claims of 'chaos,' corruption engulf #rooseveltisland #nyc governing body @sheltonjhaynes @RIOCny by @nick_garber , also thanks to excellent reporting by @RI_Daily and @Rooseveltisland for holding the feet to the fire https://t.co/b1nLTIp4ck

— Jonn Nubian ® (@JonnNubian) April 5, 2023

During the April 3, 2023 RIOC Board of Directors meeting, there was no mention by Mr Haynes or the Board Directors of any chaos or corruption allegations but there was a last minute item placed on the meeting agenda for an Executive Session (meaning, in secret and closed to the public) concerning pending litigation.

Nor did Mr Haynes address any of the corruption and management chaos allegations in his President's Report to the community. Instead he praised his RIOC team and noted that in 2 weeks he will be celebrating his 7th anniversary working at RIOC.

Here's the RIOC President's Report from Mr Haynes.

Stay tune for more to come.

Lawsuit Brought Against Roosevelt Island Operating Corp, RIOC President Shelton Haynes & General Counsel Gretchen Robinson By Fired RIOC Employees - Allegations Include Corruption, Misconduct, Fraud, Negligence, Cover Up and Workplace Retaliation For Whistleblower Complaints

On February 14, 2023, former Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) employees Erica Spencer-El, Amy Smith and Jessica Cerrone commenced a lawsuit against RIOC, RIOC President Shelton Haynes, RIOC General Counsel Gretchen Robinson and others

 alleging (Verified Complaint para 1 page 2):

... an action for illegal workplace retaliation caused by Defendants against Plaintiffs for their whistleblower complaints made to report corruption, misconduct, and violations of law made internally and later externally to the New York State Office of Inspector General and to the New York State Office of the State Comptroller. As a direct result of Plaintiffs’ good-faith whistleblower complaints each of the three Plaintiffs were improperly and impermissibly subjective to a hostile work environment before ultimately being terminated from RIOC in violation of, inter alia, New York Labor Law § 740... 

Allegations contained in the Verified Complaint included:

... 16. Specifically, the three plaintiffs in this action observed an increasingly reckless pattern of corruption, unethical conduct, and dangerous behavior coming from RIOC’s leadership group and which peaked in the period of time when government mandated shutdowns due to COVID-19 began to lift in mid-2020....

... 17. Smith and Cerone, for their part, noticed operational concerns regarding the COVID-19 Rapid testing site on Roosevelt Island that opened in January 2021 known as Swift Emergency (“Swift”)....

... 19. Due to the Swift testing site receiving continuing special exemptions and priority treatment from RIOC leadership and the lack of response received from internal complaints about the issue, Smith and Spencer-EL’s concerns about violations of law grew, and, on or about March 4, 2021, Spencer-EL formally submitted reports to the New York State Office of Inspector General and the New York State Comptroller’s Office reflecting Plaintiffs’ legitimate concerns.

20. Spencer-EL’s March 4, 2021, reports centered around RIOC’s fraudulent purchasing activities related to COVID-19, and, in particular, Hayne’s and RIOC leadership’s push for non-compliance with certain laws, rules and regulations concerning directives and actions being handed out regarding the Swift testing site....

... 23. In addition to the numerous internal complaints made to and ignored by Defendants by the Plaintiffs regarding policies and directives concerning the Swift Site and the Sportspark pool drowning, Smith also anonymously reported her concerns to the New York State Office of the Inspector General.

24. In her report to the Inspector General, Smith i) outlined her previous concerns with the COVID-19 testing site, ii) explained that she saw video footage of the Sportspark downing and that the drowning was a result of negligence arising under Haynes and Jackson’s supervision and direction, and iii) expressed how she was asked to operate in a way that was aiding in nefarious matters, covering up wrong-doings, or having to feel bullied and harassed into supporting improper conduct and/or misconduct being perpetrated by leadership or the “Executive Team.”...

... 119. In her report to the Inspector General, Smith outlined her concerns with the COVID-19 testing site, as well as the drowning at Sportspark Pool. Furthermore, Smith also specifically named Jackson, Robinson, and Sharpe, explaining that she felt that Haynes was engaged in fraud with the testing site and that the drowning was a direct result of negligence under Haynes and Jackson’s supervision and direction. Smith also expressed how she was asked to operate in a way that was aiding in nefarious matters, covering up wrong-doings, or having to feel bullied and harassed into supporting improper conduct and/or misconduct being perpetrated by the “executive team"....

Earlier today, I asked RIOC President Shelton Haynes and Communications Vice President Akeem Jamal:

Does RIOC have any comment on the "Whistleblower" lawsuit brought by former RIOC employees Erica Spencer-El, Amy Smith and Jessica Cerrone?

Specifically, does RIOC have any comment on the allegations regarding:

• The alleged cover up of the Sportspark drowning incident, including instructions to RIOC employees not to put anything in writing about the incident?
• The  special treatment received by Swift Emergency in setting up the Roosevelt Island Covid Test site and the undisclosed personal relationship between the Swift owner and Shelton Haynes
• the employees were fired by RIOC as retaliation for their complaints to the NY State Inspector General.
• any other comment you wish to make on the subject.
  

 I plan on publishing an article about the lawsuit today so please let me know if you will comment.

There has been no response from RIOC.

Read the entire Verified Complaint.

 

Stay tuned.

Why Is April 14 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Board Of Directors Meeting Being Held In Executive Session With The Public Excluded From Attending And No Prior Public Session For Community Comments? Are Purported RIOC Employee Whistleblower Allegations Of Corruption Or Apparent Firing Of Community Affairs Director On Secret Agenda?

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors will meet 5:30 PM Thursday April 14, via video conference. The sole Agenda Item is in executive session meaning that it will be held with the public excluded from attending. According to RIOC:

Chair’s Motion for Executive Session 

1. Discussion of the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation..

Unlike most RIOC Board meetings, there is no Public Session scheduled prior to the April 14 Board meeting for the residents to comment on community issues. I've asked RIOC several times why there is no Public Session for tomorrow's Board meeting but have not received any response.

Could the RIOC Board meeting secret executive session be about the allegations of wrongdoing leveled against RIOC President Shelton Haynes and other members of the RIOC executive staff?

As reported March 28:

A document was published on the OPNLTTR web site dated March 26, 2022 purportedly shared by a group of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) employees raising serious allegations of wrongdoings against RIOC President Shelton Haynes and certain members of the RIOC executive staff...

... Click here to read the full document.

 Among the allegations are:

• Misappropriation of state funds
• Covering up a negligent death
• Mismanagement of the AVAC System
• Cronyism
• Fraud
• Abuse of power
• Predatory Behavior/Grooming and Fostering a toxic work environment
• Disability Discrimination
• Violating NYS equal employment laws
• Violating NYS ethics laws: JCOPE (title 19/disclosure of outside activities) 

The group of purported RIOC employee whistleblowers making these charges call themselves NYS We Deserve Better.

NYS We Deserve Better has a Twitter feed.

- Hiring of cronies and promotions with fictitious titles to reward loyalists
-Over the top spending with little to no oversight
Interested in learning more? Read and retweet our story to help bring change to our workplace and community. https://t.co/lpqI1sB4uZ

— NYSWeDeserveBetter (@NYSWEDESERVEBTR) April 10, 2022

Group claiming to be @RIOCny employees continue to bring pressure on current @RiocCeo , Executive Staff and Directors by recalling past episodes of corruption found in 2014. https://t.co/JSgbne9Uay @JulieMenin @SeawrightForNY @SenatorSerrano @SenGianaris @GovKathyHochul https://t.co/01nK9lVIOu

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) April 8, 2022

There has been no public comment from RIOC about these allegations.

Or could the RIOC Board meeting secret executive session be about the apparent firing of long time RIOC Director of Community Affairs Erica Spencer-el, who was also named the Director of Communications last year.

On April 1, I asked RIOC Public Information Officer Amy Smith:

I've been told that Erica Spencer-El was fired by RIOC. is this true? When was she fired? I'm told it was last Friday. If not true, please indicate it is false.

I've been told that RIOC Public Safety Deputy Chief Anthony Amoroso and at least one other PSD officer escorted Ms Spencer-El from RIOC. Is that true? Please indicate if it is false.

As Director of RIOC Communications & Community Affairs, her status is of concern to Roosevelt Island residents and organizations.

Ms Smith replied later that day:

... please be advised that RIOC does not comment on personnel matters with the public.

Emails to Ms Spencer-El at RIOC which previously were delivered have been undelivered this past week.

Stay tuned.

Serious Allegations Of Wrongdoing Made Against RIOC President & Executive Staff By Purported Whistleblower Employees, Read The Full Document - Assembly Member Seawright And City Council Member Menin Call For Investigation, Allegations Referred To NY State Inspector General

A document was published on the OPNLTTR web site dated March 26, 2022 purportedly shared by a group of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) employees raising serious allegations of wrongdoings against RIOC President Shelton Haynes and certain members of the RIOC executive staff. 

According to the document:

Click here to read the full document.

 

Among the allegations are:

• Misappropriation of state funds
• Covering up a negligent death
• Mismanagement of the AVAC System
• Cronyism
• Fraud
• Abuse of power
• Predatory Behavior/Grooming and Fostering a toxic work environment
• Disability Discrimination
• Violating NYS equal employment laws
• Violating NYS ethics laws: JCOPE (title 19/disclosure of outside activities) 

This morning, I sent an email to RIOC President Shelton Haynes asking for comment regarding the allegations:

... As related specifically to the Swift Emergency Covid Test Site, do you have any comment on the following allegations:

• Haynes shared internally and publicly that Swift Emergency Care was an OGS vendor and recommended by New York State, which was not the case.
• It was shared by Haynes that “emergency funds” were approved to use for all activities to operate the site including renovations of the storefront (brokered by Hudson Related), equipment, furniture, signage, and fees to the doctors. These purchases, however, are listed under different line items in the RIOC budget.
• Swift purchase orders totalled $53K a month and they demanded payment be received in five days rather than RIOC’s Net 30 requirement. When this “unique request” was flagged, Haynes bullied staff into meeting the terms requested.

As related to the Sportspark Pool drowning death, do you have any comment on the following:

Covering Up a Negligent Death at Sportspark Pool

On Sunday, May 16th, a swimmer at RIOC’s Sportspark Pool died due to negligence of RIOC lifeguards and personnel. Upon learning of the death, Haynes quickly and quietly met with RIOC Public Safety Department Chief, Kevin Brown; Deputy Director of RIOC Public Safety Department, Anthony Amoroso; Assistant Vice President of Administration (formerly the Director of HR), Tajuna Sharpe; General Counsel (formerly the Internal Controls Officer), Gretchen Robinson; and the Assistant Vice President of Special Programs & Operations (formerly the Director of Operations), Altheria Jackson.

Video footage of the incident shows that RIOC lifeguards were not at their assigned posts and not paying attention to the pool. For this reason, it was other swimmers in the pool who took notice of the young man, who had been in distress for so long that he had sunk to the bottom of the pool.

Video footage also shows that poolside efforts to revive the young man were chaotic, with members of the public administering CPR before any of the lifeguards. The lifeguards on duty that day were either fired or left due to the traumatizing incident.

In the weeks following the death, staff working closely with Haynes were threatened and verbally told not to email any correspondence related to the incident and that all discussions and communication about it would be done over the phone, only, per advisement from General Counsel (formerly the Internal Controls Officer), Gretchen Robinson.

As related to executives receiving overtime pay:

Historically, executives were not qualified to receive overtime pay. Changes made specifically to the employee handbook to benefit Haynes and other executives to receive overtime pay for board and committee meetings, and community functions held after normal business hours and on the weekends.

Also:

Haynes has been known to secretly record conversations with staff, including the former President, Susan Rosenthal. In 2019, Haynes recorded Rosenthal speaking to him with explicit racially charged language, where Rosenthal referred to him by the "N-word". Instead of reporting Rosenthal's behavior and the incident to Albany, Haynes shared the recording with a select group of minority subordinates to gain sympathy...

There has been no response from RIOC at time of publishing.

Prior to the document being posted on the public OPNLETTR website, it was sent to Roosevelt Island elected officials included Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and NYC Council Member Julie Menin.

Asked to comment of these allegations, a spokesperson for Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright reports:

The office received a document via an anonymous email on March 21. The document has been referred to the New York State Inspector General's office for review.

NYC Council Member Julie Menin replied:

Any and all allegations of wrongdoing must be taken with extreme seriousness and I expect the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation to provide a statement addressing the concerns outlined in this document.  All claims must be expeditiously and thoroughly investigated and the public must be apprised of the results of the investigation.

The Roosevelt Island Daily first reported existence of this letter last Friday.

 

Click here to read the full document.

 

Stay tuned. 

UPDATE 4/12 - RIOC remains silent on these allegations. 

 

NYS We Deserve Better has a Twitter feed.

- Hiring of cronies and promotions with fictitious titles to reward loyalists
-Over the top spending with little to no oversight
Interested in learning more? Read and retweet our story to help bring change to our workplace and community. https://t.co/lpqI1sB4uZ

— NYSWeDeserveBetter (@NYSWEDESERVEBTR) April 10, 2022

Group claiming to be @RIOCny employees continue to bring pressure on current @RiocCeo , Executive Staff and Directors by recalling past episodes of corruption found in 2014. https://t.co/JSgbne9Uay @JulieMenin @SeawrightForNY @SenatorSerrano @SenGianaris @GovKathyHochul https://t.co/01nK9lVIOu

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) April 8, 2022

UPDATE 4/15 - It is not known whether any of these allegations were the sole Agenda Item 

during last evening's secret RIOC Board meeting 

held in Executive Session closed to the public via video conference.