Roosevelt Island Resident Asks Why Is Rivercross Lawn Tree Being Cut Down Today - RIOC Conducting Extensive Island Wide Tree Pruning And Dead Tree Removal This Week

Roosevelt Island residents care passionately about their trees. This afternoon, a Roosevelt Island resident observed this Tree being cut down on the Rivercross Lawn

and wanted to know why?

I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Office Alonza Robertson:

A Rivercross resident just asked why a tree is currently being cut down on Rivercross lawn.

Is this being done by RIOC or Rivercross.

Any explanation?

Mr Roberson replied:

It’s part of tree pruning work being done by RIOC.

Crews are conducting extensive tree pruning and removing dead trees at Southpoint Park, the Rivercross Lawn and Capobianco Field. Safety areas are set up around the work zones.

(I’d originally set out an advisory about this on September 14).

Mr Roberson added:

BTW, The dead tree at Rivercross a Norway Maple Leaf. We are looking to replace it.

Below is the September 14 RIOC Tree Pruning advisory:

Beginning Monday, September 17 until Monday, September 24 crews will be conducting extensive tree pruning and removing dead trees at Southpoint Park, the Rivercross Lawn and Capobianco Field. Safety areas will be set up around the work zones.

At this time, we do not anticipate any major road or sidewalk closures.

UPDATE 9/27 - Here's what remains of one of the Rivercross Lawn Trees cut down yesterday.

A long time Roosevelt Island resident reacts to the Trees being cut down:

This is heartbreaking. When RIOC's war on our island trees will stop?

I've been observing the mass destruction of our island's trees for the last 16 years. I was hoping RIOC would start repairing the devastation they created. But no! It is just getting worse.

The 2 large OAK trees in the middle of the green lawn South of Rivercross near the Meditation Steps were just chopped down.

They were healthy trees that previous generations left to us to enjoy. Residents and visitors have been resting during the summer in the shade of those old beautiful trees.

Birds were nesting in its brunches, families of squirrels lived there for generations. And now they are gone!

As many, many other trees we used to enjoy along Main Street, along the river and in our yards and parks. When are they going to be replaced? Our future generation has been deprived of those good trees, as it takes 50 plus years to grow a tree.

I have a lot of questions to RIOC:

• Who makes a decision a out which tree has to be cut down?
• Does RIOC have an arborist expert? If yes,
• Is this expert accountable? Can we see reports? Contractors’ report??
• What about residents’ opinions, feelings, attachments, sentiments?
• Are they just cutting trees to reduce the cost of maintenance? It is cheaper for them to cut the grass than take care of brunches.
• Do you call it tree maintenance? It is a holocaust!!
• What about migrating birds?!? We are in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway and there soon will be no trees for birds to rest!
• When are the residents going to speak up aloud their concerns??o
• How many trees were planted to replace the trees cut down? Look along the Main Street: all the tree patches are planted with flowers, not trees.
• Are we getting trees replaced? The same type that was cut down? When is it going to happen?
• Shall the residents organize and re-plant trees themselves and stand guard to them?

It is time for residents to hold RIOC accountable for this horrible environmental damage on our island!

This trees massacre should stop now! And new trees must be re-planted ASAP!

Long time and a highly concerned resident.

UPDATE 9/28 - RIOC issued the following statement this evening:

American sweetgums are among the favorites to replace two dying Norway Maple trees that were removed Thursday from the lawn south of the Rivercross co-op at 531 Main Street.
 

The low-maintenance, deciduous shade tree’s scientific name is Liquidambar styraciflua. It often exudes an aromatic balsam/gum that some describe as liquid amber; thus, its common name of sweetgum. The medium-sized to large tree typically grows anywhere from 50–70 feet tall with trunks measuring two-to-three feet in diameter. The trees, which have a brilliant Fall leaf mixture of yellows, oranges, purples and reds, can live to 400 years.

Red oaks are also being considered as replacements. It is believed both species would grow well in this lawn area. The schedule and exact location for the replacement planning has yet to be finalized.

(Do you have some suggestions on what type of trees should be planted on the lawn as replacements? Email your thoughts to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation c/o Alonza Robertson, alonza.robertson@rioc.ny.gov.)

An ISA-certified arborist did a recent health survey of Roosevelt Island trees at Southpoint Park, Capobianco Field and the lawn near Rivercross. The Mount Vernon-based tree expert was tasked, by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, with identifying dead or declining trees that posed safety hazards.

Two Norway maples, both longtime fixtures at the Rivercross lawn area, were found to be in serious declining health with more than 60 percent of the limbs in the trees’ crowns dead, presenting a major safety hazard to anyone located in the spaces under the trees. Norway maples have a reputation for falling branches and limbs as the tree weakens.

In addition to the dead limbs and subsequent safety hazard, the arborist also found that the trees showed:

• Evidence of stress
• Insect (bores) activity
• Large amounts of deadwood
• Stress cracks along the base of tree
• Weak structure

There is no spray or alternative treatment that would have reversed the condition as their root systems – which tend to grow close to the ground surface – also were girdling or strangling the trees with its own roots.

“We have next weekend’s Fall for Arts Festival taking place on the lawn where the two dead trees were located and we wanted to make sure the hazardous trees were removed prior to the event for safety reasons. The other trees in the area have received pruning as well to remove any other dead branches,” said Susan Rosenthal, RIOC’s president and CEO.

Update On Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Cutting Down 4 Courtyard Trees - After Consultation With Arborists, Coop Board Decides Only 1 Tree Coming Down

Reported previously on the September 19 decision by the Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board of Directors to cut down 4 courtyard trees which the Board claimed to be:

... a safety danger and block the views of some apartments negatively impacting their value....

Image Of Rivercross Courtyard Trees

which led to claims of "arborcide" by some residents objecting to the removal of the trees.

... Roosevelt Island Tree Board President and Rivercross resident Ali Schwaryi sent this September 23 letter to Rivercross shareholders urging them to attend Rivercross Board of Directors meeting tonight and tell the Rivercross Directors to stop the arborcide of the 4 courtyard trees.... 

On October 8 reported:

... A packed room of Rivercross shareholders, met with the Board members last evening. The vast majority were distressed with the highhanded method used by the Board to decide quality of life matters.

After numerous comments the Board agreed to hire another arborist for an independent evaluation of the trees in question....

On November 14, based upon recommendations from consulting Arborists, the Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors decided to cut down only one of the 4 interior courtyard trees originally planned to be removed. According to this November 14 memo from the Rivercross Board to Rivercross residents:

In our last Memorandum dated October 17, we advised that three independent certified consulting arborists would be retained to examine the health and safety of the two Norway Maple trees in the Rivercross interior courtyard. Their reports are in and the following are a summary of their conclusions:

The more northerly of the trees (smaller tree) has severe "cankers, indicating dead spots combined with an extensive fungus and internal decay (squirrel living inside). There are no treatments to stop the decay and the tree poses an imminent threat and should be removed.

The more southerly of the trees (larger tree) has issues as well including decay and weakening of the wood both inside and out. While the tree does not pose an imminent risk, it should have new safety cabling installed and be closely monitored for signs of further decay.

Management will have the tree maintenance company schedule the removal of the northerly tree as soon as possible, while also installing new cabling on the southerly tree.

The Board intends to continue the services of a consulting arborist on an ongoing basis.

Based on the terms of the contracts with the arborists, we cannot distribute copies of their reports but you may review them in the Management Office.

Here's a copy of the Rivercross Board memo.

President Of Roosevelt Island Tree Board Urges Rivercross Shareholders To Attend Tonight's Coop Board Meeting And Tell Directors To Stop The Arborcide Of Healthy Courtyard Trees For The God Of Real Estate

An update of the September 22 post regarding Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors decision to cut down 4 healthy courtyard trees.

Image Of Rivercross Courtyard Trees Planned To Be Cut Down

As previously reported:

The Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors informed shareholder residents of the building that 4 very tall courtyard trees (almost 9 stories high) planted before the building was constructed over 38 years ago will soon be removed. According to a September 19 memo from the Board of Directors the trees are a safety danger and block the views of some apartments negatively impacting their value. The memo also states that the trees will be replaced by 5 cherry trees and accompanying shrubbery....

and:

... I am told that some residents are extremely upset by the Rivercross Board Of Directors decision to remove these trees describing it as "arborcide".

Roosevelt Island Tree Board President and Rivercross resident Ali Schwaryi sent this September 23 letter to Rivercross shareholders urging them to attend Rivercross Board of Directors meeting tonight and tell the Rivercross Directors to stop the arborcide of the 4 courtyard trees.  Here is the transcript of the letter pictured below:

Dear Neighbors,

My name is Ali Schwaryi and I am writing in opposition to the Rivercross Board's decision to cut down four great trees in the inner courtyard (memo dated Sept. 19. Replacement of Trees")"

I have been a Rivercross resident since 1977 and as president of the Parks Committee, and currently the Tree Board. I and other members have worked tirelessly to plant about 150 trees and to save some great, mature trees from destruction by developers.

The Board's reasons for cutting down those four trees (two London Plane and two Norway Maple) are not convincing, even BOGUS in my opinion.

Reason 1: " The trees are big and a potential danger. In case of another hurricane such as Sandy to the Blue Wing and the Child School".
Fact: The Trees are healthy and have already survived hurricane Sandy with no damage to the trees, the Blue Wing or the Child School. They are surrounded on three sides by the building and are protected from the effects of high wind.

Reason 2: "The trees obscure the views of some apartments and negatively impact the value of those apartments."
Fact: The trees PARTIALLY affect the views of some apartments for only about 5 months per year but for the remaining 7 months when the trees are leafless, the views are unobstructed. Some residents I have discussed this with love having both views (trees and river/cityscape) at different times.

There are about 18 big trees on the south, west and north sides of Rivercross, which are closer to the building and have the same effect on views. ARE WE TO EXPECT THE BOARD TO ORDER THE DESTRUCTION OF THOSE TREES IN THE FUTURE? Are we setting a bad precedent?

Reason3: "The trees are impacting the value of the apartments affected".
Fact: Everyone knows that trees enhance property values by providing natural beauty and shade, and by minimizing the effects of hot weather.

Reason 4: "We are not just removing trees, we are replacing them with Kwanzan Cherry trees and flowering shrubs".
Fact: The Board wants you to accept cutting down four big trees, some as old as 75 years, and replacing them with five Cherry trees and some shrubs that will not do well in that location because of limited sunlight. The Norway Maples predated the construction of our building by many years i.e. they were here first and deserve to live even if they partially obstruct the views of some for part of the year.

The trees in question can be intelligently pruned (not topped) to improve the views of those affected. The real reason for cutting them down, in my opinion, is disregard by some for our natural surroundings, ignorance about the value of trees and placing the "God of Real Estate" above all.

As president of the Tree Board, I and other members will do everything in our power to inform the residents of Rivercross about this important issue.

However, IT IS UP TO YOU, OUR NEIGHBORS, TO WRITE, EMAIL AND COMPLAIN TO THE RIVERCROSS BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO STOP THIS ACT OF ARBORCIDE.

Come to the next Rivercross Board meeting on October 7, 531 Community Room 8 PM and speak against their decision and let your voices be heard.

Sincerely Dr. Ali.N. Schwaryi, President of Tree Board with support form Dr. Kathie Grimm and Ms. Fay Christian Tree Board members.

Rivercross resident Dr. Kathie Grimm added:

Dear Fellow Share Holders, This is a condensed letter I sent to the board members and management on Sunday. The issue of cuttting the trees down has previously been presented to the board and voted down. A former board member suggested a petition to see how the building feels in general about the trees. Another former board member suggested that all those who face the court yard be questioned for their opinions. This is a very controversial issue and unhappy share holders need to let their opions known to the board.

September 20, 2014,

Dear Rivercross Board Members,

Over the years I have always appreciated and supported the good work that the Rivercross Board does. However, yesterday while I was still busy at work, I received two distressed calls about the recent decision to cut down four trees....

..As you know many people on Roosevelt Island are passionate about trees and for good reason. The trees are a big reason for making this such a special place. Indeed one of the reasons I moved to apartment ... was because of the trees when I lived in ..., I loved the trees outside my window.

I have been on the Tree Board with Dr. Schwaryi, Faye Christian and Nurity Marcus for years. Dr. Schwaryi is extremely knowledgeable about trees and has served as a consultant to RIOC and Cornell-Technion as well as Hudson Related. It is his opinion that these mature trees do not represent a danger to our building and indeed as I walked around the building today, there are many other trees just as close if not closer the building than these four.

It would sadden me greatly to have those trees removed and planting new trees does not insure success. I think that the trees actually contribute to the value of my apartment rather than detract from it.

Real estate web site Brick Underground reported on the Roosevelt Island Rivercross tree controversy:

... In 2000, the New York Times addressed this very issue, noting that “unless the proprietary lease or bylaws of a co-op contain unusual provisions, the board of directors generally has the right to make all decisions regarding the operation and maintenance of the co-op's property. … It is unlikely that a court would grant an injunction barring the removal of the trees.”...

I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato:

... Since RIOC is the lessor of the Rivercross ground lease is Rioc's consent required to cut the trees down?...

Ms. Indelicato replied:

No consent is required by RIOC

Will update with more after the meeting.

Hurricane Irene Topples Roosevelt Island Trees - All Parks Closed For Safety Reasons, Watch Out For Falling Branches

You Tube Video of Toppled Trees at Capobianco Field

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) reports that for safety reasons, all Roosevelt Island parks are closed until further notice. According to RIOC

For safety reasons, ALL Parks on Roosevelt Island remain closed. This will be strictly enforced by the RI Public Safety Department.

The Octagon Park Community Garden is closed until further notice due to a fallen tree.

Power has been restored to the Motorgate elevators.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

 Image of Fallen Hurricane Irene Tree at Capobianco Field

Hurricane Irene left fallen tree damage at Roosevelt Island parks

Image of Fallen Hurricane Irene Tree at Near Octagon Field/Garden via Olya Turcihin

 and on streets.

Image of Fallen Hurricane Irene Tree near Main Street via RI Resident Norm

 Some of the trees were very big and pulled up from their roots.

 Image of Roots From Hurricane Irene Fallen Roosevelt Island Tree via Precious Synamunn Foster

Also, damaged tree branches may be in danger of falling on passing pedestrians.

Image of Fallen Hurricane Irene Tree Branch by Main Street via RI Resident Norm

Roosevelt Island resident Raye Schwartz reports that she had frustrating experience informing a Public Safety Officer about a potentially dangerous tree in front of the Rivercross Building. Ms. Schwartz shares this email message she sent to RIOC.

First, thank you to all the RIOC folks who were working tirelessly this weekend without being able to go home. I understand your phone lines were down and you were working in difficult circumstances.

With that said, when I went out on my balcony this afternoon to pick up some debris which landed there during the storm, I looked down (I overlook Main Street, directly over 505) and saw the top

 

 Image From Raye Schwartz

of a tree south of the 505 railing, with its heavy branch split and about to fall. It also appeared, as you can see in the enclosed photos, that the tree was leaning dangerously and from my view above it seemed to be leaning against the building.

 

  Image From Raye Schwartz

We’re still experiencing high winds and I was concerned that it would fall and hurt someone. So, as I couldn’t reach PSD by phone, I did what I thought was responsible and walked over to the PSD office to report it…not, of course, to get a tree surgeon here today, but rather, to ask if they could place some cones or tape to prevent people from walking under it and getting hurt. Instead, the young female officer who was answering the radio told me that people shouldn’t be outside…and she wouldn’t even listen but kept cutting me off! This happened around 2:20PM, after RIOC issued an advisory stating that they were reopening red bus and tram service. Obviously contrary to what this officer thought, RIOC thought it was ok for people to be outside!

It seems to me that when a resident is responsible and caring enough to report a potentially serious danger, that resident should not be treated with such rude behavior by a newbie who thinks her job is to respond in police manual doublespeak! Keith…I really think that you need to have a chat with her. I don’t know her name…she’s very young and I think she needs some training on how to talk to people. The other officers who were there responded that they would check it out and see what needed to be done. I hope that they do that, and I also hope that they would communicate with whatever maintenance staff are available to schedule work on that tree.

Thanks in advance,

Roosevelt Island resident Jonathan Kalkin suggests:

If you see a down tree or any nonemergency issue report it on RIOC's RI311 website. You can upload photos as well. If you see the same issue reported already, vote to fix. Stay safe. Here is the RIOC RI311 link.

Image of Fallen Hurricane Irene Tree at Octagon Field via John Dougherty

Following Meeting With Angry Residents, Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors Reconsiders Cutting Down Courtyard Trees - Will Hire Independent Arborist To Evaluate Trees

The Roosevelt Island Rivercross Board Of Directors met with some angry shareholder residents last Tuesday evening to discuss the decision by the Directors (explained in this September 19 memo) to cut down 4 courtyard trees which the Board claimed to be:

Image Of Rivercross Courtyard Trees Planned To Be Cut Down

... a safety danger and block the views of some apartments negatively impacting their value....

Rivercross resident Ali Schwayri, President of the Roosevelt Island Tree Board, spoke for many other Rivercross residents and other members of the Roosevelt Island Community when he wrote this September 23 letter seeking help to stop the Trees from being cut down;

... IT IS UP TO YOU, OUR NEIGHBORS, TO WRITE, EMAIL AND COMPLAIN TO THE RIVERCROSS BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO STOP THIS ACT OF ARBORCIDE....

Apparently the efforts to stop the cutting down of the Rivercross courtyard trees worked, at least for now. Judy Berdy reports:

A packed room of Rivercross shareholders, met with the Board members last evening. The vast majority were distressed with the highhanded method used by the Board to decide quality of life matters.

After numerous comments the Board agreed to hire another arborist for an independent evaluation of the trees in question.

I thank Ali Schwayri for his efforts and for the work of our concerned neighbors that produced hundreds of petition signatures, many letters, e-mail, phone calls and letters.

Raye Schwartz adds that two of the four courtyard trees are Norway Maples:

... about to keel over which have roots precariously close to the building foundation with branches which are hanging close enough to break windows.

and a decision as to what do to with the trees will be made after consultation:

... with a certified, non-partial arborist...

The Rivercross Board  provided this memo that was sent to shareholders informing them of the Board's decision to hire a third arborist to render an opinion about the courtyard trees and noted the residents activism on the tree issue is a reminder why Rivercross is a great place to live.

You're Invited To Roosevelt Island Holiday/Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony At Rivercross Lawn Friday December 8 - Music, Gifts, Prizes & Santa Claus

It's that time again for a wonderful Roosevelt Island tradition - the lighting of the Holiday/Christmas Tree tomorrow night, Friday December 8. This year, the Tree Lighting will take place on the Rivercross Lawn

instead of the traditional location in front of Blackwell House because of ongoing construction renovation of Blackwell House.

Image From RIOC

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)

On Friday, December 8th at 7 PM, you are cordially invited to attend Roosevelt Island's annual holiday season kickoff event, the Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting Ceremony. Join us at the Lawn South of Rivercross (501 Main St.) for a free celebration of our close-knit community, featuring performances by the Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance, the Beacon Program, and the Uptown Social Club band. Also, don’t miss a visit from a very special guest! Make sure to bring your camera!.

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers from the Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts!

Many thanks to our generous contributors:

Amalgamated Bank | Urban American | Cornell Tech | Hudson Companies | Wholesome Factory | Piccolo Trattoria | Starbucks | Island Wine & Spirits | Bread & Butter Market | Roosevelt Nails

We hope to see you there!

Here the Roosevelt Island arrival of Santa Claus



and the Tree lighting

at last year's ceremony.

More scenes from the 2016 Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting ceremony here.

Come See The Roosevelt Island Holiday Tree Lighting And Santa Claus Tomorrow Night At Rivercross Lawn - Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Carolers At F Subway Station Too

Tomorrow is one of the best night's on Roosevelt Island - the annual Lighting of the Holiday Tree and arrival of Santa Claus at the Rivercross Lawn.

Here's the Tree Lighting countdown from last year.



According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RICO)

Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting Ceremony

Come join RIOC and the entire Roosevelt Island community at the island’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, December 6th, 7 PM at the lawn south of Rivercross.

Island residents will be able to enjoy a night of holiday music and celebration, featuring The Funktion band, island community performers, hot beverages, warm cookies, raffle prizes, goodie bags and maybe even a visit from a special guest from the North Pole!

Also, don't miss the Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Carolers at the subway station tomorrow evening and later at the Tree Lighting ceremony.

You're Invited To Roosevelt Island Holiday/Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony At Rivercross Lawn Friday November 30 - Music, Gifts, Prizes & Santa Claus

It's that time again for a wonderful Roosevelt Island tradition - the lighting of the Holiday/Christmas Tree tomorrow night, Friday November 30. As was the case last year,



the Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting will take place on the Rivercross Lawn, while Blackwell House is still under renovation.

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

... you're invited to attend Roosevelt Island's most whimsical event of the year - Our Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony - Friday, November 30 at 7 p.m. at the Lawn South of Rivercross, 501 Main Street.

Live music by the Hotelheads band, Christmas caroling, free gifts, raffle prizes and more including a very special visit by (shhhh!) Santa; (free pictures with him as well).

Come early, stay late, it's going to be a great party!

Special thanks to all of our generous contributors including Verizon, Amalgamated Bank, The Cafe' at Cornell Tech, Hudson Related, Urban American, Piccolo Trattoria, Island Wine and Spirits, The Wholesome Factory, The R.I. Navigators, Sylvain Coulon Hypnotherapy, Starbucks, Island Kids, Roosevelt Nails, Bread & Butter Market and Bubble Cool.

Here's a sneak peek at the lit Roosevelt Island Holiday/Christmas Tree.

Our first #christmas on #rooseveltisland is already wow ✨✨ #nyc #holidays #christmastree #itsbeginningtolookalotlikechristmas pic.twitter.com/3iLzC0SmfF

— Nikki M Mascali (@NikkiMMascali) November 28, 2018

Also, a group of Carolers from the Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance, together with members from the Hope Church, will greet Roosevelt Island commuters coming home at the Tram (5:30 PM) and F Train Subway Station (6:15 PM).

Scenes From Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting Ceremony Last Friday Night - Wonderful Event For The Community

A great time was had at last Friday's Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Rivercross lawn.

Santa Claus and the excited crowd began the Tree Lighting countdown from 10 down to 1



and then the tree lit up.

Roosevelt Island Christmas tree https://t.co/S2BfFZckWd pic.twitter.com/EHfsvBEPkR

— o come all ye taveful (@TheRealTavie) December 9, 2017

The festivities began with Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) carolers performing.

Read more »

Roosevelt Island Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony Friday December 8, Santa's Coming To Town, Tree Lighting Countdown, Music, Festive Treats & More - But No Reindeer Sled For Kids At Plaza Again This Year

The annual Roosevelt Island Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony takes place tomorrow at the Rivercross Lawn.

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

'Tis the season to gather and ignite the holiday spirit! RIOC invites you to the 2023 Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting Ceremony this Friday, December 8th at 6PM on Meditation Lawn. There will be music, performances, festive treats, and more!

We can't wait too see you there!

📅 Date: Friday, December 8th

🕒 Time: 6:00 PM

📍 Location: Meditation Lawn 

Here's Santa Claus arriving for last year's Roosevelt Island Holiday Tree Lighting 

Countdown.

Missing for the second consecutive year from RIOC's Holiday Decorations in Good Shepherd Plaza 

is the popular, family photo friendly Reindeer Sled  

that was enjoyed by kids of all ages.

RIOC replaced the Reindeer Sled with this.

 As reported December 1, 2022:

... I asked RIOC President Shelton Haynes and RIOC Vice President of Communications Akeem Jamal:

Why was the Reindeer Sled that had been at Good Shepherd Plaza in previous years not used this year?

My understanding is that Neave Decor was paid $75 thousand dollars for the Holiday lights this year? Is that correct?

Residents have commented that this year's Roosevelt Island Holiday Lights are much less festive looking than in previous years.

Does RIOC have any comment on this year's Roosevelt Island Holiday Lights installation.

No answer from RIOC.

According to a September 24, 2021 RIOC memo, RIOC is paying Neave Decor $75 Thousand annually for  3 years totaling $225 thousand to:

... install commercial grade LED lighting, wreaths, decorative structures and garland for selected trees, hedges, building columns, lampposts, and other areas on Roosevelt Island as outlined below: Decoration locations: 

1. Good Shepherd Plaza 
2. Meditation Lawn across from Blackwell House (the Main Tree location) 
3. Tram Plaza and Tram Fountain area 
4. Main Street Corridor including Lamppost along Main street 
5. Ferry Plaza...  

Bundle up in warm clothes and I'll see you tomorrow for a good time at the Roosevelt Island Holiday Tree Lighting.

You're Invited To Roosevelt Island Christmas/Holiday Tree Lighting Friday December 2, Main Street Theatre "Ghosts All Around You" Musical Cast Performance Too - RIOC Spending $75 Thousand Annually For Roosevelt Island Holiday Decorations, But Popular Good Shepherd Plaza Reindeer Sled Missing This Year

You're invited to the annual Roosevelt Island Christmas/Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony taking place Friday, December 2 

The Roosevelt Island Christmas/Holiday Tree at the Rivercross Lawn is now dark

but will be all lit up tomorrow evening as it was last year.

Image Of 2021 Roosevelt Island Christmas/Holiday Tree

According to Team RIOC, better know as the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)

Dear Roosevelt Islanders,

It is officially the most beautiful time of year! Please join President & CEO Shelton J. Haynes for Roosevelt Island’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony happening on Friday, December 2, 2022. The festivities will take place on the Meditation Lawn (501 Main Street).

It will be a magical evening with performances from the community, festive giveaways, holiday treats, and much more.

Bring your family, friends, and loved ones for a night to remember.

In holiday spirit,

Team RIOC

Roosevelt Island's Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA) will be performing Holiday songs

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Main Street Theatre & Dance (@mstda_ri)

at the Tree Lighting Ceremony as they have done in the past to the delight of Roosevelt Islanders.

Missing from Roosevelt Island Holiday Decorations this year is the popular, photo friendly Reindeer Sled 

located at Good Shepherd Plaza 

the past few years that was enjoyed by kids of all ages. 

RIOC replaced the Reindeer Sled with this photo op.

Earlier this week I asked RIOC President Shelton Haynes and RIOC Vice President of Communications Akeem Jamal:

Why was the Reindeer Sled that had been at Good Shepherd Plaza in previous years not used this year?

My understanding is that Neave Decor was paid $75 thousand dollars for the Holiday lights this year? Is that correct?

Residents have commented that this year's Roosevelt Island Holiday Lights are much less festive looking than in previous years.

Does RIOC have any comment on this year's Roosevelt Island Holiday Lights installation.

No answer from RIOC.

According to a September 24, 2021 RIOC memo, RIOC is paying Neave Decor $75 Thousand annually for  3 years totaling $225 thousand to:

... install commercial grade LED lighting, wreaths, decorative structures and garland for selected trees, hedges, building columns, lampposts, and other areas on Roosevelt Island as outlined below: Decoration locations: 

1. Good Shepherd Plaza 
2. Meditation Lawn across from Blackwell House (the Main Tree location) 
3. Tram Plaza and Tram Fountain area 
4. Main Street Corridor including Lamppost along Main street 
5. Ferry Plaza  
   

Here's the 2022 Roosevelt Island Main Street Christmas/Holiday decorations,

Riverwalk Commons Seasons Greeting Lights, which have been not been on this week,

and the Tram Plaza Fountain

Ornamental balls.

Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors Decide To Cut Down Tall Courtyard Trees Claiming Trees Are Safety Hazard And Block East River Apartment Views Lowering Sale Values - Some Residents Object Calling It Arborcide

Image Of A Rivercross Courtyard Tree To Be Removed

The Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors informed shareholder residents of the building that 4 very tall courtyard trees (almost 9 stories high)

planted before the building was constructed over 38 years ago will soon be removed. According to a September 19 memo from the Board of Directors the trees are a safety danger

and block the views of some apartments

negatively impacting their value. The memo also states that the trees will be replaced by 5 cherry trees and accompanying shrubbery.

Here's the Rivercross Board Of Directors Memo on removing the 4 courtyard trees.

I am told that some residents are extremely upset by the Rivercross Board Of Directors decision to remove these trees describing it as "arborcide".

UPDATE - 9/25 - Rivercross residents and the Board of Directors are holding discussions regarding the fate of the trees. Stay tuned.

Also, compare Rivercross and Riverwalk million dollar apartments for sale.

Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Building Votes To Continue Ban On Dogs In Place Since 1975 - Lazy Dog Owners Who Fail To Clean Up Poop Ruin It For Responsible Owners Says Resident, Offers Suggestions

The Roosevelt Island Rivercross coop building shareholders voted last week not to change their current bylaws prohibiting dogs in units (except those for service/emotional support). The policy has been in place since Rivercross opened in 1975.

Rivercross resident Ellen Polivy reacts to the vote:

Rivercross won’t be letting in dogs at this time. We failed to pass an amendment to the proprietary lease to allow dogs in the building. To amend the lease requires a 2/3 super majority of the total shares to vote yes. Unfortunately, the yes votes did not clear that very high bar. Many people who didn’t vote might not have understood that not voting was counted as a no vote. But many might have been ambivalent.  

I feel sad and disappointed. I hoped more neighbors would be more kindly focused on the benefits of "man's best friend" to our well-being and mental health. But this won’t happen now. I have to remember that up until recently, Roosevelt Island was a no-dog Island, and I have to admit, much as I like dogs, it was much cleaner then.  

I think many of the no voters and some of the abstainers in our building feared that their neighbors just-might-possibly turn out to be the same inconsiderate-slob dog owners they see evidenced around the Island. Some voters were not willing to take that chance no matter how generous they might have been inclined to be towards their neighbor. Lazy dog owners sully every other dog owner’s reputation, Even the responsible dog owners get tarnished.  

I have begun to understand that a new conversation needs to be started if we are to have non-dog people comfortable having dogs in their previously pristine spaces. We have a sloppy dog problem here on the Island. According to complaints I've heard, some parts of our little Island’s grass and tree beds are littered with dog poo. Some people are just not picking up after their pets. These are places where children play, families picnic, people do yoga and sunbathe and garden. 

I, myself have put my yoga mat on the ground in more than one place and turned my face toward a smelly dried turd. I don’t know where dogs are supposed to go to relieve themselves and which green spaces is an acceptable dog toilet where people should be warned not to put down their mats due to high concentrations of whatever came out of your pet. I can respectfully suggest curbing your dog is a good first start. But not being a dog owner myself, I have no idea what curbing your dog really means for someone walking their dog on the promenade. My personal peeve is people who let their dogs urinate under overhangs where the rain can’t wash it away and where it remains as a constant sticky stain until someone from RIOC or building maintenance cleans it.  

Two suggestions:  

I humbly suggest that another step in helping people be responsible might be for all of us to carry an extra bag, catch lazy owners in the act and make a show of cleaning up for them if they don’t do it themselves. Or perhaps, everyone should carry an extra bag and pick up dried feces when you see it. 

It takes very little effort and the selfless act will get the Island much cleaner. I am throwing out some suggestions as a way to get this conversation started, action going. Perhaps dog owners taking action to clean up the island will help non dog lovers become more comfortable accepting dogs in their midst..

Instagram readers comment:

• That’s really unfortunate. We have dogs in island house and it’s never been a nuisance.
• I remember when dogs were not allowed anywhere on the island😂 outside, buildings, everywhere.
• Don’t know how we would have weathered the pandemic so far without our dog...
• I would love to live in Rivercross but I didn’t realize there were so many rules and regs. Are cats 🐈‍⬛ 🐈 allowed?

Dogs are also not allowed on the Rivercross lawn though that policy is rarely, if ever, enforced.

 Instagram comments:

If they want to enforce no dogs on the grass then I suggest they move the 💩 bag post to another area because it implies you can walk your dog here

RIRA President On RIOC/RIRA Elections, Maple Tree Group, Shane's Departure, Torres Arrival, Main Street Storefronts & Other Roosevelt Island Issues

Image of June 2010 RIRA Meeting

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) President Frank Farance sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents. Mr. Farance addresses:

1. Successful RIRA Fundraiser nets $1333. My apologies for skipping this important item in my last column. Thanks to Sherie Helstien and the RIRA Social, Cultural, and Educational Services Committee (chaired by Nikki Leopold), who produced a classical vocal concert as a June 27 fundraiser. RIRA funds have helped many organizations and worthwhile efforts on the Island.

2. RIRA Sponsored 9/11 Memorial Service. On Saturday, September 11, at 6:45 p.m., the community will come together at the 9/11 memorial behind the Good Shepherd Community Center. There will be readings, performances, and moments of silence. Don't forget to bring your own candle.

3. RIRA Elections. We all have two-year terms, which are up this November. I encourage you to consider running in the RIRA elections. In my next column, I expect to have more details on the nominations and elections process.

4. RIOC to provide funding of biannual RIRA and RIOC director nominee elections. RIRA runs its Island-wide elections every two years at the same time as the federal elections. RIRA Common Council members are directly elected -- delegates from each of the housing developments (Southtown, Northtown, Manhattan Park, Octagon) and two Island-wide representatives (President and Vice President). In the past, we have been lucky enough to have funding from our City Councilmember (but funding stopped years ago) and from our State Assemblymember (but the Governor has vetoed all member items recently). I spoke with RIOC about long-term funding and they have agreed to support us (separate from public purpose funds). Thanks to Steve Chironis and RIOC!

5. Island Organizations to meet to on Common Calendar. Have you experienced the frustration of being a member of two Island organizations who have scheduled an important event on the same day? Maybe we can do better and have fewer conflicts in the schedules. On September 21 at 8:00 p.m., I'm holding a meeting with all organizations invited with the hopes that we can have a common calendar through June 2011 so we can avoid gratuitous conflicts. We'll publish the calendar in well-known places, including The WIRE, RIOC, and Island blog websites.

6. Meeting Ms. Leslie Torres, then candidate and now RIOC CEO/President. Thank you to the residents who provided questions to Ms. Torres for the RIRA Town Meeting. We had a good meeting and she answered approximately 20 detailed questions over 90 minutes. This week RIRA officers and committee chairs met with Ms. Torres to reaffirm the RIRA-RIOC collaboration.

7. RIOC Board chose not to interview 3 candidates. Assemblymember Kellner has legislation requiring three candidates be interviewed and publicly vetted prior to appointing the RIOC Board president. Regardless of Ms. Torres' excellent capabilities, the RIOC Board has failed the Island residents. Board members (with the exception of Margie Smith) felt that they had a good candidate, so there was no reason to follow through. Board members don't seem to understand that the sanctity of the process is most important: today's reason for lack of self-discipline is tomorrow's excuse for precedent for not following the process. After the appointment, Matt Katz (former RIRA President) questioned RIOC Director Jonathan Kalkin's reasoning for his unwillingness to have three candidates considered. Mr. Kalkin said that there was an immediate need for a RIOC President because some important decision needed to be made right away. No such event has happened since. This sounds like a bunch of baloney. A common theme with the present RIOC Board is double standard. Had State-appointed people made such decisions, we'd be screaming bloody murder to the governor, but now the we have some residents on the Board, we don't complain as much about their poor decision-making.

8. RIOC Board has no requirements that prohibit them from talking about the Shane firing. Also at the RIOC Board meeting, Roosevelt Islander blogger Rick O'Connor and I asked RIOC General Counsel Ken Leitner what provisions, statutes, etc., prohibited the Board from discussing Shane's firing. Leitner referred the questions to the Board Chair, read: there is no legal basis for the RIOC Board withholding the information. If it is the policy of the chair not to discuss this, then this could easily be overruled by the directors themselves. So the real reason this is not being discussed is because the directors chose not to discuss it. As confirmed by Assemblymember Kellner, Shane's firing involved friction with the Board over privatization (not really about storefronts). Recently, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard was fired by its board and their board chose to give an explanation. Why did they explain? Their board is elected by their shareholders, thus they need to explain their decision-making. For us, it's back to the double standard: had State-appointed Board members not explained, we'd voice ourselves loudly... but now that it is our own residents, we have a different standard.

9. Still Problems with Main Street Storefronts. I've asked Jonathan Kalkin, Chair of the RIOC Real Estate Development Advisory Committee, for a copy of the RFP. Mr. Kalkin continues to be unresponsive to questions about the RFP. Mr. Kalkin and his committee members did not come to the RIRA Town Meeting in June to discuss this. Mr. Kalkin wants to write an article for The WIRE explaining his perspective, but he is unwilling to take questions from the WIRE's editor or the RIRA President. Mr. Kalkin claims that he has met weekly ("I believe I hold the record for most Real Estate Committee meetings. Some of them we had almost every week at the end of this process."). All the records of his meetings have been removed from the RIOC website. RIOC has a bid worth approximately $100 million over its lifetime, yet we have no records of the committee meetings, no supporting documents, and a committee that refuses to answer questions or participate in community meetings. According to Mr. Kalkin, RIOC has outsourced the bidding to Jones Lang LaSalle. Meantime, we have the Tram project at $20-25 million which has been well-documented on the RIOC website. Why does RIOC use a different procurement, review, and publicity process for the Main Street storefronts? We've asked for a copy of the RFP to review it prior to posting. Why? Because it is in everyone's benefit to make sure the right RFP is posted for bidding. In government purchasing, it is normally the case that these kinds of complex bids have some interaction with the public and the vendors: a draft is posted for comment. This makes sense for vendors too because fixing the bid afterward can cause litigation and delay from both successful and unsuccessful bidders. But Mr. Kalkin refuses to have community input. Opaque, arbitrary, and capricious.

10. Maple Tree Group, a voice of democracy, demonstrates the opposite: subjective criteria on whether we have elections. The Maple Tree Group (a subcommittee of RIRA's Government Relations Committee) has produced a whopper. They recently voted, in a secret meeting with only self-selected "core" members (read: The Old Guard) to postpone RIOC Board nominee elections for two years (2012). Right now, one RIOC director's position is expired (Fay Christian of Rivercross), two will expire in Spring 2011 (David Kraut of Roosevelt Landings, and Jonathan Kalkin of Manhattan Park) and one will expire at the end of 2011 (Howard Polivy of Rivercross). I'm on that MTG committee, but I was excluded from voting ("because you haven't been involved in all of the discussions for the past 13 years". My response: I resigned from the committee when I was a RIOC Board candidate. I'm no longer a candidate so I rejoined). I was excluded from the discussions, too -- RIRA meetings are public. When I was elected RIRA President, I learned that Southtown and Octagon people were really unhappy about the dominance of the so-called Old Guard and wanted an equal say. But you don't have a say in the MTG, which thinks it controls Island-wide elections and state legislation. You can try to join them, but they won't let you vote because you haven't been around for 13 years and they'll keep their discussion private (yup, you can't even go to a meeting). Meantime, even though you and I will not meet up to their standards and 13 years of membership to allow us to vote and participate, they expect legislators with five minutes preview to make informed decisions about Roosevelt Island, and they expect the RIRA Common Council to approve MTG's positions with ten minutes of discussion. According to an MTG member, the reason for delaying the vote is so that there can be a staggering of candidates: four one election cycle, three the other cycle - but we can accomplish that with RIOC elections this year. The "core" members are Ashton Barfield (Rivercross), David Bauer (Rivercross), Linda Heimer (Rivercross), Sherie Helstien (Westview), Matt Katz (Westview), Dick Lutz (Rivercross), Nurit Marcus (Rivercross) -- who all voted against the RIOC elections this year -- and Joyce Mincheff (Roosevelt Landings), who voted in favor of RIOC elections this year. RIRA Government Relations Committee chair Ashton Barfield tells us that MTG has no leader. I spoke to David Bauer, former MTG Chair, and he was very disappointed in this recent vote: he feels that it is difficult to promote democracy when you don't have a democratic process yourself. Meanwhile, when I complained about the secrecy, MTG member Ellen Polivy (RIRA Vice President and whose husband would benefit from RIOC elections postponed two years) chided me, "Frank, put your effort into more important ventures than trashing the careful and deliberate work of a committee with long tenure". Anyway, I hope that some of you complain at the upcoming RIRA meeting, and I hope that you join RIRA -- we cannot be making decisions in a self-selected, secretive way. A neighbor told me: democracy is not about getting an election, it's about getting the second election. There's a lot of stuff going on here with the RIOC Board and manipulation of the election process.

11. Upcoming RIRA meetings. Aside from the short-notice town meeting (see above), the next meeting is on September 15 at 8:00 p.m. in the Good Shepherd Community Center; future meeting is October 6. I can't believe the summer is over. :-(

A version of the RIRA President's message is also published as the RIRA column in the 8/28/10 Main Street WIRE.