Tweets from Roosvelt Island Ridge

Apparently the folks at University College London have created a contoured NYC map based on Tweet traffic naming sites across NYC and other major cities. Apparently the number of tweets referring to Roosevelt Island are substantial enough that the contour designation of a ridge applies to us on par with Williamsburg.

See "Roosvelt Island Ridge" underlined in red. Now the question is whether the spelling error is indicative of how often those tweets mispell Roosevelt as "Roosvelt" or if the folks in London can't spell themselves.

Urbantick Via Gothamist

Brooklyn Bridge Park Open to Sit on Roosevelt Island Granite

Apparently Brooklyn Bridge Park opened a segment of the park finally to the public and that part includes the much talked about granite steps featuring granite taken from the Roosevelt Island Bridge. So if you feel homesick while visiting Brooklyn Heights stop over at the park and set your keyster down for a bit on some "local" granite.

Link to full article at Gothamist.

Is Increasing Main Street Parking Rates the Answer?

Is the answer to Main Street's parking woes raising the parking rates so parking on the street is more expensive than parking in Roosevelt Island’s Motorgate? This was one of several proposals put forth by the students that participated in the Columbia Transportation studio. See the April 18th Main Street WIRE, for detailed coverage of the proposals. In theory I can see how this can make sense with respect to individuals who are looking to park for several hours.

I am not disagreeing with Frank Farance, our RIRA President, in his argument within this week’s May 2nd dated Main Street WIRE, that increasing the rates would be unfair to short term parkers who are loading or unloading etc. But to be honest many of those individuals from what I have seen double park or park in no parking zones for the short period they need and while a number are told by PSD to move their vehicles many finish their loading / unloading without incident. I do think Frank missed the Columbia student’s point that it is the long term parkers that they were trying to target. But to fair to his point, the students may not have been familiar with the short term parkers.

According to today’s Gothamist, the NYC Department of Transporation, started a pilot program in Park Slope, Brooklyn, of increasing parking rates during peak hours only. Perhaps that is a compromise that would work on Main Street? Your thoughts?

[Image from Gothamist.]

Could PSD's Next Puchase be a P.U.M.A.?

Many Roosevelt Island residents have seen officers of our local Public Safety Department drive by on their Segways but now that G.M. and Segway have unveiled the P.U.M.A. how long will it be before we see a couple of these cats on Main Street? Granted the unit pictured is only a prototype but according to the article it can practically drive itself.

P.U.M.A. stands for Personal Urban Mobility & Accessibility

P.U.M.A. Picture via Gothamist modified for RIOC Logo

UNFOUNDED REPORT of Sexual Assault at RI Subway Station

Gothamist is reporting that on January 25, 2009 at 12:05 pm there was a sexual assault on the F Line Roosevelt Island. The report has not been confirmed.

The Roosevelt Islander contacted both RIOC and PSD and neither had any additional information.

What is alarming and what I wrote in comments left on the Roosevelt Islander blog is that this station, if the assault was within the station, has two police officers, one on each platform guarding the tunnels and their for protection as the platforms are so far below the surface.

There are cameras which the token clerk can monitor of the escalators and the elevators but that obviously can do nothing to stop a crime in progress. Also I noticed last Friday that of the three monitors available to the clerk only two seem to be operating. It is unclear if this means specific views of camera are dark to the clerk or not.

It just shows at any time of the day everyone should be aware of their suroundings and take precautions.

UPDATE 1:00pm : According to Keith Guerra, PSD Director, via the Roosevelt Islander, the report of a sexual assault was unfounded.

I am not sure if this means there was no assault at all or that the assault was not of a sexual nature. I have sent an email looking for clarification.

Roosevelt Island Real Estate Hot Topic

Apparently Roosevelt Island real estate is a hot topic today. It all started with an article by Leigh Kamping-Carder in The New York Observer which was then picked up by Curbed, Runnin' Scared of the Village Voice and Gothamist. Pretty cool.

It's Official - Roosevelt Island Is Fun !

Roosevelt Island has officially been deemed "FUN" by the official Fun-o-Meter located in the East Village. Gothamist has confirmed earlier reports in their story today about the Fun-o-Meter.

Unconfirmed Report: Jumper from 36th Ave / Vernon Blvd

I received this morning a report that an individual MAY HAVE either (1) jumped into the East River from the Roosevelt Island Bridge or (2) jumped from a building at the intersection of Vernon Blvd and 36th Ave in Long Island City. The source of the inquiry was the above Gothamist Newsmap posted on line this morning.

Keith Guerra, Director of Roosevelt Island's Public Safety Division, indicated he received no reports this morning of a jumper from the bridge. [as of 10:48 am]. A call into ION's Cafe (at the intersection named) was met with surprise and a reply that they knew of no such incident.

No Reported Rotten Neighbors on Roosevelt Island

Todays' Gothamist refers to a new website devoted to "assisting" individuals looking to check out neighborhoods for annoyances they perhaps want to avoid before moving in if they choose to move in that is.

I am always amused at these sites. So far no one on Roosevelt Island has reported any Rotten Neighbors but this is New York and you can never make everyone happy all of the time. So I guess it is only a matter of time.