Progress is Four of Six Nominees to be Seated.

Some will undoubtedly say that the fact that two of the elected six nominees for the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Board of Directors are not seated is a loss. While it is a loss it is certainly not a defeat. The Main Street WIRE is reporting this afternoon that the Office of the Mayor of New York will be announcing that it will appoint Howard Polivy, of the elected RIOC Six, as one of Mayor Bloomberg’s two appointees to the RIOC Board.

The fact that now collectively four individuals directly elected by their fellow island residents will be seated on the Board is a great step forward and certainly progress that should be built upon. The Maple Tree Group has worked for this event for years and they should be heartily congratulated for getting us there.

It may be years, if ever, that direct elections will ever result in seating a full slate of residents but the fact that the door has been opened alone signifies a change worth celebrating. No other State Authority has such a Board as no other Authority directly affects the lives of residents as part of their domain so it was only right and time for this time to come but it should be expected that an Authority such as RIOC will always be subject to the decisions of the Governors and Mayors that can make these appointments so it should never be a surprise when they exert their power limiting such gains. But it can not be argued this is not a gain and as such this appointment and confirmations should be celebrated.

Our thanks go out to Frank Farance and Erin Feely-Nahem even though they will not serve in the positions we elected them for. We appreciate their participation and I am sure like them we all will be paying attention to the actions of their appointed colleagues as down the road there will be future elections that this accomplishment has opened the door to.

Specific Ballfield Maps: Firefighters, Capobianco, Octagon, Pony

During the height of the corporate sports leagues it appears that sometimes various players are confused where on Roosevelt Island their game is being played. So when the Main Street WIRE provided maps are out of stock at the Tram perhaps these individual field maps will be of service. Double click any individual map to expand it for printing purposes.

WIRE: Rivercross Surcharge & Maintenance Hike

According to an email report by the Main Street WIRE

:

"DHCR Plans Hike in Rivercross Surcharge

DHCR plans to order an increase in the Rivercross surcharge, levied on residents whose income exceeds the maximum allowed in a building, from 20% to 30%, according to an e-mail from DHCR Commissioner Deborah van Amerongen to Assemblymember Micah Kellner.

Van Amerongen said that DHCR staff called the building's managing agent today with the news. In addition, DHCR has approved an increase in maintenance charges which, if levied in one step, would be $7.45 per room (about 2.5%) per month (or $4.97/room/month if levied in two steps).

With regard to the surcharge increase, van Amerongen wrote, "...the [Rivercross] Board will be informed of our decision sometime today. If they decide to challenge this that is of course their right, we will argue the case in court.""

Tram Outage Day One : No Man Left Behind

The Main Street WIRE, in the form of Dick Lutz, stood this morning on the Queens bound subway platform at the Roosevelt Island station and counted how many subway riders were left behind on this the first morning rush of the Tram's 9 day plannned outage. His count: Zero.

I myself was on the platform for the short period between 745am and 750am or so. I came onto a basically empty platform except for a few riders like myself who just descended the escaltors. A train showed up within 5 minutes with room enough for the hundred or more riders that had accumulated in those few minutes.

As the WIRE Bulletin posited it is unclear if the lack of riders was due to many staying home due to the excessive heat predictions or other factors. The real question is how was the platform between 815am and 845am which is usually the heaviest period of traffic.

Based on this morning I would advise all resident commuters to leave earlier than usual to ensure a stress free ride as much as possible.

Whiffleball Player Smacks Ball 654 Feet at Southpoint Park

Apparently Southpoint Park is becoming such a popular destination here on Roosevelt Island for Whiffleball afficionados that they have defined how many feet the centerfield fence is from home plate. Although some residents have questioned their math. Doubleclick the image to see the "654" designation.

In all seriousness does anyone know what the numbered boxes / placrds are sitting at down at Southpoint Park? I have not been down there recently but as always am curious to learn more about whatever is going on around here.

The above picture is one of several on Flickr regarding a whiffleball game at Southpoint Park.

Update 12:30 pm

Stephen Shane, President of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, e-mailed me a few moments ago with information regarding the numbered cubes. He referred me to his March 15, 2008 WIRE RIOC column where he wrote:

"In an episode reminiscent of our own UFOs , six (6) freshly painted, labeled (1-6) and latched cubes of approximately three feet at each dimension, enclosed on five (5) sides were discovered at the top of the grassy embankment just south of the Ruin. After investigation, it was determined that without prior notification, the MTA police had left them there as part of a canine training exercise. Roswell, New Mexico? "

Appoint All Six Elected RIOC Board Nominees

Of the six resident elected RIOC Board Nominees it was hoped that the Governor would without question appoint four and the Mayor would appoint the two he is allowed by law to appoint. In a strange turn of events Governor Paterson's staff has recommended to the Governor that he only pick three of elected resident nominees and re-appoint a current resident RIOC Board member who voluntarily chose to not run in favor of the election process.

This blog and I personally agree with the Roosevelt Island Residents Association, the Main Street WIRE, and my fellow blogger The Roosevelt Islander that the Governor and Mayor be urged to appoint all six nominees based on the desires of the resident population of Roosevelt Island.

At present I am unaware of the circumstances causing the Governor’s staff to make their recommendations but will work with RIRA to voice the message that all six should be appointed.

According to the Main Street WIRE bulletin issued this morning and the WIRE’s Roosevelt Island Blog the Governor’s office is expected in addition to David Kraut, who currently sits on the RIOC Board, to nominate Fay Christian, Dr. Kathie Grimm, and Jonathan Kalkin. That would leave the Mayor’s office the ability to appoint two of the remaining three elected nominee candidates: Frank Farance, Erin Feely-Nahem and Howard Polivy. The mayor is allowed to appoint two individuals of which only one has to be an island resident. If events continue on this path one of these three individuals will not be appointed despite the wishes of the resident poulation.

Has the Abominable Snowman Returned to the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse?

Ok, maybe I missed something in the Roosevelt Island tour guide class but I thought the lamps in the Lighthouse were no longer lit? Has the Abominable Snowman returned and turned on the light? I thought this was the last time the Lighthouse was lit. I have a feeling my Historical Society membership is about to be cancelled for not knowing this simple fact.

Mystery fact request: Who can find and provide a link to a web page that details the last lighting of the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse? Or at least prove to me that it is still lit on a regular basis and I have been a very bad resident to not know this.

Top photo by Shawn.nyc on Flickr. WIRE photo and issue can be linked HERE.

RIRA FDR Memorial Surveys Distributed via WIRE

Well this weekend, as an insert to the Main Street WIRE, the Roosevelt Island Resident’s Association distributed it’s long called for survey to determine what the present day population of the island thinks of the Louis Kahn designed memorial.

The survey itself has its own history as many individuals wished it stopped at simply asking whether individuals liked, disliked or had no opinion re the design. Some individuals feel that the survey is slanted as anti-Kahn design despite its having two columns of pro and con bullet points supporting the pro and con positions. As a matter of full disclosure I contributed an earlier version of the back page two column design.

There is also a call from my fellow island blogger, the Roosevelt Islander, to extend the length of the survey response period to allow for a greater number of responses to the survey. I fully support this as I believe more time is needed to “push” our fellow residents to fill out the form (pro or con) and to either walk it over to the PSD office and drop off the form in the above pictured box or to mail it into RIRA.

My own non-statistical on-line survey regarding the FDR memorial can be found HERE. Please vote in the paper survey and also this online version.

Joint PressHD - WIRE Interview with RIOC’s Shane at Southpoint

PressHD.com captured on film an interview between Stephen Shane, President of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, and Dick Lutz, Managing Editor of the Main Street WIRE. The video was shot on a sunny day and really captures the size and feel of the location as Steve Shane describes his understanding of what the Louis Kahn designed FDR – Four Freedoms Memorial will be like.

Personally I think a video like this only reinforces the idea of what the trees called for in the Kahn design will block from a visitor's view to the site once completed. As Mr. Shane describes the views in either direction will still be visible from either promenade to whoever wants to see them but still an unencumbered 360 degree view will be changed irrevocably.

RIOC's Shane Speaks re Roosevelt Island Retail Spaces

PressHD.com has posted two video interviews, on April 11, 2008, with Stephen Shane, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, regarding a possible plan to bring more retail to Main Street and the possible relocation of the Public Safety Office. At the time of this blog's posting I have not yet watched either video.

Presumably each video is tagged to a companion article in this weekend's Main Street WIRE as at least the retail interview was conducted by the WIRE based on the PressHD picture caption.

To link to the video interviews double click the above image.

FDR Memorial - Survey for All Residents to be in WIRE

This week's Main Street WIRE is slated to include a survey which all residents of Roosevelt Island interested in the Louis Kahn designed FDR Memorial are encouraged to complete.

PressHD.com videotaped RIRA President Matt Katz about the survey. Double click the above image to view this video only. Behind the scenes I should note I am interested to see the final format of the survey as the e-mails between the parties drafting the survey involved how detailed the questions should be or should it just be simply: Yes, No, No Opinion.

In the Paper – The Main Street WIRE – 2008Mar.15

The Main Street WIRE this week has added something new to its electronic web cover page Video Reports provided by Press HD. In addition the two lead stories forthis issue are reported by Rick O’Conner of the Roosevelt Islander blog and Kim Lengle of PressHD. It’s great to see our on line community supporting and contributing to the Main Street WIRE which for many of us is where we turn for long format news pieces and analysis regarding issues affecting our island.

The main stories reported in this week’s issue are:

> Southpoint – FDR Memorial
> Legality of Island Photography (Print and Video)
> Southpoint Editorial
> PS 217 Scholars
> RI News for Kids (Print and Video)
> Queensboro Bridge Historical Book

Last week after posting my Octagon / DEP article I was amazed how quickly the next morning I received an e-mail from Stephen Shane, our RIOC President, regarding the information and concerns of the Octagon residents I quoted. Mr. Shane as reported in his own WIRE column noted he visited the DEP site after reading about it here and then upon visiting the DEP site he sent me a quick email informing me what was actually going and I passed that info along as an update to that blog post. Again thank you to Mr. Shane for reading my blog and referring to it in his column.

Post # 550

FDR Memorial Meeting at Good Shepherd on March 25th

More later but here is the FERI prepared poster for the event. Watch for the survey to be published in this week's WIRE. Make your voice heard by completing the survey as submitting it as directed.

Weather Disrupts F Train Service Disruption (This Week Only)

UPDATED 4:33pm

The Main Street WIRE is reporting that the MTA has announced that all scheduled track work, for THIS weekend, FEBRUARY 23-25, 2008, has been CANCELLED due to the weather. I see no announcement on the MTA website and the MTA advisories I have received did not include this statement. However the NY Times City Room blog is reporting the same report but again with no links to official notices.

The WIRE states that the MTA annnouncement makes no specific mention regarding the F Train so the announcement should be questioned until you see specific signage at the subway station.

At the same time the MTA has already announced that service NEXT weekend, March 1-3 is scheduled to be disrupted. If this weekend's service is "restored" then next weekend will represent disruption weekend # 7 out of 9 total weekends this year.

National Primaries on Local Roosevelt Island - Early Reports

From Dick Lutz of the Main Street WIRE:

Island Results in the Presidential Primary will not be available for about two weeks, according to the City Board of Elections. At the conclusion of voting, poll workers were unable to open more than half the machines, and full counts were not available. Where counts were available, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seemed to be running about even on the Island. The same was true for Mitt Romney and John McCain in the GOP primary voting on the Island.

The Elected RIOC Board Nominees Are…..

Both the Main Street WIRE and PressHD are reporting that the above individuals have won election as RIOC Board Nominnees. Link to the WIRE for detailed election results.

According to the WIRE results page there were 1718 total votes cast. The question now is to wait and see how Governor Spitzer reacts and if he agrees to nominate each of these individuals to the RIOC Board and undergo the confirmation process.

Congratulations to each of the winners and thank you to each of the candidates that ran.

RIOC Board Nominee Election Begins....

Today Roosevelt Island residents can vote in the RIOC Board Nominee election at one of three locations: (1) Southtowners at 455 Main Street, (2) WIRE buildings, Manhattan Park, and 2-4 River Road residents at PS / IS 217, and (3) Octagoners at the Octagon. Proof of residence is all that is required. IOnterested voters do not have to have US citizen status or be previously registered.

US Primary Elections are being held at PS / IS 217 for all registered US citizens and also at Coler Hospital for registered voters living at the Octagon.

The above special edition of the Main Street WIRE can be linked to HERE.

The WIRE Posts Candidate Statements Online

In today’s Main Street WIRE, all ten RIOC Board Nominee candidates’ personal statements are available. The WIRE has also placed all 10 statements on line. Link through the photo below, or HERE, to the statement page.

RIOC Board Nominee Election Slate Set

The candidates wishing to be elected RIOC Board of Director Nominees have each filed the appropriate paperwork and the final slate has been set. Candidates wishing to run were required to file their paperwork by this past Friday, January 18, 2008.

The final slate includes each of the candidates that appeared at the first Candidates's Night including Ms. Tammy Jackson-Culler who was unable to attend the Candidates Night due to illness. The list includes 1 candidate from the Octagon, 3 from Manhattan Park, 2 from Westview, 1 from Island House and 3 from Rivercross. No candidates submitted their paperwork from either Eastwood or Southtown.

Roosevelt Island's First Vote for Direct Representation - A Month Away

Today's Iowa caucuses made me think about own "election" for positions on the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation's Board of Directors scheduled for just over one month from today. As Dick Lutz writes as Editor of the Main Street WIRE the turnout needed for Governor Spitzer to take this election seriously must be impressive.

This is our first oportunity at direct representation on this Island and we must exercise this newly provided right or else it may never be provided to us again. We live in probably the only part of New York State that is not represented and controlled by direct elections. After many years of fighting through the efforts of RIRA and public opinion broadcast through the WIRE we have the ability to change history.

So when your neighbor comes knocking on your door asking you to vote please get up out of your chair and make history. It's a heck of lot easier than dumping British Tea into the East River especially if the weather is anything like today.

And while you are voting for our RIOC rep on February 5th you might as well vote for your favorite U.S. Presidential candidate in the primary also being held that day.