Daily News Reports $7M Needed to Stabilize Smallpox Hospital

The NY Daily News ran an article in today's paper, February 12, 2008 which focuses on the funding needed to stabilize the former smallpox hospital on Roosevelt Island. Double click the article at left to see the entire article.

From the article:

"We've been told by the engineers that to really do an adequate job, we need somewhere around $7 million," said Steve Shane, chief executive officer of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. "We have $4.5 million to spend on preservation. The rest of the money is slated for the parks, and I don't want to pit the preservation people versus the parks people."

"We're starting a campaign for another $3 million to make the stabilization better," said [Judy] Berdy [of the Historical Society]. "Four and a half million is not enough to make it stable."

It just seems crazy to me that the public must directly raise funds to support this stabilization when the state has years to ensure the collapse would not happen while the hospital was under its stewardship.

Cow Happy? Roosevelt Island’s Last Cow…

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I don’t really know if the last cow on Roosevelt Island is truly happy. We pass her every week and see her standing there in the window at PS / IS 217 and we wonder if she longs for the days when she was outside standing among the City she was created for. If she does, she is being teased as she stands by her window day in and day out facing the East River watching life go by.

She may or may not be comforted by the students of the school within which she is kept. Students in the K-8 school do look at her as their own. I am sure the kindergartners show her much more love than the eighth graders but I am sure there are many older kids that love her too. I know my own kids love her and we always must say hello as we pass her.

Resident Profile : Coler Resident Sunderam Srinivasan

WRRI, apparently an NYU related blog, published today a profile of Coler resident Sunderam Srinivasan. “Shrini” as he is known was/is a journalist and has been confined to his wheel chair for the last 17 years.

Definitely worth reading.

MTA Construction Disrupts Service Yet Again...Weekends 6 & 7 Out 8 Total

The Roosevelt Islander today asks why yet again is the MTA slamming the F Line 63rd Street Tunnel yet again with service disruptions. The poster states it is due to needed electrical improvments but this absolutly ridiculous.

It used to be every weekend during the summer and we could count on service during the rest of the year but now it is virtually continual all year long.

To those individuals that say that the current service covers RI look again at the truth of this info. Yes, we get service in one direction and yes if we took the train along the alternative provided we can get home or to where we are going but other than the recent 7 line disaster what other section gets pounded with service disruptions like this.

Wind Rips Construction Canopy Off Roosevelt Island Bridge

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The winds, yesterday, Sunday, February 10, 2008 were so striong that the force partially ripped the construction canopy off of the Roosevelt Island Bridge. Traffic was not effected but the sound was amazing as the canopy ripped in the strong winds. No word as to how long Skanska will need to repair the canopy or its effect on the ongoing construction project.

"Under Island” The Beast That is Roosevelt Island

How the beast below Roosevelt Island or rather that is Roosevelt Island came to life.

The below Under Island video is from the 2004 art and performance art project of the same name.

Direct YouTube Link by Carrieda

Link HERE to the original press release. Text below:

“Island of the insane exposes unknown animal!

Crew of three discover the secret of Roosevelt Island, a Utopian city built on a living, breathing mass of land.

Roosevelt Island, NYC.

Sightings of otherworldly beings are not uncommon in New York City's East River.

Foggy images appear regularly in aerial photographs of the region but substantiated evidence has yet to be found.

October 5 th we spoke with crew member, Carrie Dashow who says "the sonar readings are straight up and down!" as she reads from an antiquated tremor transfer device. She is crouched down between the stove and dinette table, covered with piles of historical documents, in her 1976 dodge camper van affectionately referred to as "USM" (Unseen Machine).

Spilling out of the van a knotted mass of wires and cords leads us to Dashow's colleagues, Jesse Bercowetz and Matt Bua , as they work from a makeshift raft, dredging the river bed for clues.

The adventurous threesome met while working on the island. Dashow, a self-proclaimed intellectual explorer is investigating the islands extrasensory influences as well as turbulent history. Bercowetz and Bua, surveyors of the underworld, have excavated bits and pieces of living matter, unidentifiable sludge as well as things residents of the island have discovered missing.

After months of patient watching and persistent digging they find themselves knee deep in the age-old mystery of the island. Although skepticism builds a tumbling case against their findings, nothing will stop these enthusiastic adventurers as they dare to prove that the creature does exist - even if their latest proof leads them head first into the unknown without a paddle.

Come see the findings of Under Island on exhibit as part of Romantic Detachment at PS1/MoMA . Oct 16th - Nov 7th 2004 “

Daily News Runs Article re RIOC Board Nominee Election

Today's New York Daily News, Sunday, February 10, 2008 includes an article on Roosevelt Island's recent RIOC Board Nominee Election.

It appears that the Daily News has run the article in its Queens edition. It does not appear to have run in the Manhattan edition. I am guessing Island residents who buy the paper on the Island today will see the article as I am guessing our deliveries of the paper come in via Queens.

I doubt the paper is under the belief the Island is part of Queens as it does state that elected nominee Jonathan Kalkin (pictured above) is also a Democratic county committeeman for the 65th Assembly District which does not extend beyond Manhattan.

City Comptroller Responds Regarding Kellner's Concerns at Eastwood

NYC Comptroller William Thompson has issued a letter to Assembly Member Micah Keller regarding concerns regarding Urban America’s management practices and issues concerning the tenants of the Eastwood apartment complex. Assembly Member Kellner had written the Comptroller as NYC pension funds had been invested in the City Investment Fund, Urban America’s partner in the purchase of the Putnam Portfolio which included Eastwood.



The New York Observer in September, 2007 reported on the City’s interest in CIF and possible concerns regarding affordable housing issues.

The full letter response can be read by double clicking the below image file.

Subway Service To/From Roosevelt Island: First Weekend This Year

This weekend marks the first weekend of 2008 that Roosevelt Island will have subway service in both directions to Manhattan and to Queens. For the last 5 weekends we had to endure with no service in one direction or another.

Did someone pay off MTA NYCTA President Roberts? Did the joint letter from our elected officials asking for increased service convince him to allow us to have one weekend of normal service? Is this a gag because they are going to schedule another 5 weekends of disruptions?

I feel like singing Joy to the World ! Sorry I am getting a bit carried away.

Roosevelt Island Apartments After a Category 3 Hurricane?

The NY Times is running a story about possible housing solutions after a Category 3 Hurricane would displace thousands of New Yorkers. The above rendering was from the winning entry in a competition titled "What if New York City" where entrants were asked “to generate solutions for post-disaster provisional housing.”

Perhaps RIOC should start placing orders for these units now if the predictions are that in the next few years a major hurricane will be hitting the area.

The Roosevelt Island Tram and New York’s Crime Shows

Law & Order : Criminal Intent
Episode: Untethered
Season 7 Series Episode 142
Original Air Date: December 6, 2007

"Goren investigates when his nephew, a prisoner who's bipolar, claims that inmates are being abused to the point of murder."

This clip is somewhat violent and the Tram sequence starts at 1:12 and lasts less than a minute. I don't believe the Tram was featured again in this episode.



CSI New York
Episode: Dancing with the Fishes
Season 2 Episode 5
Original Air Date:October 26, 2005

“Mac, Stella and Flack investigate the death of a young dancer who recently won the lottery, and her death is connected to Lindsay's investigation of the death of a tram driver. Danny and Hawkes look into the murder of a local fish merchant.”

Yes a Tram operator. The below videos comprise the full episode without commercial interuption. The Tram and the operator are first seen in Video Part 1 about 10 to 15minutes or more into the video.

Video Part 1 of 2



Video Part 2 of 2

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.

WIRE Reports Problems with Roosevelt Island Presidential Primary Voting Machines

The Main Street WIRE is reporting that due to problems opening up several voting machines after the polls were closed that the Roosevelt Island vote tallies could not be reported. It is unclear if this means the counts could not be reported this evening or the votes are unable to be counted at all and added to the state-wide votes for each candidate.

Update 2/6 - 9:15am

According to Dick Lutz of the WIRE, the issue was one of timing as the votes could not be tallied before he posted the results on line last night. No word yet as to the when the breakdown of Roosevelt Island's own preference among the various primary candidates will be available.

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.

Vote for RIOC Board Nominees Tomorrow

There are a number of new election related videos over at PressHD.com that are worth checking out. Make sure you vote tomorrow. To view any of this blog's past posts about this topic click on through using any of the below tags.

Remember you don't have to be a US Citizen to vote just over the age of 18 with proof of residence.

The Tram's 1999 Superbowl Ad Appearance - Monster.com

This 1999 Superbowl ad by Monster.com features a one short segment, among several, where one boy is speaking from within the Roosevelt Island Tram. An earlier segment includes a pre-teen girl is seen with the Queensboro Bridge in the background over her left shoulder. The ad was fun to watch but eventually forced Monster.com to better define in their commercials what services they were providing.



Direct YouTube Link

A big thank you to RI360 reader Michael H. for recalling this ad and pointing it out to me.

Here is the parody of the above commrcial that duplicated the backgrounds used in the above video:

Will Southtown Include Affordable Housing?

The question regarding whether Southtown will include affordable housing is one that the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal and the Spitzer Administration has to face head on. To date the marketing of the existing four buildings has certainly been upscale and the prices to back that up. The issue of affordability has again been highlighted by the very public sale of 58 units to NYU on top of past building sales to Memorial Sloan Kettering and Weill Cornell Medical College. Nothing has been issued to indicate the next five would marketed any differently.

The General Development Plan requires 40% of the planned units offered to be affordable and occupied by low- and middle-income residents.

The question has now been raised in a direct letter, dated January 29, 2008, to DHC Commission Deborah Van Amerongen how the GDP requirement will be met and what the DHCR is doing to ensure it is. The letter is jointly signed by US. Representative Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Jose M. Serrano, Asseembly Member Micah Kellner, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and City Council Member Jessica Lappin.

The question how will Hudson / Related the developers ensure that they meet the 40% requirement can have long lasting effects. When Northtown Phase 2 was constructed builders set aside, to my knowledge, all of 2 and 4 River Road to meet the affordability percentage requirements they were required to meet. Because these units were separated from the rest of Manhattan Park reports have been that the management and upkeep of these buildings have suffered. Will Hudson / Related do the same? Will the same result occur again.

It will be interesting to see how this develops, pardon the pun, and how the developers respond to the letter from our elected officials. On one hand the State had no trouble taking money for the Southtown development rights but will they now uphold the GDP as law as they are trying to do by keeping the remaining three WIRE buildings, in Mitchell-Lama, as affordable housing.

The Planned FDR Memorial: The Linden Trees May Destroy The View

One of the central arguments against the planned Louis Kahn designed FDR Four Freedoms Memorial is what it may do to the sweeping 360 degree views currently available from Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park. It is certainly one of my major concerns. The main culprit is not so much the concrete but the planned Linden Trees.



When I brought this up at the CB8 meeting held on Roosevelt Island I was basically shushed by the pro-memorial crowd that the first branches of the trees woud start at 7 feet in height and the views below that height would not be obstructed. True if you walk under the tree you can regain the view of the direction you are viewing but you still lose the 360 degree vista previously afforded. Somehow my neighbor could not understand that I felt the loss would be most felt from within the raised grassy area that is to be flanked by the two rows of Linden Trees.

The below picture immediately below is of the current view looking West torwards Manhattan. The picture was found HERE on Flickr. Note that your eye does not only look straight out at a zero degree inclination but also upwards at varying degrees to take in the entire skyline. The picture below that is my version of the picture once the Linden Trees really start bearing their full leaf growth.






Remember it was stated at that same CB8 meeting that once the Memorial is created that no funds are being put into a trust to care for park or its upkeep. So while the Memorial at its dedication or soon thereafter may include great views (if baby trees are planted) or even if adult trees are planted which are well trimmed like these from a Berlin Avenue (properly thinned to allow some views between the branches) the full unobstructed views will no longer be available.

In time without proper pruning the trees left untended may resemble the thick leafy growth of this picture. Granted this picture is of a forest of Linden Trees and not one single row but you do see how these trees can grow thick leaf cover to some pretty good heights.



Each of the two above images was found via Google Images by simply searching using the term "Linden Trees"

Local Blogs: Over the Bridge and Through the Hood ...

I can not take credit for the blog post title as it was first posted by a member of the Chen Family who apparently live here on Roosevelt Island. More local bloggers, cool. You can read the full blog that accompanied this picture (and see the pic at full size) at the Chen Family Adventures blog.

The above picture provides a look at the current state of the Roosevelt Island Bridge and specifically the pedestrian walkway facing East towards Long Island City.

I am not sure Vernon Boulevard counts as the "hood" but it is a catchy little title and I am sure it has been used before but it certainly works here.