2006 Video re Hurricane Preparedness & Roosevelt Island

While it appears that Hurrican Earl will not be the be menace it was predicted for NYC the below post from February 19, 2009 is worth repeating. Most island residents still feel unsure what they would do in case of a hurricane hitting the island in light of our defined and limited ways off the island.....

As previously posted:

The above video is from a 2006 meeting regarding hurricane preparedness on Roosevelt Island. I stumbled upon it this evening and wanted obviously to post it here. The video was prepared by Manhattan Community Board 8 and was of a CB8M Public Safety meeting they held on Roosevelt Island in the Good Shepherd Community Center. The video is presented on a channel labeled CB8M Speaks.

I don't recall too many individuals feeling that the meeting answered all their questions but the video is clearly worth watching by all residents that were not there that afternoon.

CB8M: Hurricane Preparedness Video Roosevelt Island

The above video is from a 2006 meeting regarding hurricane preparedness on Roosevelt Island. I stumbled upon it this evening and wanted obviously to post it here. The video was prepared by Manhattan Community Board 8 and was of a CB8M Public Safety meeting they held on Roosevelt Island in the Good Shepherd Community Center. The video is presented on a channel labeled CB8M Speaks.

I don't recall too many individuals feeling that the meeting answered all their questions but the video is clearly worth watching by all residents that were not there that afternoon.

Community Board 8 Mtg Tonight re Tram Overhaul

Manhattan Community Board 8's Transportation Committee is sponsoring a public hearing this evening, starting at 7:00 pm, regarding the Roosevelt Island Tram. The discussion per the flyer abovce is to focus on the contract and construction plans for the Tram.

As opposed to many past CB8 meetings this hearing is NOT at the NY Blood Center but will be held at the Hunter College School of Social Work located at 129 East 79th Street in their auditorium.

Oct 21st Stringer Sponsored Community Forum re Transportation Issues

This coming Tuesday, October 21st, Roosevelt Island residents will have another opportunity to discuss transportation issues affecting the island this time not just with RIOC regarding the Tram but with our elected officials and each of the government agencies that run and maintain our bridges, subways, and buses.

The Community Forum is being lead by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and as this post appears to also include Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Jose Serrano, Assembly Member Micah Kellner and City Councilmember Jessica Lappin.

According to a representative from Borough President Stringer’s office the agenda is not yet final but one of their goals is to make the forum as interactive as possible including discussions of issues as well as possible solutions.

As opposed to Community Board 8’s Roosevelt Island transportation forum which took place in Manhattan at the Blood Center this forum is scheduled to take place here on the Island and as such can expect a much better turnout than the less than a dozen who attended the CB8 meeting.

All residents are encouraged to attend as this is a great opportunity to ask questions and hear from all parties plans for next year when the Tram is offline for several months. The timing of this meeting is appropriate as at least one of the referendum proposed by RIRA for the November elections includes the Tram.

DOT Decision in Queens Impacts Manhattan Residents Parking

As I reported about 6 weeks ago the DOT was putting into action a plan to remove parking spaces on Vernon Blvd, LIC for bike lanes. At the time, not owning a car, I did not expect there would be an impact on Roosevelt Island car owners. Boy was I wrong.

As any resident knows Roosevelt Island has only limited on street parking, all meterered, and the only other choice is parking at Motorgate Garage on the island. Well the third choice that I forgot about was many car owners parked for free on Vernon Blvd and underneath the Roosevelt island Bridge.

The above and below images can be found as part of the larger LIC bike path plan.

Well the DOT apparently removed the parking signs this week and a few Roosevelt Island residents who were informed of this at last nights Manhattan Community Board 8 meeting were not thrilled to learn what their fellow residents had already found out when they moved returned with their cars.

The question then, at the CB8M meeting, was what did their fellow Queens CB1 and CB2 know of this and did the Queens CBs even realize that the impact on their Roosevelt Island / Manhattan cousins who are connected to them by the Roosevelt Island Bridge. And lastly should CB8M say anything to the Queesn CBs.

NYC DOT Response Re Queensboro Bridge Access

It appears that if a NYC DOT representative does attend tomorrow night's Community Board 8 Meeting regarding Roosevelt Island transportation issues they will have nothing to say other than they received the April 2007 CB8 Resolution, that they undertook no feasibility study regarding access to the QB bridge, and the benefits of such access are not worth the funds needed to create such access. Nothing new here. This is basically what they told CB8 before the resolution was passed.

The below e-mail was sent to me today by the NYC DOT in response to my April 28, 2008 FOIL requests regarding the status of the DOT's response to the April 2007 CB8 resolution.

Pretty much everything in the below letter has been stated to me before including by our own Stephen Shane, President of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. I am not disagreeing with the concepts that the benefits may be exceeded by the costs but I still believe any additional access is better than the status quo.

-----Original Message-----
From: dot.nyc.gov
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:20:22
To: RooseveltIsland360@gmail.com

Dear Roosevelt Island 360:

We received your email regarding your question about the Community Board 8 resolution to conduct a feasibility study to determine access for the Roosevelt Island community to the 59th Street Bridge. Your request was forwarded to our Freedom of Information Office for review and consideration.

The Department of Transportation had addressed this issue to the Board, prior to them passing the resolution, that the installation of any kind of access was unfeasible for several reasons. The installation of a stairway would require meeting ADA requirements. An elevator installation would require the removal of a lane of traffic from one of the busiest bridges in NYC. Also of major concern are the security, maintenance, access, and Landmark issues. Additionally, the cost would be extraordinary yet the value would be extremely limited, particularly as compared to the existing and significantly greater capacity of existing alternates to the tram such as the subway and, most importantly, the Roosevelt Island Bridge.

Thank you for your interest in this matter.

Sincerely,

Margaret Forgione,
Borough Commissioner

CCU-08-2898
Man. Log #9159

-----Original Message-----
From: rooseveltisland360@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:36:09
To: dot.nyc.gov
Subject: Re: Access to QB Bridge

Dear Ms. Forgione:

Thank you for your response. I greatly appreciate it. I understand your points although I do respectfully disagree with some of them.

The one point I am continually confused by is the statement that a lane of traffic would be impacted by an elevator. Is the DOT counting as a lane of traffic the outer pedestrian walkway?

I would think an elevator if built would connect to the pedestrian wakway and not an actual lane of traffic. Perhaps this option was not considered.

In closing I wanted to ask if a representative of your office will be attending the Manhattan Community Board 8 meeting tomorrow evening at 6:30 pm where transportation issues affecting Roosevelt Island are being discussed. It is my understanding that a representative of the NYC DOT was to be invited.

Thank you again for your response and time.

Update: June 24th - CB8 Mtg Re Transportation

A couple of comments regarding the upcoming June 24th CB8 meeting regarding the state of Roosevelt Island's transportation infrastructure and needs. The first is that apparently as I have been driving the CB8 staff a bit nuts regarding the status of their April 2007 Queensboro Bridge access resolution they actually sent me a formal invite to the meeting. The second for anyone interested is they (CB8) also sent me a copy of the actual letter sent by them in April 2007 to the NYC DOT requesting a study be undertaken.

Prior to receiving either of these letters I had actually submitted a FOIL request to the DOT to see if according to the DOT records if they had even received CB8's resolution. I am being told in their below reply that I should expect a formal reply by about June 10th. I also asked what their response was to the CB8 resolution. My bet is if they actually respond all I will get is a copy of the CB8 letter to them which I now already have.

I have asked CB8 if they ever got a formal response as I though that was what CB8 Transportation Co-Chair Jonathan Horn had indicated to me. But so far the folks in the CB8 office have not provided any such response to me. If DOT shows up June 24th I am sure we will hear their response.

Invite to June 24th Mtg.

CB8 Letter Resolution to NYC DOT

FOIL Request to NYC DOT

June 24th CB8M Mtg re Roosevelt Island Transportation Issues

Manhattan Community Board 8 has formally announced June 24th as the date for their combined Transportation / Roosevelt Island committee meeting that will focus on RI transportation issues. The agenda per the CB8 website is as follows:

1. A discussion and schedule of work through completion on the F Line.
2. A discussion of the major renovation of the Tram
3. Follow up discussion on the April 18, 2007 resolution regarding a discussion of the development of direct access from Roosevelt Island to the Queensboro Bridge
4. An update on the proposed East River Ferry Service.
5. Old Business
6. New Business

The meeting will take place at the NY Blood Center located 310 East 67th Street, (between First-Second)in the Auditorium.

As reported earlier representatives from both the MTA and the DOT have nbeen invited to attend. I would expect that RIOC President Stephen Shane would be in attendance as well as a number of our local elected officials and our elected RIOC Board Nominees.

I have been trading e-mails today with CB8 regarding the response I had understood, from Transportation Co-Chair Horn, that DOT had issued to CB8 regarding the April 2007 resolution but it appears that perhaps no formal written response was ever issued by the DOT to CB8. I was sent a copy of the actual April 2007 letter sent to DOT by CB8 regarding the resolution and will post it here later today.

NYC DOT re CB8 Request for Roosevelt Isle Queensboro Bridge Access: No Way

According to Manhattan Community Board 8 Co-Chair Jonathan Horn the NYC Department of Transportation response to CB8's April 2007 resolution calling for a study to look at access to the Queensboro Bridge was in summary "No Way". Mr. Horn was unsure when the DOT response was received but believes it was only in the last few weeks. He admitted that publicizing DOT responses to CB8 resolutions is sometimes slow but in this case I am amazed that the DOT responded at all given the fact that the resolution was passed over one year ago.

This coming June 24, 2008 the DOT and the MTA have been invited to a joint CB8 meeting of both the Roosevelt Island and Transportation Committees where several issues will be discussed including access to the Queensboro Bridge as well as the F Train, the Tram, and the ongoing process, as noted in the news this week, of bringing ferry service to Roosevelt Island. I was unclear as to where this meeting would be held but one would presume it would be on Roosevelt Island.

When I asked Mr. Horn if the physical DOT response could be made public he indicated that I needed to contact the CB8m office to make that request.

In the end the DOT response was not surprising. Mr. Horn indicated that while representatives of both DOT and the MTA are being invited to the planned June 24th meeting it is not guaranteed that they will attend. I would expect and suggest that if enough constituents contact our elected officials (Maloney, Serrano, Kellner, and Lappin) that we would see not only the elected officials but more likely the DOT and MTA will attend as well. Again nothing is a sure thing but at least we can gripe to the elected officials with the hope they can lobby both of these organizations as responses to average Joes and Josephines are virtually nonexistent. Heck it took a year for CB8 to get a response.

For prior media coverage regarding Queensboro Bridge access: NY Times and Streetsblog.

RI360 to DOT: Did You Even Get the CB8 Resolution re QB Access?

It is now more than a year ago that Community Board 8 passed a resolution requesting that the NYC DOT investigate the question of direct pedestrian access to the Queensboro Bridge from Roosevelt Island. Next month island residents will lose the Roosevelt Island Tram for 8 days. Last night our subway station was temporarily shut down due to some sort of gas leak. If both of these stoppages were to occur at once we would have been left with only one way off the island, the Roosevelt Island Bridge. That result is unacceptable hence the need for direct access to the Queensboro Bridge.

To date it is still unclear to me if that resolution was ever received by the NYC DOT or if CB8 has ever followed up with the DOT. I can not even get an answer from CB8 regarding what they know of the resolution’s fate. At this point I am not even sure in what format CB8 transmitted the resolution and to who at NYC DOT. The above image is of the online inquiry I have submitted to the DOT Commissioner’s office regarding the resolution.

On Tuesday, May 6, 2008, the Transportation Committee of Community Board 8 is meeting at 6:30pm. I hope to attend and to ask Committee Chairs Jonathan Horn and Charles Warren directly. It is unknown if the DOT will ever send me a response to my inquiry.

RIOC: No Tram - June 10 thru 17

Reading "The RIOC Column" by Stephen Shane, RIOC President, in this weekend's Main Street WIRE, I learned that the Roosevelt Island Tram will be off line for 8 days starting this June 10th. I don't know what is worse not being able to eat bread this Passover or learning this news. Maybe I should have have heard this news earlier but this was the first I learned of this stoppage.

As Mr. Shane indicates the work regarding the track rope adjustments is obviously necessary and will be an interesting test of how as a community we work through the temporary loss of the Tram in preparation for the 2009 stoppage when the system is overhauled and out of service. We appreciate the steps RIOC is taking to plan alternative methods of transportation and we just hope the MTA is kind to us on the weekends and nothing goes badly during the morning and evening rush hours.

In light of this stoppage I hope the Tranportation Committee of Community Board 8 is paying attention as to my knowledge the NYC Deprtament of Transportation, still to date, has never responded to CB8 regarding their April 2007 resolution calling for a study to look at access to the Queensboro Bridge from the Island. Now would be good time for someone to follow up on that resolution. I have asked CB8 to follow up but I am receiving from no responses to my repeated inquiries as to the status.

New Foot Bridge to Roosevelt Island Considered

Momentum is gaining among community and political leaders to build a new footbridge to Roosevelt Island. The only problem is the bridge under consideration is NOT to Franklin Delano Roosevelt Island, here in NYC, but to Theodore Roosevelt Island which sits in the Potomac River. And they say nothing can get done inside the beltway.

For those interested the full story can be found HERE on the GW Hatchet.

Meanwhile back here in Gotham it has been a year since Community Board 8 passed a resolution for the NYC DOT to study whether access can be afforded to NYC Roosevelt Island residents to the existing 59th Street / Queensboro Bridge and as far as we know DOT has never responded to CB8. Furthermore it is unclear whether CB8 has ever followed up with DOT regarding the resolution.

Roosevelt Crusoe: What Happened to the CB8 Requested Study re QB Bridge Access?

Today I posted the below post on the Roosevelt Crusoe blog regarding last year's Community Board 8 Resolution regarding pedestrian access to the Queensboro Bridge.

Do you have any information I can follow up on?

"Eleven months ago a proposal was put before NYC Community Board 8 regarding direct pedestrian access to the Queensboro Bridge from Roosevelt Island. The central reasons behind this request were the possible ramifications of Roosevelt Island's access off the island in case the tram, subway and RI Bridge were all non-operational or inaccessible.

At the close the CB8 meeting it was resolved that a study should be commissioned to determine the needs and possibility of such access. While the Streetsblog article pictured, and linked here, does indicate that a DOT spokesperson Kay Sarlin, knocked down the proposal citing security and landmarked status issues it is unclear whether the DOT was ever formally requested to commission a study or whether it issued a formal response to the CB8 resolution.

I hope to contact CB8 and learn more what happened subsequent to the resolution being adopted."

CB8 Meeting March 6th - How Do You Want Your Views of Southpoint Park?

It's all about the views in my mind. If the FDR Memorial planned at Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park blocks those views the park will be ruined for me.

Please join me and others who have views about this issue at Community Board 8's Park's Committee meeting this Thursday March 6th at the NY Blood Center at 6:30 pm at 310 East 67th Street.

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"

FDR Memorial Defended and Defined by Ambassador vanden Heuvel

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ambassador William J. vanden Heuvel, representing the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, spoke at the January 22, 2008 Community Board 8 meeting, in favor of the FDR Memorial and its history. The above video is of his presentation. The below pictures were the only media brought by the Ambassador and the FERI Institute.

CB8 Meeting Focused on Kahn FDR Memorial Design

Despite RIRA President Matthew Katz's own assertions, that the question of whether the Louis Kahn design FDR Memorial is appropriate for this Island at this time and that the issue should be brought to a larger vote by the local populace, the meeting of the Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island committee seemed to focus on the design and the fact that most public memorials are built without consultation or input of the local populace.




The meeting chaired by Patrick Stewart, included a presentation by Ambassador William J. vanden Heuvel, who is spearheading the fundraising project on behalf of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. I expect to post a video of his presentation shortly. He indicated at this time only $10 million of the $40 million needed has been raised or pledged and that if the project does not happen these funds woud not be available to another design or park project. They were raised based on the Kahn design and for no other.




Ambassador William J. vanden Heuvel was President of the Four Freedoms Foundation from 1984–87 and President of its successor, the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, from 1987 to 2000. He has served as Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as U.S. Representative to the European Office of the United Nations.




The Ambassador indicated upon questioning that no part of the $40 million is for an endowment to upkeep the Memorial after it is built. RIOC President Steve Shane when discussing this issue after the event indicated that an agreement (circa 1970's) exists between NYS and NYC which indicated that the State Parks Department agreed to be responsible for the maintenance but he wondered if this could be upheld as no funding is evident in any state budgets issued to date.




As noted above the design appeared central to many statements and the members of the CB8 committee were disppointed that the Ambassador and the representatives from FERI had not brought any drawings or materials which would better demonstrate the first person feel of the memorial other than the aerial views which all parties agreed were impersonal and give off a very hard image of the planned memorial. It is expected that before any future planned Town Hall meetings or presentations to CB8 that newly drawn rendering and drawing would be presented.

When given the opportunity the audience members which spoke seemed to be in favor of the memorial by a margin of two to one. My own view given at the event was that I fear the sweeping 360 degree views will be lost to the trees despite my being told and hearing that the foliage would only begiin at above 7 feet in height and as such the views would remain despite my argument that some loss must be acknowledged as 20 foot trees are not invisible and must block views in some manner compared to today. the model photographed above seems to support my concerns.

The photos presented throughout this post were taken from a web site devoted and created in support to a Cooper Union exhibition regarding the memorial I believe in 1998.

CB8 Roosevelt Island Meeting Tonight at 7pm at Good Shepherd

The agenda for this Community Board 8 meeting includes the following:

1. Coler-Goldwater Hospital
2. Transportation: Tramway-F Train
3. Discussion regarding future development of South Point Park with participation by Roosevelt Island Residents Association Members, Trust for Public Land Representatives, RIOC, and interested citizens. (Joint item with the Parks Committee) Deirdre Breslin and H. Patrick Stewart, Co-Chairs

Meeting Location:
Good Shepherd Church Community Center, 543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island
Meeting Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

This meeting appears to be another opportunity for residents to express their views regarding the Kahn / FDR Memorial as well as concerns regarding transportation issues in light of the planned Tram rehabilitation in 2009.

CB 8 Meeting on Roosevelt Island Scheduled for January 22nd

The agenda for this Community Board 8 meeting includes the following:

1. Coler-Goldwater Hospital

2. Transportation: Tramway-F Train

3. Discussion regarding future development of South Point Park with participation by Roosevelt Island Residents Association Members, Trust for Public Land Representatives, RIOC, and interested citizens. (Joint item with the Parks Committee) Deirdre Breslin and H. Patrick Stewart, Co-Chairs

Meeting Location: Good Shepard Church Community Center, 543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island
Meeting Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

This meeting appears to be another opportunity for residents to express their views regarding the Kahn / FDR Memorial as well as concerns regarding transportation issues in light of the planned Tram rehabilitation in 2009.

Update re 9/21 Community Board 8 TV Broadcast re Hurricane Preparedness

According to Elizabeth McKee of Community Board 8 the broadcast is a videotape of the July 20, 2006 event that took place at the Church of Good Shepherd which was sponsored by CB8. The above image was of the flyer that advertised that event. for info regarding that event you can check out the Main Street Wire article that covered it and ran in the July 29, 2006 issue. To be honest that article covered a lot of ground ad is worth reading again. It also raised a lot of good questions as many of the residents that attended the 2006 seminar were not altogether satisfied with the OEM plan.

So if you felt attending that seminar was enough watching this broadcast may not be something for your agenda but if you missed attending that event perhaps this broadcast is something to put on your calendar.

If you cannot watch or videotape this re-broadcast you can also listen to an audiotape of the event at the Community Board 8 offices which are located at 505 Park Avenue, Suite 620, (East 59th Street). CB8 asks that those wanting to listen to the tapes call their offices before coming so that they can have the tape ready for you (212-758-4340).