FDR Paper Surveys Due This Evening at 6 PM

PressHD has posted a new video regarding the state of the Louis Kahn designed FDR Memorial featuring interview with Roosevelt Isladn Operating Corporation President Stephen Shane, RIOC Board Member David Kraut, and Residents Association Matt Katz.

The central question posed b ythe video is who decides. My take on what Steve Shane is that there i essentially nobody here on the Island who has the background to be able to decide and that the we must proceed under the intent of the original agreement entered into by NYS and NYC to build the Kahn design. Matt Katz feels that the design was from another time and that each time we are told a deadline is approacjing the wall is moved allowing the issue to continue.

As noted for the first time perhaps a survey has been published that may give a better voice to whether the residents of the Island care and to what degree. Mr. Shane believes the numbers that care is actually quite small in the 40 to 50 range. It does appear, according to Mr. Shane, that the survey will afect the design as it is what it is.

Survey's are due at the PSD office across from Trellis in the box provided by 6:00 PM this evening, Saturday, April 19, 2008.

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.

PressHD: Fire at Southpoint

While I was away this weekend I received an e-mail from Kim at PressHD.com alerting me to the fact that a fire had taken place in the brush down in Southpoint Park.

Link through to her site for more info and to her Flickr page of additional photos.

The fire was also covered by the Roosevelt Islander and was picked up on Gothamist. Any pictures from Manhattan?

The sequence of the FDNY's response can be found HERE.

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

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.

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.

Greater Access to the RIOC Board Nominee Candidates? At RIOC Offices Perhaps?

PressHD.com presented today, 1/28/2008, three videos which go far to allow voters learn a bit more about the thre candidates profiled: Erin Feely-Nahem, Jonathan Kalkin , and Lynn Strong-Shinozaki. In addition to Mr. Kalkin’s website “VoteKalkin”, Frank Farance’s own website is due to launch today.

So far as noted in an earlier post Mr. Kalkin is the only candidate to visibly advertise on Main Street with his "WHY" posters. So for the average resident they will know nothing more of the candidate’s other than their Main Street WIRE published statements.

This is a shame as I thought the three PressHD videos did a lot for each candidate. Greater visibility would do all of the candidates a lot of good. Where Ms. Strong-Shinozaki tried to find a public venue to sit and perhaps meet with voters but perhaps this attempt did not go far enough.

Granted residents, who are interested, can show up on Saturday night, February 2nd for the second candidate’s night, but perhaps RIOC should make available space each evening in their offices, through Feb. 5th, where Candidates could sit and be available for those residents who want a one on one experience?

PressHD Publishes Additional RIOC Board Nominee Q&A Videos

PressHD published on-line this evening four additional videos of the RIOC Board Nominees at last week's Candidate's Night held at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Each of the videos is from the Q&A segment of the evening. Of the videos presented three deal with questions that I was not able to transfer to video on this blog previously: (1) Privatization (2) Main Street Vendors and (3) RIOC Board Meeting attendance.

The videos I posted on July 17th captured the candidates' responses to questions posed regarding (a) Maintaining Open Space (b) Rental of Open Space / Sports Fields and (c) Southpoint and the Louis Kahn designed FDR Memorial. It should be noted that my Southpoint video cuts off Dr. Grimm mid-response and the full responses of both Michael Carew and Fay Christian. My apologies again.

The PressHD videos are not complete videos of each Q&A session as each ran about 1 minute per candidate but the videos appear to capture the key comment(s) or thoughts of each candidate.

As very few of the candidates appear to be advertising their campaigns and positions other than Jonathan Kalkin these videos (my own and those of PressHD) are perhaps your only views of the full slate of announced candidates to date. The deadline for filng paperwork was this past Friday night January 18th and I am awaiting confirmation as to the final candidate list. As noted earlier written statements are expected to be printed in this coming week's WIRE.

According to Jonathan Kalkin's website he was interviewed by the NY Daily News so look for links and coverage of that story once it is published. As noted on his site this is encouraging to see that the main stream media is picking up on this election. It will add pressure to the Spitzer adminstration to live up to the expectation that our duly elected nominees will be submitted as the Governor's recommendations for speedy confirmation before the legislature/

Candidate's Night # 1 : Consensus for Change

As I sat through the first RIOC Board Nominee Candidate Night at the Church of the Good Shepherd it was clear each of the candidates present that evening wants to make a difference and are committed to learning more.

PressHD has put on line this evening thre great videos capturing the presentations better than I could with my little cameras. There were less than 100 Island residents in attendance which is a shame but thanks to PressHD you can watch the events on that website.

What I was struck by was that a number of the candidates were not aware of basic issues covered continuously in the WIRE, including the issue as to whether Southpoint Park should include a memorial for FDR and what the central issues are regarding that memorial. To give the candidate's the benefit of the doubt there are many issues that each of them can not have the experience of understanding until the elected six are formally vested in their positions.

The Q&A focused on the following issues: Main Street Stores, Transportation Issues, Open Spaces, Southpoint, Deteriorating Landmarks, Emergency Preparedness and Privatization.

We are not electing professional politcians which is good so don't expect the most polished of speakers although some are better than others. But on the flip side I would have hoped each would have at least an opinion on each of the issues as they are covered in the WIRE. I am not saying they should be experts but at least have some opinion if they expect us to vote for them. To simply expect them to reflect our own opinions is not enough although once they know the opinions of the populace they should work to meld both their views and ours in representing us on the Board.

So I encourage you to go to PressHD for their continuing video coverage provided of our first true taste of democracy. And don't forget to thank RIRA, The Maple Tree Group, and Matt Katz for a well run event.

Candidates Night # 2 is planned for Saturday Night February 2nd just before the election on Feb. 5th. Be there (at the Church) if you have questions and for a final chance to hear all the candidtaes.

RIRA Raises Election Banner Anouncing RIOC Election

PressHD issues second video related to RIOC elections. This one covers Matt Katz and RIRA installing two banners above Main Street notifying residents and visitors alike of the Feb. 5 plenary election.

Matt Katz looks incredibly happy. In the annals of RI history if this election comes off without a hitch and Spitzer installs the elected reps Matt Katz will be remembered as one of the key individuals who kept pushing for this day and got us there.

It's a fun day when Roosevelt Island bloggers can link to other Roosevelt Island web sites and blogs.