FDR Four Freedoms Park Billboard ?

I have not been over to the East River from the Manhattan side to see if the FDR Four Freedoms Billboard is back again this year but with the park construction and the UN in session I am assuming it is somewhere.

And with the United Nations back in session I am also assuming the US Coast Guard gun boats are back as well. The picture above was taken last year during this time.

Will President Obama Visit Roosevelt Island for a FDR Park Dedication?

According to a New York Social Diary posting, President Obama will be invited to a dedication of the FDR Four Freedoms Park which organizers hope to be schedule for the week of the 2009 United Nations General Assembly. The Social Diary post focused, in part, on a reception last month in Philadelphia honoring the planned memorial and Kahn titled “Louis I. Kahn: The Making of a Room”.

If this does happen, security will be amazingly tight on our little island and you can bet we’ll be in partial lockdown mode. I disagree with parts of the park’s design but it would be an honor for the President to visit the island. My bet is that residents would be squeezed out attending the event. Despite this blog being a pseudo member of our local press I have no illusions of receiving an invite but they sure as hell better invite Dick Lutz of the Main Street WIRE and Judy Berdy from the Historical Society.

Resident Profiles: Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram

Writing a blog about Roosevelt Island I find myself googling the island quite often to see what I can find. This evening it was a story on a Malasian website, The Star, regarding Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram who is the Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development in the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Definitely worth reading.

Vietnamese PM Stays on Local Roosevelt Island Couch

According to a local Roosevelt Island residents blog "The Fryer's Club" the Prime Minister of Vietnam was apparently staying in their building for the United Nations General Assembly sessions. The bloggers, Scott & Elly, knew something was up when they noticed the Secret Service hanging out in their lobby and black cars parked all around their building.

Per Scott & Elly: "Haven't met him yet, but I'll let you know if I do. He looks like a nice guy, right?"

Residents have been aware that among the diplomats living on the island were representatives from Vietnam but it is surprising that their Prime Minister decided to bunk on the island during this year's session.

Links to Fryers Club Post: NY Times City Room; New York Observer

Southpoint Park: Paths Not Taken - UNIS

Apparently one alternative use considered for the land at Southpoint Park was to build the United Nations International School at the site. The school eventually settled at the FDR Drive and about 24th Street.

Just imagine if that had happened we would not be having all the discussion of who is for or against the current Louis Kahn designed FDR Memorial.

A Conga Line of Sailboats in the East Channel

Over at Buds at Sea, Brian Schanning, today 10/8, recounted their adventure sailing up the Eastern Channel of the East River last week due to the United Nations boating restrictions. Quite an interesting tale to read.

Here’s a recap of some of the best comments regarding the Roosevelt Island Bridge not opening and being directed away from the Bridge by the US Coast Guard:

“We were ordered by the Coast Guard to go around and wait on the WESTERN side. They planned to escort us through soon, but until "plan" was all approved, be sure NOT to go past the Queensborough Bridge. That was easy to figure out since there were USCG boats with 2 machine guns each, clearly blocking that area.”

“We were out into the Harbor by 11:30, but some of the boats near the end of our Conga line were stopped again, by a new security zone set up around the heliport at then end of Manhattan. Pres. Bush had decided to leave an hour early and they got trapped again.”

I especially liked the Congo Line reference and where Brian in his post describes the need for constant communication between the various USCG and City agencies.

U.N. Related Roosevelt Island Bridge & Southpoint Advisories

Southpoint Advisory

As of Tuesday, September 18th through Tuesday, October 2nd,
Southpoint will be subject to closure due to the U.N. General Assembly.

Bridge Advisory

Due to the U.N. Security Zone closures on the East River,
NYC DOT Bridge Operations Unit will be performing openings on the Roosevelt Island Bridge.
The openings will be starting Tuesday, September 18th through
Tuesday, October 2nd between the hours of 7:00am - 7:00pm.
Please be advised that each opening will take anywhere from
8 to 10 minutes to be completed. Traffic crossing the bridge will be interrupted.