Some 300 residents demonstrated today in a Rally for Democracy on Roosevelt Island.

The protest grew out of their discontent with the RIOC (Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation) administration of Jerome Blue, but it had a broader focus:  representative democracy.  (Roosevelt Island, though part of New York City, is leased to the State of New York, which administers it through RIOC under a President appointed by the Governor.)  In the eyes of the protesters, Blue's administration has amassed a miserable record of blunders, attempts at fait accompli, and failures to maintain the Island's infrastructure.

The critical issue for most Island activists, however, is Blue's failure to consult the community on his administrative decisions.  For his part, Blue is under the gun financially, attempting to run the Island without the $6 million state subsidy that the Governor withdrew.

Islanders see Blue at fault, however:  He didn't ask the Governor for a line in the state budget, and has consistently claimed there's enough income to make Roosevelt Island self- sufficient.

Patrick Stewart, President of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) told the demonstrators "Jerry Blue is going to hear from us, day after day after day." He spoke through a bullhorn borrowed from officers of the Island's Public Safety Department, who had gathered to maintain order as the demonstrators marched from Good Shepherd Plaza to the Tram station.  There, they briefly blocked a bus for some speech-making, and a vanload of NYPD uniforms arrived on call from Public Safety. (They did nothing, and left almost immediately.)

The demonstration was timed to coincide with today's viewing of the Macy's fireworks at Southpoint - an opportunity to enlist off-Island visitors in RIRA's push for more representative - or at least more responsive - government of the Island.

The goal is supported by a petition demanding that Island residents have the power to advise and consent on gubernatorial appointments in the Island administration - both the President of RIOC, and the members of the RIOC Board of Directors. 

Essentially, the petitioners are asking that the present Island administration be neutralized, and that the Governor start from scratch in building a management team and a Board of Directors.

Demonstration organizers considered the turnout of 300 a clear success, given the number of residents away for the long holiday weekend.

Nearly 3,000 visitors came to the Island tonight for the fireworks on a clear and pleasant evening.