June 12, 1999
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Self-Governance Legislation Moving in Albany |
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Roosevelt Island may be about to get self-governance. Over the past few weeks, developments in Albany have made it possible - perhaps even likely - that both houses of the State Legislature will pass a bill within the next ten days, and that Governor George Pataki may sign it into law. Passage is by no means certain, but reliable sources have indicated the bill may be on a fast track. The proposed legislation, drafted by the Maple Tree Group (MTG) and introduced by Assemblymember Pete Grannis, then revised and introduced by Senator Olga Mendez, is in final stages and poised to be considered before the Legislature adjourns for the summer next week. |
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On November 3 as part of the election of RIRA Common Council
members, Island residents responded to an advisory question by
voting overwhelmingly to support self-governance as described
in the Grannis legislation. Essential provisions of the bill,
both then and in its present form, give Island residents the
right to elect a Board of Resident Directors, and through the
elected Board, to hire professional management, a change from
the present system in which the Governor appoints RIOC Board
members and the President of RIOC. Of those voting, 92
percent favored the self-governance legislation. The Common
Council of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA)
subsequently endorsed the proposed legislation by a vote of
16-0, with three members abstaining. The bill provides for replacement of the existing RIOC Board of Directors with a Board composed of seven Island residents - five elected by residents and two appointed by the Mayor. The Board would have the power to hire and fire a General Manager, who would replace the RIOC President. |
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The entity operating Roosevelt Island would still be known as RIOC
(informally, perhaps, "RIOC2"). Though the Grannis bill
called for a name change to "Roosevelt Island Community," it
was felt too many agreements, working arrangements, and
contracts would have to be reworked if the name were
changed. All residents over 18 who have lived on the Island for a year or more, including non-citizens, would be eligible to vote in community elections for Board members, and to serve on the Board. Elections would be held on general election day in odd-numbered years. The primary development in Albany enhancing chances for passage of the legislation were signals of interest from the Governor - tentative in February, then firmer in March. After the November 1998 balloting, MTG had asked Commissioner Joseph Lynch of DHCR (the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal) and State Senator Olga Mendez to present the idea of Roosevelt Island self-governance to the Governor. Though a Democrat, Mendez calls herself a "pragmatic politician" and supported Pataki's re-election in November. Presuming the backing of the Governor holds despite this week's appointment of a replacement for Dr. Jerome Blue as RIOC President, it is believed the Republican-controlled Senate will pass the bill. Democrats control the Assembly, and it appears that the backing of Grannis and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver will ease its passage there. Representatives of Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, as well as representatives of the Governor, have met with Jorge Vidro, an aide to Senator Mendez, to work out provisions of the revised legislation, which became available late last week. At the same time, another bill up for consideration by the Legislature would shift much of the financial responsibility for the seawall from the RIOC budget to the State and Federal governments. |
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The Maple Tree Group, which originated the general outline of a
plan for Island self-governance, first met July 7, 1997, under
a maple tree behind Blackwell House (thus its name). In
weekly meetings open to the public over the past two years,
the group worked out its plan under the guidance of Rivercross
resident David Bauer, a retired City
Manager and consultant to local governments. Bauer is known
as the group's "convenor." Over 80 residents have
participated in MTG sessions, but a core of about a dozen
regulars have done most of its work. The dozen-or-so have included Bauer, Laurence Brodsky, Mary Camper-Titsingh, Lee Edelman, Vicki Feinmel, Linda Heimer, Sherie Helstien, Oak Soon Hong, Matthew Katz, Kathie Niederhoffer, Ethel Romm, and Ron Vass. RIRA President Patrick Stewart has also participated in the group's discussions from time to time, as has RIRA Vice President Joan Christianson and RIRA Common Council members Judy Berdy and Byron Gaspard, as well as other members of the Common Council. |
 David Bauer, convenor of the Maple Tree Group |
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