The rancor should end.

Among residents concerned about the present and future of Roosevelt Island, there has been of late more than enough of rancor: bitter ill-will, resentment, deeply held, perhaps long-lasting.

Lest some hasten to point out that The  WIRE has contributed to the Island's current diet of rancor, we admit here and now that The WIRE's editorial positions are deeply felt and stated forcefully. Understandably, those who hold contrary views are likely to see such forthrightness as a contribution to a climate less than cordial. We don't mean to suggest The WIRE will sacrifice its edge in making a contribution to bridge-building. But we acknowledge that others, reading The WIRE's opinions of Island matters from another viewpoint altogether, are not likely to be comforted when evidence and conclusion is excessively pointed.

But some of what we feel in the air these days – or read in errant e-mails – has gone beyond keen argument of position. When deliberate misinformation is spread about those whose views are different, or individuals are painted with the broad brush of a derogatory nickname because of those views, the only contribution - aside from a temporary gain – is that it adds to acrimony.

Much of the current ill feeling arises from two initiatives The WIRE endorses.

 The Maple Tree Group, acting on a 92% vote favoring self-governance, is working with Assemblymember Pete Grannis and Senator Olga Mendez on legislation to put the RIOC Board in the hands, mostly, of elected Island residents.

RIRA President and RIOC Board member Patrick Stewart has, at various times, endorsed, commended, condemned, or railed against the effort and the legislation. Sometimes, after a public condemnation of, for example, an MTG analysis of the RIOC budget, he has later admitted privately that he had the figures wrong. We commend the admission, but it's hard to be comfortable with the rancor of the earlier denunciation.

Nobody – not Stewart, not his supporters – is against democracy. Stewart's concerns about budget can be, and have been, answered - and it's time to get on with direct control of Island matters by its people through elected representatives on the RIOC Board - the legislation put in play by Grannis and Mendez.

 Roosevelt Islanders for Responsible Southtown Development (RIRSD) acted against some wrong-headed Southtown plans that violated the General Development Plan (GDP) for the Island. Stewart initially endorsed the Southtown scheme and condemned RIRSD's legal action. When his wife, Karen, found evidence of the plan's deviation from the GDP, RIRA – thinking it had found a magic bullet – opted to negotiate, rather than take legal action. But RIOC refused to negotiate, and RIRA finally joined in the legal fray.

That's a simple matter: Everybody involved wants what's best for Roosevelt Island. If we can get over the worry that the developers will walk away from their lucrative deal because they might be held to residents' interpretation of the GDP, we have nothing to fear in acting together for the Island's best interests.

Some time ago, Stewart proposed a meeting with The WIRE to "get the air cleared," after which "we would all be a lot happier." The WIRE accepted, but Stewart then backed off – in fact, resigned his WIRE column – apparently jabbed a little too deeply by the kind of sharp WIRE opinion he genuinely appreciated when it was directed against his nemesis, Jerry Blue.

The WIRE remains open to such a meeting, and has told Stewart so. He's also invited to resume his RIRA President's Column, which remains open to him – and to follow through on that very statesmanlike proposal he made – to clear the air.

New Blood

The WIRE happily welcomes three new members of the RIOC Board. Their new perspective is particularly welcome at a time when residents and RIOC are about to face each other in court in an expensive disagreement over just how Roosevelt Island should be developed.

We found the comments of Leo Kayser especially promising when he said he wants to frame this issue: Giving residents local control over local matters. That's not a snap-your-fingers overnighter, as members of the Maple Tree Group have found over two and a half years, but Kayser seems to bring an affinity to the task that could hasten a payoff on the effort.

And what a delight to welcome a new Board member who grew up here: Kevin Fullington happens also to bring a connection with City Council.

We look forward to getting to know them all.

DL