Well, we're official. The RIRA Class of 2000 was launched at the Common Council meeting of December 6, and we're off to the races. The new Council began with a motion to thank the outgoing officers, which passed unanimously. By the time we adjourned, all the new vice presidents and most of the committee heads had been elected. You residents, members of RIRA all, may (and should!) participate in Common Council committees. The new chairs will be seeking recruits before the next meeting on January 3. Should you be interested in participating, I'll list their names. Of course, you can always call me (935-7534) to inquire. [E-mail address: matthewkatz@rcn.com]
 

Despite his heavy teaching, consulting and business responsibilities, Seymour Williams (Rivercross) has consented to another term as RIRA Treasurer. My wife, Sherie Helstien (Manhattan Park) volunteered as Acting Secretary for the first meeting and will prepare the minutes for distribution before the January session. She was also elected chair of the Legal Action Fund Committee and is seeking residents who wish to work on gaining access for the community to the negotiations on Southtown and other developments by legal means. Experienced fund raisers, sign up here! Steve Marcus (Rivercross) will take on the Secretarial duties at the January meeting and will maintain relations with our local politicians as Vice President of Government Relations as well. I hope we can elect a permanent Secretary soon.

Ron Schuppert (Rivercross), Council parliamentarian with Frank Farance, has taken on wide-ranging duties as Vice President of Island Services. Bangladeshi diplomat and new Roosevelt Islander, Mosud Mannan (Manhattan Park) will be Vice President of Social, Cultural and Educational Services. Ken Diebner (Westview), now not an Alternate but a seated Council Member, will be Vice President of Housing. He will be seeking committee members from each building. And new Member, Larry Parnes (Rivercross), will work to enhance and control Roosevelt Island's future as Vice President of Planning.

Computer whiz Frank Farance (Island House) will take on another term as Chair of the Communications Committee, responsible for keeping Council Members and residents informed of RIRA business. Much of the material handed out at the Orientation and at the December 6th meeting was Frank's handywork. Other members taking on leadership positions include Deirdre Breslin (Westview), who will continue as liaison to Community Board 8 and will also head the Energy Planning Committee as liaison to the environmental group, CHOKE. Nneka Pope (Eastwood) will revive the long moribund Membership Participation Committee, and she hopes to improve the diversity of the Common Council membership. Our expert on City planning and transportation issues, Jeff Hochman (Rivercross), will continue to serve, and Mercedes (Cookie) Lugo (Eastwood) will work with First Vice President Byron Gaspard (Eastwood) on public safety issues.

On other fronts, RIOC President Rob Ryan tells me that ConEd has discovered that our street-lighting problems may emanate from their usage of the wrong step-down transformers. He says that solutions are imminent. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still has not released its final report on the seawall, despite calls from Mr. Ryan and from Assemblymember Grannis. We are told that they simply need to incorporate the final changes in the printed report, but the weeks go by and we are still in the dark. I shall enlist the aid of Rep. Carolyn Maloney when I see her this weekend.

I spent an hour with our City Councilmember, Gifford Miller, last week. We discussed various plans for the future of Roosevelt Island, analyzing their benefits, liabilities and potential for success. He is a tireless advocate for Roosevelt Island and I enjoyed our time together, even if he is a Yankee fan. Commissioner of DHCR Joe Lynch, head of the State department that oversees RIOC, will meet with me this coming week and I will report any news in January.

We appear to be going into the holidays with a full head of steam, energized and ready to take on the responsibilities of dealing with the Island's problems and potentials. I would like to wish everyone who reads these lines a fine Winter Solstice, Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas, Good Kwanzaa, and a safe, sound and healthy New Year. Sherie and I are heading into our thirteenth year on Roosevelt Island happier than ever that we discovered this magical place at the same time we were discovering each other. Tiny Tim was right: God Bless Us Every One.