I was in Denver for almost a week and the clean air wrecked my sinuses.  Like most New Yorkers, I’m suspicious of breathing air I can’t see.  Now that I’m back, I’ve been racing to get back up to speed through several hundred e-mails and voicemails, and I can report the following to you:

In the April 17 issue of The WIRE, I reported that the Transportation Committee of Community Board 8 would consider a resolution to move the start time of a two-year renovation project on the Roosevelt Island/36th Avenue Bridge from 2012 back four years to 2008.  That effort has run its course, and I can report on the results.  The Transportation Committee voted unanimously on May 10 to accept my resolution essentially as written.  The full CB8 Board met here on Roosevelt Island on May 19, and I’ve learned that the vote was 32 in favor with no nays or abstentions. The resolution, which I’ve reproduced below, will be sent to the Department of Transportation and I hope will sway DOT to move our construction start forward.

Whereas, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has been planning necessary repairs and maintenance for the Roosevelt Island Bridge since 2000, and

WHEREAS, this work was postponed and significantly revised as a consequence of 9/11/2001, and

WHEREAS, the DOT has completed a final plan for the Roosevelt Island Bridge but has postponed the start of this two-year project until 2012, and

WHEREAS, this work is urgently required to maintain the bridge,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Community Board 8 urges the Department of Transportation to revise the start of rehabilitation and painting to begin no later than the year 2008 and not 2012.

In the last issue of this newspaper I mentioned the possibility of a special screening for Roosevelt Islanders of the film Dark Water.  I’ve learned that location manager Lauri Pitkus has made good on her promise to request such a screening from the producers.  I’ve included part of her letter here:

Dear Bill and Ashley:

Thanks very much to both of you for taking the time to drop me a note.   I am writing to you now so that I can say I’ve truly completed all location management aspects of Dark Water.

As you know, Roosevelt Island is unlike any other neighborhood in New York.  After working there over the past few months I’ve met or spoken to at least one representative of every Roosevelt Island agency, whether they front the interests of the residents, businesses, or State government.

Clearly, we had unprecedented cooperation from all involved with the filming of Dark Water, even in the face of frequent closures of Main Street and creating non-forecast rain.

For this reason, I am writing to you on behalf of the many persons who requested that we try to sponsor a screening of Dark Water for the residents and employees who live and work on the Island.

I explained to these folks that this rarely, if ever, happens in my experience of filmmaking.  But I feel strongly that I would not be doing my job if I did not forward this request to you. 
I will include names and contact information of key persons who are pressing for this to come true.   I think even if we were to sponsor a screening post-release date, it would be a boon to residents and future filmmakers alike.

On behalf of myself, the residents, and other persons who work on Roosevelt Island, thanks for considering this request.

I wish you the best of luck with post-production, distribution and release of Dark Water, and I look forward to seeing the final product.

This letter was cc’d to me and to Doryne Isley in Housing Management and Brad Harlan at RIOC.  I will add my two cents with a similar letter, pointing out that, while these organizations and several merchants were compensated for their trouble, the residents themselves have received no tangible thanks from the production company.  Perhaps RIOC and RIHMC will write letters along the same lines.

Just a reminder: The Town Meeting in which RIRA will ask you to ratify our new constitution takes place on June 15 at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd.  The required notifications have been met by reproducing the new constitution and bylaws in the last issue of The WIRE, and there will be further signage on Main Street kiosks in the weeks prior to the 15th.  The Common Council can effect these changes without your participation, but we’d rather accomplish this task with the resounding endorsement of at least 100 RIRA members.  As citizens and neighbors, I hope you will heed the call.