Fall really is a beautiful time. The colors are beautiful, and the weather is usually beautiful as well. Unfortunately, it also brings the hurricane season. The edges of the two hurricanes that drenched the City and brought the subway system to a halt did not cause major flooding at either end of the Island or on Main Street. I want to thank the grounds and maintenance crews for keeping an eye on the system and a watch on the most flood-prone areas of the Island.

As many of you know, the Public Safety office did not fare as well as the rest of the Island during the torrential rains. A pipe leaked right into the public area of the office, causing a flood that went all of the way to the back. We are working with Eastwood housing management to remove all remnants of the water damage. After that process is complete, the office will have new flooring and new paint to replace what was destroyed. We appreciate everybody's patience with the office's appearance as this process goes forward. Please continue to stop by the office at 552 Main Street, or call the office at 212-832-4545 during this time. Public Safety remains open for business.

Public Safety issues remain a priority for me. The Office of Emergency Management was unable to hold its scheduled community meeting with the head of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association during the summer due to the demands the convention and United Nations session placed on their time. We have placed several calls to them, and they have committed to having a meeting in early to mid October. We will update everyone as soon as we have more information.

We are also working to get the most up-to-date information about the bridge openings. We recently met with some members of the New York City Department of Transportation to review the raising and lowering of the bridge. The DOT is still unsure of the exact date when the openings will cease, but they did provide some heartening statistics. On average it takes nine minutes for the bridge to be raised and lowered. And, even though it appears that the bridge does get stuck in the upright position somewhat often, that is actually not the case. The bridge has actually gotten stuck only 1% of the time. The DOT is working to bring that number even lower.

We are also coordinating with the DOT to lobby the Coast Guard to have the boat traffic either redirected back to the west channel or at the very least to schedule the openings. To date the Coast Guard has not been receptive to this suggestion, but we will continue our efforts.

The work on the ramp to the bridge is also almost complete as I write this, and will in all probability be complete by the time this is published. The work was originally scheduled for when the bridge would not be operational, but that date keeps getting pushed out. It was necessary to complete the ramp repair before the cold weather set in to prevent further cracking and spalling. The work was done in the least disruptive manner possible for a two lane bridge, and we appreciate everybody's cooperation and patience as the work progressed.

Please be aware that there is some more road work that will be performed in the near future. The road by Gristedes and Manhattan Park is also in need of repair. Work was delayed as the ramp work was completed so as not to block an additional lane of traffic. This road repair may take several weeks and will have an impact on any parking in that area. Please be assured that it will be done as quickly and efficiently as possible. This work must also be completed before the cold weather arrives. More permanent work on that area will start in the Spring.

There is also a great deal of good news to report. Due to the efforts of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society and Judy Berdy, we will be receiving one of the old trolley kiosks that was at a museum in Brooklyn. We are working out the final details now, but within the next several months we should receive it and have it set in the ground. It will be accessible to the public and will make a nice introduction for visitors to the Island.

Work is also continuing on the plans for a park at Southpoint. The Trust for Public Land held two public meetings on September 14. Most people seemed to be generally pleased with the plans, but they did offer suggestions and modifications. New plans incorporating some of these suggestions are being developed and will be presented within the next several months. The results of this project will be enjoyed by generations to come. I invite everyone to review the plans if they have not already seen them. They can be viewed at

http://www.MarkKMorrison.com/roosevelt/pdf/concepts.pdf

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Matt Katz for all of his efforts on behalf of the residents during his time as president of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association. He never hesitated to call or write on any issue that he thought would have an impact on the quality of life for Roosevelt Island residents. I give him credit for his dedication and tenacity. They have served the residents well and I wish him the best of luck with whatever he decides to pursue.

I hope that everybody enjoys the cool and crisp weather. It reminds me that the Halloween parade is approaching, one of my favorite Roosevelt Island events. I look forward to providing more information on this wonderful event in the next few columns.