A Bit of Background:

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) is the State-recognized representative of the Island's residents. It has no actual governing power, but in the past has applied the pressure of public opinion to prevent Tram cutbacks, demand MetroCard for the Tramway, and secure passage of a law providing that a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) be residents.

RIRA has also mounted several community-oriented projects - Movies at Southpoint, participation in Roosevelt Island Day, fund-raising dances, free dances on the pier, blood drives, and other events.

The RIRA Common Council, consisting of its President, Vice President, and delegates from Island "districts" (buildings or groups of buildings), is its policy-making body. In the past, it has typically met monthly, on the first Wednesday of the month (with some variations for holidays). Its officers and council members serve two-year terms and may run for re-election with no term limits.

The real governing power for the Island resides with RIOC, whose President and Board members are appointed by the Governor. In 2002, the Roosevelt Island Open Spaces law went into effect, providing that a majority of the members of the RIOC Board be residents. As yet, however, the Governor has not made all the appointments necessary to reconfigure the Board to comply with that law.