What is wrong with Roosevelt Island? Are we going to the dogs?

Little by little, this Island is suffering a gradual change, and it’s not for the better. It’s not due to more construction, it’s not about Mitchell-Lama, and it’s not about congestion on the subway or Tram. Since we are having more dogs on the Island, our sidewalks are suffering the consequences, not to mention our shoes or wheelchairs.

It was to our dissolution that we were not permitted to have a dog in the apartment the day we signed our first lease. Maybe now things have changed because there are more people owning dogs and they blatantly parade with them up and down on Main Street. I have no problems with that, in fact somewhat I enjoyed looking at them, but to see people being so disrespectful that they are not cleaning after their dogs – it’s just plain wrong and it should not be allowed with no exceptions.

I witnessed an old lady who has two little dogs, leaving the poop in the middle of the sidewalk with no care or consequence. Isn’t there a law against this? Are there any exceptions on Roosevelt Island? Do senior citizens have any exceptions? If so, someone else should be cleaning after.

The Public Safety officers around the Island should be more careful, and pay attention when there are dogs around. When anyone is caught breaking the law, they must pay a fine. And if they want to avoid the fine, they should pick up after or train their dogs to poop inside their own apartments.

Tenants should also pay attention and immediately say something or bring notice, not only to the dog owner, but also to the nearest officers. This should be controlled or stopped before it gets out of hand because, who knows, inadvertently one might be stepping on something one does not like.

Gustavo Alori

Since Eastwood has been taken out of Mitchell-Lama by Jerome Belson and investors, the rules for parking vehicles in the courtyards have been increasingly flaunted. Just inside of 576 Courtyard, behemoth SUVs and regular sedans have been plowing up the earth coming and going as they drive in and park free. Curiously, these vehicles are not seen on the weekends, and there are fewer at night, suggesting that the drivers work in some office here during the day and flee the Island at night. Public Safety apparently has been warned not to ticket or tow them.

If these culprits are allowed to park free and tear up the landscape, then why can’t all residents of Eastwood park their cars at no charge in the courtyards? Pave over the little bit of grass that remains, paint white lines for parking spaces. Soon, there will be rusted hulks up on blocks; old refrigerators with flapping doors and white wringer washing machines cluttering up the place. Maybe a junkyard dog to menace residents.

Won’t these ugly relics be a tasty sight for prospective tenants interested in paying the high market rents of Eastwood? Better to get rid of those illegally parked cars now rather than encouraging further blight.