Middle of January, 2008!
1. The New Year has started and a happy, healthy 2008 to everyone.
2. TEP increases for the WIRE buildings: ESDC has agreed to a six-month moratorium on collection, and now to a further tolling of the Statute of Limitations for commencing an action challenging ESDC’s determination. However, there are still legal issues unresolved. DHCR and RIOC are working on the problem, and will report as developments occur. Committees from the several buildings continue to meet with DHCR to discuss plans for affordability. Preservation of affordable housing continues as a priority both for housing policy and under the GDP for the Island. A maintenance increase hearing is scheduled on the Island by DHCR for Rivercross. DHCR and RIOC are focused on the ESDC/TEP issue.
3. Northtown Commercial Leasing: Unhappy to report that there is no progress in resolving the paralysis of the marketing of the vacant stores on Main Street. The application, pushed by Assemblymember Micah Kellner, to the Attorney General for an opinion that would permit RIOC to go forward without the cumbersome steps required by the law, languishes without decision. The legislation introduced by Assemblymember Kellner is grounded in Albany, like almost everything else. I have canvassed some of the commercial brokers in Astoria to get a feel for what would be involved in the appraisal process if RIOC has to go that route. Negotiations with all of the existing tenants has taken place to give them the security of leases so as to encourage interior improvement.
4. Public Safety: Having heard lots of gripes about Public Safety in the past and wishes for NYPD to take over the function on the Island, notwithstanding the 114th’s assurances that the crime rate on the Island does not justify any such sub-precinct creation, I am taking the liberty of publishing the unedited daily reports for the five days starting Friday the 4th through Wednesday the 9th. I get these reports daily from the duty Sergeant and have come to appreciate that what Public Safety does for the Island and its residents has very little to do with "policing" in the usual sense, but instead is very much in the areas of assistance to residents in personal matters and in avoiding confrontations between and among residents and their invitees. Most of these matters go unreported to the 114th precinct, but the nature of the quality of life preservation is really integral to what Roosevelt Island is. Of course, there are the detested parking violations and minor offense apprehensions, but they are truly a very minor part of the function, which is focused on deterrence, keeping the peace, and assisting the residents when in need for the tranquility of the Island. Read through the mundane details and form your own conclusion.
0700 hrs. January 4th 2008 thru 0700 hrs. January 5th 2008
Arrest - Male Urinating in public by the rear of 2 River Road. Summons issued by PSD Detectives.
Gas Leak - Eastwood stove flex pipe changed by super report made by PSD.
Hazard Condition - Fire Hydrant leaking water front of 595 Main St. area salted. PSD monitoring area PSD report made.
Burglary - Eastwood resident reported items missing from apartment NYPD on scene report made by PSD.
Arrest - Open containers of alcohol three male at the lighthouse park PSD issued three summons report made.
Verbal Dispute - two female tenants from Eastwood exchanged unpleasant words. Report made by PSD.
Vehicle accident - two commercial vehicles front of 625 main st. no one injured. NYPD on scene. report made by PSD.
Sunday AM: 1/5/08-700 a.m. to 1/6/08-700 a.m.
Alcohol/Open Container - R/O 900 Main Street 5 perps arrested by PSD for open container alcohol. PSD report done.
Disorderly Conduct - R/O 540 Main Street perp arrested by PSD for Disorderly Conduct by PSD. PSD report done.
Investigation/Verbal Dispute - 510 Main Street perp threatened victim. PSD responded. Perp had already fled. A search of the 4th and 7th floors for perp yielded negative results. PSD report done.
Monday AM: 1/6/08-700 a.m. to 1/7/08-700 a.m.
Investigation - At 540 Main Street a knife was found in the 10th floor AVAC by PSD. It was brought into PSD for safe Keeping to prevent injury. PSD report done.
Aided - At 2 River Road PSD and Mann Park Asst Super responded to an elderly tenant’s apt per request of close friend who had not heard from him. Tenant was home and fine. PSD report done.
Smoke Condition - At 580 main Street tenant was cooking and accidently burnt oil. PSD and UA Super responded. No injuries and no Damages. Hallway windows were opened to air out the smoke. PSD report done.
Smoke Condition - At 546 Main Street tenant was cooking and had fallen asleep. PSD and UA Super responded. no injuries and no property damage. Hallway windows were opened to air out the smoke. PSD report done.
Investigation - At 551 Main Street a tenant complained about another who constantly makes nose complaints about her. PSD responded. The matter will be referred to RY Mgt. PSD report done.
Investigation - At 580 Main Street there was a report of a male being assaulted. PSD responded. Male was found and refused to provide any information and refused a report. He stated he did not want to report anything. PSD report done.
Investigation - At 563 Main Street there was a dispute over a winning lottery ticket. PSD responded. Later both parties resolved the matter. Owner of lottery ticket receive his winnings.
Domestic Violence - At 625 Main Street female was involved in a dispute with the father of her son. He then grabbed her and shook her. PSD responded. But male fled before PSD arrival. Search of Main Street and the Tram yielded negative results for the male. PSD report done.
Unsecured Premises - At 504 Main Street the door was unsecured. PSD responded. A search of the building was conducted of the building. It was secured. PSD report done.
1/7/08-700 a.m. to 1/8/08-700 a.m.
Aided - At 688 Main Street an ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS. PSD responded. PSD report done.
Investigation - At 688 Main Street PSD responded for a customer with various discrepancies in her account. It was resolved. PSD report done.
Aided - At 560 Main Street an ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS. PSD responded. PSD report done.
Graffiti - S/o 200 Main Street Graffiti on the ruins. PSD responded. A search was conducted of the entire South Point Park with negative results for the perp. PSD report done.
Disorderly Conduct - Opp 455 Main Street perp was disorderly and arrested by PSD. PSD report done.
Harassment - At 510 Main Street PSD responded for a tenant harassing another. Perp arrested by PSD. PSD report done.
Lost Property- Youth lost his cell phone at unknown location, possibly on Roosevelt Island. PSD report done.
1/8/08-700 a.m. to 1/9/08-700 a.m.
Aided - At 546 Main Street an ill person was transported to the Hospital by EMS. PSD responded. PSD report done.
Aided - At 555 Main Street PSD NYPD and EMS responded for a possible aided. Ry personnel responded and tenant not home.
Lockout - At 546 Main Street a tenant accidently got locked out of apt. UA and PSD responded. Identification verified and access provided. PSD report done.
DOA - On 59th Bridge an adult male jumped off the bridge. His remains were recovered on the East Seawall, rear of 580 Main Street. PSD, NYPD and EMS responded. PSD report done.
5. Southtown: The paving of the street is sufficiently completed so that the route of the Red Bus is restored using the traffic circle in front of the Tram. Time on the route for passengers has been saved, and the wear and tear on the bus, its driver, and fuel consumption has all been reduced. Construction on buildings 5 and 6 continues apace.
6. Tram: On track for RFP selection process. Construction in 2009.
7. Board of Directors Meeting scheduled for January 31, 2008 at 9:30AM in the Good Shepherd Community Center.
8. Personnel: First, we are deeply into the search process for a new CFO and Director of Public Safety. We have had many interviews, and hope to have the short list established and final interviews with Board members in order to make a selection, offer the position, check references, and introduce the new parties at the Board meeting on the 31st. The CFO, as an officer of the corporation, will require Board approval, so the resumes of the successful candidates will be part of the Board materials and will be available in the next issue of The WIRE.
Second, with pride, be advised that the freshly sworn crop of recruits at the NYPD Academy included our Public Safety Officer Peter Simonovic, recently promoted here to Detective, selected from the NYPD competitive list.
9. Ferry Service: While the Army Corps of Engineers approved the application for ferry service to the Octagon dock, in order to accommodate the prospective service, improvements will be required. Mr. Becker has begun applying to the New York City Economic Development Corporation for funding from the sums previously obtained by Congresswoman Maloney. Good news so far, although the announcement of the discontinuance of the ferry service until the Spring seems a little disconcerting.
10. Renwick Ruin collapse: As I’m sure many of you have read in the newspapers (see The New York Times 1/5/08) and on the blog spots for the Island, the north wall of the Renwick ruins collapsed at the end of December. While the "Gothically forbidding" ruins remain just that, the planned attempt to stabilize included as part of the Southpoint Park Phase I has been dealt a blow. The engineers are examining whether a sensible plan (time, cost, and effect) can be put together so that work that would have been done as part of the Phase I plan starting in the summer of ’08 can be moved up without impinging on the overall budget. For different views on the subject, I commend you to The New York Times website and the blog comments posted in response to the article. Stay tuned.
11. Film shoots: The film company utilizing 504 Main Street, with final shots on the Tram Saturday afternoon, January 5, has completed its work. Despite the anticipatory misgivings of the bloggers, with the in-person supervision of RIOC staff including Vice President Martinez, by running the regular rush-hour schedule, even though the MTA took the F Train out of service over the weekend, increasing the demands on the Tram, all went off without any serious discommoding of Island residents. A New York experience, complete with film crews and Paul Giamatti.
12. Streetlights: RIOC’s engineering department continues to make good progress in resolving wiring issues to get all the street lights to functionality. Only a few are dark as of this writing, most seemingly for normal bulb replacement.
13. Marlins: The Roosevelt Island swim team, which has more than 100 youngsters involved in the program, is struggling for financial support. Please consider sending a contribution to support this very worthwhile activity. RIOC already heavily subsidizes the pool time. Contribute c/o Corinna Kell, 575 Main Street #1913, Roosevelt Island, New York, NY 10044.
14. RIRA-RIOC: Finally, the February 5 date for voting approaches. Get involved.