Spontaeous Boycott Over Blue's Absence

RIOC’s Community Forum on mini-school conversion disintegrated into open rebellion Monday night.

The meeting, called to inform the community about – and get community reaction to – the plan to add a second floor to the mini-schools and convert them into luxury condominium apartments, was chaotic from the start.

As Morse Diesel representative Vincent Arcuri attempted to call the meeting to order just after 6:30 p.m., there were immediate shouts, "Where’s Blue?" This was a reference to Dr. Jerome Blue, President of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation [RIOC], who had been ordered to hold a community information meeting on the mini-schools plan by Joseph Lynch, Commissioner of the State’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal.

"Where’s RIOC?" some shouted. Arcuri tried, more than once, to explain: "Morse Diesel has been hired to oversee this process as Owner’s Representative. I work for Morse Diesel. I am chairing this meeting." In response, there were shouts: "No, you’re not. Where is RIOC?"

Few attending were willing to accept Arcuri as a stand-in for RIOC or Blue. "Get out, get out!" cried Richard Donovan. "This is not the meeting I gave up my time for. RIOC called this meeting. RIOC should be here!"

As the meeting became more chaotic, Residents Association President Patrick Stewart took the microphone in an attempt to restore order. "Dr. Blue is not holding this meeting," he said. "He’s not here. Let us count our blessings." The attempt at levity brought laughs from only a few. Stewart continued, "Yet they [the RIOC Board of Directors] will try to vote on this on March 11. We owe it to ourselves to learn what we can about this project." A few moments later, Rivercross resident Roy Eaton made a similar plea.

But few of the 130 residents attending were sympathetic. Even the Residents Association First Vice President, Joan Christianson, rejected Stewart’s suggestion. "If we stay here, they can say they’ve had their community meeting. What we should all do now is leave, so that there is no meeting." Several people picked up a chant: "Everybody leave! Everybody leave!"

Most did.

A few stayed, but not for a formal meeting. They looked at a display of architectural renderings that developer Diane Wilson of Corporate Realty Partners had brought to show the scope of her plan. Some argued with her or with the architectural team from Fifield Piaker & Associates. "You’ll never build it," said Milt Marcus as he spoke with an an architect. "The community won’t allow it. We’ll put every possible legal roadblock in your way."

RIRA President Stewart commented later in the evening, "I was really proud of all the people who were there, who have had just about enough of all this, that they said, ‘Screw it, and we’re walking out.’"

Stewart continued, "RIOC’s not being present was unconscionable. To put the onus on Morse Diesel and Diane Wilson was about as bad form as I’ve ever seen, in business or otherwise. Blue has strung these people along, just as he has the eldercare developers, unfairly, probably without having them informed. He’s not just unfaithful to his responsibilities to residents; he’s doing the same thing to the developers. They have been led down the primrose path."

"I felt offended and I felt everybody there should be offended," Richard Donovan commented later. "I had prepared a speech on my feelings about the development, and I realized that there was nobody from RIOC except [RIOC Board member David] Kraut, who was unwilling to stand for RIOC."

Kraut himself told The WIRE as the meeting broke up, "People’s anger was predictable. They expected Blue and found that he and the rest of the administration was not here, and they were furious. I don’t know why anybody should be surprised they’re angry." Asked how he felt about Blue’s absence, Kraut said, "I’ll respond with a question: How do you think the meeting would have gone had he been here? I don’t know the answer to that."

Kraut was asked if he thinks the project can be salvaged, given the community’s anger. "I’m not going to comment on this project right now. I’m going to discuss what happened here tonight with the [DHCR] Commissioner and others and see if we can share a sense of what’s possible."

Shirley Margolin, a longtime resident who has served on Community Board 8, told The WIRE after Monday night’s meeting that appointing Morse Diesel as RIOC’s representative in the development process "doesn’t reliev Jerry Blue of the responsibility to speak directly with the community and to its concerns. Beyond that, the community really needs to read the General Development Plan, which very clearly indicates for whom apartments will be built on this Island. It was never intended for $600,000 condominiums."

Margolin said, "Everything on this Island relates to the river. Everything was designed to keep the river special. This [proposal] is really an attempt to sell it off to the highest bidder."

RIRA Vice President Joan Christianson was still angry well after the meeting. "It’s illogical that he would be expected to hold a meeting and then not be there. The man from Morse Diesel — who the hell is he? When did he become an arm of RIOC? If Joe Lynch told Jerry Blue to conduct a Town Meeting, then he should conduct a Town Meeting, and not stay away." Christianson, whose call for people to walk out essentially marked the end of the meeting, added, "When I saw people who rarely come to these meetings getting angry, it was time to put a stop to it."

Speaking of RIOC President Blue, Christianson added, "The depth of this man’s ignorance astonishes me. How much are we supposed to take? He keeps topping himself." She called for Blue to be fired, and asked residents to call DHCR Commissioner Lynch with that demand.

At press time for this extra edition [5:00 a.m. Tuesday] The WIRE was not able to contact RIOC or DHCR for comments, or to learn whether another community forum on the conversion plan will be scheduled.