The Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council voted Wednesday night to back efforts by the Eastwood Building Committee (EBC) to make an issue of Public Safety performance in opposing a rent hike.

By an 18-1 vote, the Council endorsed a letter of instruction from EBC co-chairs Harry De Vine and Ron and Fay Vass to an attorney hired to use the question of internal Eastwood vertical patrols as a point of opposition to the rent increase.

The Council also voted, 14 to 4 (with one member abstaining) to contribute $100 toward the funding of the legal services.

Owners of the Island's Northtown buildings (Island House, Westview, Eastwood, and Rivercross) make a contribution to the Public Safety budget, which is the security arm of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.  EBC has waged a campaign to get more frequent vertical patrols in Eastwood, where, residents say, there are frequent disturbances in the halls, drug dealing, and other anti-social behavior.

Rent determination hearings for Eastwood have not yet been scheduled.

Meanwhile, a controversy has arisen within Eastwood as to whether Public Safety performance is a relevant issue in rent determination.  Someone recently circulation a flier anonymously, reading in its entirety:

Asked about the matter, Vass told The WIRE, "I have no personal grievance with Public Safety.  My grievance is on behalf of our building and community, because we are paying for a service we are not getting."  Vass points out that "Public Safety is definitely included in our rents, which pay 50% of the cost of the service."  Eastwood is the heaviest contributor, Vass added, citing a figure of $1,047 per day.

Vass invited the unknown "Concerned Residents of Eastwood" to speak out at the next EBC meeting 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, at the Senior Center.

RIRA President Matthew Katz commented, after the Common Council vote, "I thought Ron Vass made a strong appeal for Common Council support.  Few of us on Roosevelt Island feel that Public Safety has complied with their contract with the housing companies, especially in terms of their mandate for internal, vertical patrols."

He continued, "It's appropriate that this initiative come from the Eastwood Building Committee, given that Eastwood provides almost 50% of the revenues that support Public Safety.  I was proud of the Common Council's vote to support that initiative verbally and with a cash contribution."