To the Editor:

Your Red Bus article contained a lot of important facts but how it ended was poor. In the last few paragraphs of the article, it appears that the problem with the service is Octagon residents.

The problem is that RIOC had not done enough planning to deal with the increased population. All residents should receive proper and timely Red Bus service, no matter what part of the Island they are on. Stop suggesting, indirectly, that Octagon residents are the problem or any less equal than any other resident of Roosevelt Island. You stated the average age of Octagon residents is 27 (I am 52). How did you arrive at that figure? I don’t believe you had access to ages of the residents. Nor does that age matter, there are many 27-year-olds and under all over the Island. I do feel that the mother of two school children noted in your article was not receiving the bus service she deserves, but there are mothers and children at the Octagon also. All need to receive good service.

All residents of Roosevelt Island should be united in addressing these issues to RIOC to resolve and not suggest that the problem(s) are the result of new residents.

Anthony V. Migliorino

 

Reporter Jami Bernard replies:

The problem is exactly as you framed it: The Red Bus service was not sufficiently adapted to the influx of new residents. Clearly, it is not the fault of the passengers, but a result of poor planning. That was the point of my report in The WIRE, that the Red Bus is a different experience for riders at the first stop (the Octagon) than for those down the line.

According to Judith Berdy, who gathers such statistics for the Roosevelt Island Historical Society and who announced them at a recent AIA forum, the average age at the Octagon is 27, which at times gives the unfortunate appearance that buses with no room for a mother and her children are packed with the young and healthy.

 

Editor’s note: RIOC’s announcement of express bus service for Octagon Park Apartments prompted considerable reaction, including letters and this one:

 

To the Editor:

Sounds like the inhabitants of those pricey apartments over at the Octagon are being favored over the rest of us Red Bus commuters. Sounds like they get their very own bus in the morning while the rest of us get to eat cake. Or inhale exhaust fumes.

Patricia Duarte

 

To the Editor:

I am writing to query the conditions of Eastwood, namely 540 Main Street, and the number of obvious and absurdly overlooked issues within the building. While I know that there are different channels that one must go through for those responsible for each shortcoming, it has really been a while and I have not heard anything on plans to fix anything.

The first one I would like to address is the "camera" in the lobby. Whether or not that camera has ever functioned is a matter between Public Safety and their screens, but this little bit of security that residents are supposed to have is not only not working, but it is pointed upward toward the wall. I had first suspected that this was just temporary while seeking a replacement, but it has been at least a month now. I blame Public Safety for not taking any measures to even address the issue with the people who have to deal with the constant breaking of glass.

The second serious problem is the door at the back of 540. It has been perhaps two months since the lock has functioned. It has become an open house for anyone to enter at will. Maintenance and building management seemed to have overlooked this issue as they have many times in the past.

The final issue that I will mention here (though there are more) also pertains to locks. The front door doesn’t work half the time with legitimate keys, sometimes forcing me and others living in the building to use the back door.

I urge all those who are responsible for the listed problems to please fix them and make the Island as a whole safe or at the very least inform the rent-paying residents why they aren’t receiving basic security that we should all be entitled to.

Steven Day Jr

 

To the Editor:

It was interesting to see the issue of direct access to the Queensboro Bridge come up in the last two issues of The WIRE, but it shouldn’t be a "wouldn’t it be nice" or "at some point" wish. If there was truly an evacuation emergency in this City, we would be stuck. To take a hurricane as an example, the Tram would be out due to high winds; the train would most likely be out due to flooding; the bridge to Queens, if able to be crossed, and that’s a big "if," would be inaccessable due to traffic jams. The only alternate way off Roosevelt Island would be via the bridge to Manhattan; boats would be out due to high seas. Before any further building takes place on this Island, we should not be asking, but demanding, that the transport infrastructure be improved to cater to existing and future demand. If the infrastructure is not put in place, all building should stop, owing to the strain and safety concerns that would be placed an existing systems.

Cheryl Evans

 

To the Editor:

I would like to say what an excellent idea I thought Neal Weissman had in his November 18 letter about getting off the Island. I had no idea that there used to be an elevator at the 59th Street Bridge.

I would love to be able to walk into Manhattan rather than take the tube or tram, especially during the warmer months. It would be great if there could be both a staircase and an elevator. For those with small children, and for wheelchair users, an elevator is vital. Yet, it seems elevators are often out of use, so a staircase would mean people could still use the bridge.

The 59th Street Bridge is very close to the U.N. and for those, like my husband, who work in that area, being able to walk into Manhattan would be fantastic.

I would very much like to ask RIRA and RIOC to seriously look into this. It is economical for Island residents, and is a very easy solution to the commuting problem.

Jenny Butter

 

To the Editor:

In 1997, the Maple Tree Group began to look at how well RIOC served the Island Community.

One of the critical problems then was street trash, and the lack of street-side trash containers was apparent. Now, nine years later, that problem has been addressed with a series of $2,000 trash containers along the curb.

I am told that in Paris trash containers were installed under the leadership of Messr. Poubel and, since that time, the containers have been known as Poubels.

Why not pick up on that and memorialize the fellow responsible for those bright red trash barrels by calling them Bermans. It seems like the only right thing to do.

David J. Bauer

 

To the Editor:

I have a child whom I take to school everyday. In the second week of November, we were walking on the east side of the Manhattan Park park. My son and I were talking and having a good time, when I looked down to the ground and saw a bag. I picked it up and put it in my pocket without my son seeing it.

After dropping my son at school, I opened the bag at home and smelled. It was marijuana! I flushed it down the toilet, but regret that now. I should have given it to the police.

I do not believe it was an accident. I believe it was left there intentionally so one of our kids could find it and use it.

This is a wonderful place to bring up kids, but this tells me we still are not safe from bad people who want to destroy our kids’ future.

Name Withheld

 

Editor’s note: The following series of four letters bear on current availability of apartments in Island House and Westview.

 

To the Editor:

I’m writing regarding the handlings of apartment waiting lists by the management of Island House and Westview (RY Management, Co, Inc.).

As a recent Roosevelt Island resident and a candidate on the waiting list for a one-bedroom apartment, I am very concerned by the management’s handling of these lists, which I am very much doubting to be fair and accurate. This is not an accusation, but I believe that they are holding up vacant apartments in order to keep them from being rented to new tenants. I believe this is happening because the buildings are going to be sold, and everyone, including the management, has a high stake in it. But it is very unfair for people like me, who’ve been waiting eagerly on the waiting list for years, not to be even considered.

I’m not sure if this is something that you guys would like to investigate and write about, but if you do maybe it will bring some awareness and most of all, accountability.

Mahlet Yifru

To Jennifer Jones,
RY Management:

It has been brought to my attention by a number of residents of Roosevelt Island that the two Mitchell-Lama rental buildings that you manage on the Island, Island House and Westview, currently have a number of vacant apartments. With the availability of affordable housing in such short supply in New York City, especially in Manhattan, I am writing to obtain information regarding how many units are vacant and the length of the waiting lists in each building. Since both buildings to my knowledge still have to abide by the rules and regulations of the Mitchell-Lama program, I would like you to provide the following information for each by apartment size:

• How many apartments are currently available in Island House and Westview?

• How long has each apartment been vacant?

• How many people are on the external waiting lists for each size apartment?

• How many people are on the internal waiting lists for each size apartment?

• When were the first person and last person placed on each list?

Thank you for your attention to this request. I look forward to your prompt response.  If you have any questions or need clarification about the information I am seeking, please contact Tony Morenzi, who runs my District Office, at 212-860-4906.

Pete Grannis
Member of Assembly

 

Dear Mr. Grannis:

This is in response to your letter regarding the Island House and Westview buildings. As you are aware, over the past two years, the residents of Island House and Westview are working hard to obtain ownership of their respective buildings. This is explained in the attached letter from Mr. Charles A. Lucido, who is president of Island House, Inc. and Westview Houses, Inc., which respectively serve as the managing general partner of each property.

In Island House, there are 29 vacant apartments, some of which have been vacant for over 12 months. To date, there are a total of 1,210 applicants on the external waiting list (studio, 202; one-bedroom, 464; two-bedroom, 150; four-bedroom, 25) and 45 applicants on the internal waiting list (studio, 2; one-bedroom, 11; two-bedroom, 18; three-bedroom, 13; four-bedroom, 1). The waiting lists are open and applications are accepted daily. The last application contacted for apartment assignment is dated September 12, 2002.

In Westview, there are 31 vacant apartments, some of which have been vacant for over 12 months. To date, there are a total of 1,006 applicants on the external waiting list (studio, 192; one-bedroom, 354; two-bedroom, 12; three-bedroom, 19). The waiting lists also are open and applications are accepted daily as well. The last application contacted for apartment assignment is dated October 21, 2002.

I hope that I have provided you with an adequate response to your questions. Please contact the undersigned if you require any additional information.

Jennifer Jones
Property Manager

 

Dear Ms. Jones

In response to Assemblyman Alexander B. Grannis leter dated November 8, 2006, I submit the following information regarding the vacant apartments in both properties. As you may recall, Blackwell Management, LLC (BML), a company controlled by J. Christopher Daily, President of Sheldrake Organization, Inc., was appointed manager of both properties, pursuant to the terms of the Sale Purchase Agreements for the sale of the properties. BML initiated the policy of not leasing the vacant apartments during its tenure. This policy was put in effect after the tenants in both developments received the required one-year written notice of the owners’ intent to leave the Mitchell-Lama Program, per the regulations. After Mr. Daly defaulted on his obligation to purchase the properties, the Sale Purchase Agreements were terminated and BML was replaced by RY Management, in February 2006.

Discussions for the sale of the properties were then commenced with the respective tenant group for each property, Island House Tenants Association (IHTA) and Westview Taskforce, Inc. (WTI). Both tenant groups requested that the vacant apartments not be leased because such apartments could be sold at fair-market value to non-tenants when the buildings were conveted to cooperatives or condominiums by IHTA and WTI. The proceeds of the vacant sales were a critical factor in their ability to obtain the necessary financing for the purchase of the buildings from the present owners, and in accordance with their requests, the apartments have remained vacant. If the tenants do not obtain the RIOC ground-lease extensions, then both properties can commence leasing the vacant units.

Please respond to Assemblyman Grannis’ letter and provide the additional information he has requested.

Charles A. Lucido,
President Westview Houes, Inc.

 

To the Editor:

After the last editorial in The WIRE about the "Fall for Arts" event, I would never want to do anything nice for this community again if I was at RIOC.

Mr. Lutz complained about every aspect of the event and forgot that the only bad thing about the day was the unseasonably cold and windy weather.

It is apparent that Mr. Lutz did not attend any of the planning meetings and was not at the gallery where dozens of Islanders, artists and performers volunteered to participate in the event.

I was in front of Rivercross for hours and we had a great flow of visitors at our table, with lots of Islanders painting the murals on the Rivercross lawn and kids and parents enjoying the marionette and face painting events near us. We had visitors from off-Island and foreign tourists who had heard about the event and took a Tram ride to enjoy the day.

Roosevelt Islanders were thrilled to have this event and, after year one, I am sure it will be better and refined from this first event. I will never forget the joy of listening to Roy Eaton perform in the Octagon rotunda followed by the beautiful voice of Juanita Fleming!

RIOC, the people you love to criticize run a Fourth of July event that is a sellout every year. I want to thank Brad Harlan, Cathy Johnson, Louis and all the building and Island staffs for going above and beyond to make this first Fall for Arts event a success.

Judith Berdy

 

The editor responds: The writer apparently missed the point of the editorial (see nyc10044.com/wire/2706/edit2706.html), which had to do with misdirection of Island funds and with RIOC’s planning, much of which proved inept when residents experienced in staging Island events weren’t consulted. The WIRE agrees that the performances by Islanders Juanita Fleming and Roy Eaton were oustanding, but we’ve never had to give an off-Island company an $80,000 contract to bring them to the Island before. We agree the weather could have been better, had a more sensible date been chosen for the event. As for the Fourth of July Fireworks event, that’s nice, too, but it raises the question of how RIOC has often managed to lose money on a sellout event while charging such steep prices.

 

To the Editor:

I usually don’t respond to Judy Berdy’s tirades in The WIRE, but her last letter about the American Institute of Architects meeting was so off the mark that I just can’t let it go without a response.

I attended the meeting she referred to in the last issue. In her letter she says "…Instead I got an earful of embittered comments from certain former and current RIRA Common Council members and a few other Islanders," and, "After a stream of negative comments and pointed questions, Commissioner Calogero made an inappropriate comment…"

Judy made it sound as if the meeting turned into a free-for-all where residents were hurling inappropriate comments at the presenters. That’s not what happened at all. During the entire night, only one Island resident spoke at all, and that was after all of the speakers had finished their presentations and we were at the end of the evening in the Q&A session.

The claim had been made that the new buildings were providing affordable housing. An Island resident, after calmly raising her hand and being called on, made the case that the apartments were not really affordable. Commissioner Calogero inappropriately called the comments NIMBY and racist, at which point the audience as a whole (most of whom were not Island residents) began yelling out that the Commissioner was off base, not the Island resident who had made the statement. In fact, one of the architects who had designed Rivercross and Island House pointed to the questioner and started to applaud her. He said those were exactly the kinds of things that they wanted to hear because most of the time buildings/communities are designed, then years go by and the architects never get the opportunity to hear from the people living in them as to whether or not their designs actually worked. He said the questioner’s comments were right on target and suggested an on-Island meeting so we could all discuss them in more depth.

Judy Berdy’s characterization of the meeting was completely skewed. It’s unfortunate that the custodian of our Island’s history finds it necessary to distort that very history in order to ingratiate herself with the powers that be in RIOC.

Margie Smith