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February 24, 2007 |
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I was struck with an epiphany at the last RIRA meeting.
An intelligent newcomer to the Island and the Common Council was voicing her frustration about the lack of responsive Island governance: the kind that would react to complaints or issues; the kind that would resolve problems rather than ignore what we residents grapple with every day, like inadequate and poorly planned bus transportation, brand new, expensive public lighting fixtures that, just like their predecessors, don’t work, ball fields that our kids can’t play on because corporate games and off-Island schools take precedence, and why we can’t get so much as a slice of pizza or other merchant-supported services that are normal expectations in any other community.
"Who should I speak to?" she queried. One seasoned Common Councilor, after enduring years of stonewalling from the powers-that-be at the RIOC office, responded, "Welcome to Roosevelt Island!"
That’s when it hit me: We’ve all been avoiding the 800-pound gorilla in the room!
At first I listened to the dialogue, acquiescing with my fellow Common Councilors, "Yup – now you know what life’s been like here!" But as the discussion droned on about the painstaking methods RIRA has used to garner only an anemic list of wins in our fight for what’s right for the community, I realized the discussion was about to co-opt the new, eager, fresh thinkers who sat at the table, and could easily spread to include their constituents as well.
The thunderbolt that struck me was not that the RIOC office isolates itself from responsiveness to the community and that RIOC Directors are impervious to public opinion because their positions are not in jeopardy by virtue of election (enabling their disconnect and apathy).
That’s old news! It was that we have allowed our resident Directors to skate by on accountability to us! Our method of dealing with the problem has to change!
Electing government representatives is civilized society’s way of expressing voice. RIOC’s failure to be made up of responsive fiscal and management folks, real problem-solvers who are attuned to the community’s needs, stems directly from the suppression of the community’s voice. Let’s put an end to the pattern that no vote means no voice! Make yourself heard!
Not a single one of the Island’s Resident RIOC Directors has ever individually held a town hall meeting to poll the views of the community on any issue that came before them. None has established an ongoing constituent committee to provide them with community input or public opinion. None even publishes contact information to make her/himself approachable.
While the previous Governor made the ridiculous claim that we somehow benefited from having non-elected Island residents on the RIOC board, we all knew that any board member who was not elected or failed to consult with the community couldn’t legitimately claim he or she was representing us. Heck, they neither knew nor cared about our opinions. They were simply representing their own personal interest and doing the bidding of the Governor. Our present Governor has done nothing, to date, to change the formula or personnel that operate RIOC.
Since not a single RIOC Director has seen fit to reach out to the community, we need to reach out to them! When you see lights out along Main Street, call David Kraut and tell him! When you want to treat your child’s soccer team to pizza to celebrate their victory, or even more importantly, to console their loss, call Mike Shinozaki and ask him to pick one up for you. When the bus passes you by on Main Street because it’s too crowded, call Patrick Stewart and ask him to tell your boss why you’re missing that important meeting! Call Mark Ponton when you can’t practice pitching with your child because a high-paying bank has a permit for the field. Ask Alberteen Anderson to baby-sit for your child because the Youth Center’s space is inadequate and RIOC usurped their expansion space for its own use. Call Charlee Miller and ask her what, as both a newcomer to the Island and a newly appointed RIOC Director, she’s doing to understand residents’ issues from the residents’ perspective.
We can’t afford to allow RIOC board members to dwell in ivory towers, unopposed and unconnected regardless of how the community is mismanaged. If they want the seat, they should get the community to operate properly and listen to their constituents. Their failure to do so should be duly noted- in a clear voice- particularly because you can’t express that voice through your vote!
And make sure to tell our new Governor how outraged you are that the State of New York governs this community by appointment, not election! You can address your letters to: Governor Eliot Spitzer, State Capitol, Albany, New York or call the Executive Chamber at 518-474-7516.
In other news: As Housing Chair of RIRA, I have heard opposition as well as support for the conversions that have taken place and are pending in our Mitchell-Lama buildings. I’ve been consulting with Lynne Strong-Shinozaki, who is on the Advisory Board of Eviction Intervention Services dealing with Roosevelt Island issues, to provide support and solutions for those of you who have concerns or problems that need to be addressed. Together, we’ll be identifying possible service providers that can deal with individual and collective issues, and we’ll be convening a meeting for those of you who have current housing problems, are at risk of eviction, or are anxious about your building’s pending conversion. If you need assistance more immediately, you can contact me at Joyce.Mincheff@cbhk.com.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer will be holding a public conference on Saturday, March 3, to discuss Mitchell-Lama issues including pre- and post-conversion. Panelists will include Deborah Van Amerongen of both DHCR and RIOC, NYC Controller William Thompson Jr, and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. If you have questions you want addressed by the panelists, please bring them along in writing. The conference will be held at John Jay College’s Gerald Lynch Theatre, located at 899 Tenth Avenue.
The new Community Relations Specialist at RIOC, Erica Wilder, has generously agreed to provide Red Bus transportation to and from the meeting, a good sign that the winds may be changing at the RIOC office. When you see her, thank her.