RIOC (the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation) has struck again. We have all heard the tale of "the fish that got away," but here on Roosevelt Island, we have heard this tale too many times, and the fish keep getting bigger. If RIOC management actually lived here, they might care that we have lost our local bakery, pizza parlor, sports bar, and now our fish store.

RIOC’s position smells fishy and is absurd. The idea that new owners should be responsible for the unpaid rent from a previous tenant is not logical; it is not sustainable, and is proving once again to be the kiss of death for this old section of town. They are really doing a great job of turning Main Street into a ghost town.

If RIOC is not able to get beyond their "penny-wise, pound-foolish" approach to managing the storefronts, then the next vacated space on Main Street should be the offices of RIOC itself.

The Soviet Union was not able to control free enterprise, and RIOC is proving to be just as incapable. Let the fish man sell his fish and anything else he wants to sell. Let the free market decide what works.

Anyone who has a car on Roosevelt Island and should ever require a repair, be alert if you should end up in Salamis Service and Auto Body at 21-15 38th Avenue, Long Island City. Also, if you need a tow, Tony’s Towing will expertly tow you right to Salamis as they are at the same location. Tony’s Towing is approved by the AAA, so answers calls in this area for the organization.

Here are a few precautions to take when having your car repaired at Salamis.

Demand a written estimate of the charges, labor, and parts, before any work is begun. If the estimate seems high, complain. There are guidelines for labor charges set by the State. And inform them you are from Roosevelt Island, which is supposed to earn you a 10% discount.

Next, keep track of the time the mechanic actually is working on your car. This will come in handy if the labor charge suddenly balloons after the job is finished.

Finally, take cash with you – plenty of it. Salamis does not take credit cards. In this fast, electronic age, what legitimate reason could there be for a firm to prefer to operate a mostly cash business? Certainly, the cash/check-only policy is inconvenient for their unsuspecting customers.

However, if you are an AAA member, Salamis will accept a personal check, but only up to $300. To pay the balance in cash, you are told to drive to a nearby ATM and, because you are not trusted to return with the cash, an employee of Salamis must ride with you to make sure you do!

Finally, if you should be dissatisfied with the repair and the charges, contact the New York State DMV Vehicle Safety Consumer Services Section at 518-474-8943. They are surprisingly responsive.

Ronald Gift Mullins