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June 16, 2007 |
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During these last two weeks, the following items of interest and note:
1. Mayor Bloomberg and Lt. Governor Patterson were on the Island on June 11 to look at the Verdant Power installation. Lots of press coverage and the East River was doing its job with the surging morning current.
2. Steam plant: Island residents Matt Katz, Willard Warren, and Robert Liss met in RIOC’s offices with representatives of NYSERDA (the New York State Energy Resources and Development Agency), the agency charged with experimental energy conservation projects. Also in attendance were RIOC staff and the Southtown developer and builder. With the indication that Southtown buildings 7, 8 and 9 might be available to absorb the thermal load, the necessary other side of the equation to make co-generation a feasible idea, NYSERDA has agreed to look into its institutional willingness to study a proposal.
3. Seniors: RISA had a lovely 25th anniversary celebration on June 3 that I was delighted to attend. City Councilmember Jessica Lappin (and her baby), Borough President Scott Stringer, State Senator José Serrano, and U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney were in attendance and conveyed their well wishes. Those seniors really do know how to get it on.
4. Roosevelt Island Day on June 9 seemed to be a huge success and a good time was had by all, with the community concert also drawing a good crowd. Especially noteworthy were the blood drive, headed by Matt Katz of RIRA, and the performances by RIOC’s assistant head of Public Safety René Bryan and Director of IT Mike Moreo, both of whom were repeatedly dunked by the crowd.
5. Tram: We continue to study the options for overhaul, with reliability, safety, capacity, cost, and downtime (both during the overhaul and for future maintenance) all being factors in the equation. We had a visit on June 11 by the Swiss engineer for Doppelmayr. Mark Ponton, as Operations Committee Chair, is carrying the load for RIOC. In order to get an independent review, we have engaged Professor René Testa of the Civil Engineering Department of Columbia University to advise us. Stay tuned.
6. Red Bus service: The three issues now being most raised by the ridership and RIRA are frequency of service (expresses, scheduling, locals), strollers, and the subway stop. None of this is exact behavioral science. Each change invariably discomfits someone, as the greater good is sought and any change needs to have a period of adjustment. That being said:
(a) If it can be avoided, we do not want to put more buses on Main Street during rush hours for reasons of clogging the street, expense of service, and inefficiency. The buses meet the Tram during evening rush hours and after dark. There is a schedule for express service from Octagon. Otherwise, service is continuous. The northbound Octagon Express will make one local stop opposite Good Shepherd Plaza to accommodate riders to either the Octagon or the hospital.
(b) The prohibition against open strollers during rush hours only has apparently pitted one set of riders against the other. Everyone should realize that this rule is SOP on the MTA. My mail from adult users without children is highly supportive of the ban. I empathize with the stroller set. Rush hours seemed a reasonable compromise.
(c) The elimination of the turnaround in front of the Tram, necessitated by the start of construction on buildings 5 and 6 in Southtown, has required a change causing much consternation. The northbound bus can be accessed either across the street from the subway station, where it discharges passengers heading south before going on to the Tram, or on the other side of Southtown by walking up the hill past Starbucks. Shelters have been ordered and will be available in both locations, long before the bad weather of the fall and winter. A sign, electronically triggered, to alert those who choose to wait in the subway station will give more than a minute’s notice as to when the approaching bus is leaving Rivercross so as to give the opportunity to walk across the street.
RIRA is advocating reversing the flow to have all southbound buses use Main Street (the east channel), then loop past the Tram to arrive northbound in front of the subway station. This proposal ignores the reality of the percentage of riders who use the subway and the inefficiency of adding time to their trip. It further makes the trip more difficult for the handicapped using the Tram, as they will be discharged on the other side of the street. However, if that is the public desire, as certified by RIRA, so be it. Using a loop behind Sportspark adds several minutes to each trip and, as a hazardous route, is not an option.
7. Blackwell House: The crews are working. The structural engineer has inspected the newly installed roof joists and approved starting the roofing. Siding will follow. Time extension to account for delays in the contracting process last year will add 60 days for an anticipated completion date of August 30, 2007.
8. Southpoint Park: The Trust for Public Lands held a public hearing on June 4. The plan seemed well received, with lots of questions and explanations. Governor Spitzer has issued a letter of support to the FDR Memorial Committee, but cautioned on the need to complete funding within the time frame of Phase I. Questions about the Kahn plan as it is brought to current code standard will give the opportunity to have some input as to final design. Stay tuned.
9. Lights: The Blackwell house lights and soccer field lights have been reactivated. The problems with the Eastwood arcade seem solved for the moment. RIOC continues to work on other lighting issues as they appear.
10. Board of Directors: The next (and last before the summer) Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for June 28, 2007 at 4:30 p.m. with a town-hall open meeting to follow. All who are interested in matters before the Board or the functioning of RIOC in general should attend. We expect that the meeting will be our first webcast in compliance with Governor Spitzer’s Executive Order Number 3, so everyone should consider their TV image.
11. Leasehold Extensions: The committees representing the residents of Island House, Westview, and Rivercross have all held meetings to discuss their affordability plans as part of the leasehold extension discussion. An ongoing initiative.
12. Summer projects: As is traditional, RIOC has hired 15 young people to work for the summer as temporary employees. Their energies will be directed to a long list of summer projects around the Island which all residents should begin to see.
13. Fourth of July: The planning for the annual event is in full swing. Tickets are on sale and several hundred are already gone. The price is $18, same as last year, and the event is budgeted as a breakeven. Please visit our website for full information about ticket purchasing. (PS: We gave some thought to an Islander discount, but were not quick enough before sales started. Next year.)
14. Commercial Leasing on Main Street: I have met with most of the Main Street merchants to discuss their concerns and meeting the needs of Roosevelt Island. Also had ongoing discussions with RIRA about marketing and upgrading the commercial corridor. However, there is no escaping that RIOC is a public authority of the State of New York and bound by applicable law. No amount of wishing will make the leasing of the vacant stores any easier in the Byzantine process required. It is my wish to fill the stores so that the Island residents may be served. It is not a simple matter. More to follow.
15. Orphans International: A Roosevelt Island-based charity with worldwide reach. I have met with them and they are doing work that should make all Islanders proud.
16. Sportspark: Our Director, Carol Rubino, is trying to get a Seniors Swim program going. Good exercise and social opportunities. Call Carol at 212-832-4569 to get the details if you are interested.
Happy and healthy summer to everyone.