Opinion

Here's what we're thinking about. Have an opinion you'd like to post here? Contact the editor: davestone13@gmail.com. We'll consider it.

Governor Cuomo Says We Need To Pay More To Fix The Subway

07/16/2018 - 20:07 Updated 31 weeks ago

According to an exhaustive study by City Comptroller Scott Stringer, New York City contributed "68 percent of MTA's operating budget in FY14 while the State paid for just 4 percent. City also contributed nearly $300 million annually over the last decade in capital funding to the MTA." But to fix the subways, flubbing his way into a word salad that was hard to follow, Governor Cuomo made one thing clear, last week: New York City folks need to foot even more of the tab.

Water not fit for human or animal consumption... Lighthouse Park, Roosevelt Island

More Contaminated Water Found, RIOC Races... To Cover Its Own Ass

07/11/2018 - 16:34 Updated 32 weeks ago

It's a challenging bar to cross, given history, but RIOC may have set a new high in lows in its handling of the contaminated water fountain crisis. With thousands at risk over decades, RIOC's main concern turned instantly to saving face. As usual, neither apologies nor acceptance of responsibility were in order at the Andrew Cuomo run State agency.

Janet Falk has drawn a bead on Roosevelt Island's critical issue.

Why You Should Go To Tonight's Town Hall and Not Expect Much

06/28/2018 - 17:45 Updated 34 weeks ago

Elected officials representing Roosevelt Island will hold a Town Hall Meeting tonight at 6:00. All are on Governor Andrew Cuomo's Team. There are good reasons to go and even better ones not to expect much.

Opinion: Westview Task Force Takes Sides with RIOC/HCR

06/27/2018 - 16:37 Updated 34 weeks ago

The Westview Task Force began a message to tenants, "While progress in discussions between NYS agencies and WV Owners has not been as fast as anticipated, due in part to RIOC President Susan Rosenthal’s extended vacation in June, still a lot has been accomplished and we are told parties are just inches away." Yes, the vacation variation is new, but haven't we heard that one before, more than once, along the troubled road to affordability?

Blind, Dumb & Deaf: RIOC Compounds the Cat Sanctuary Crisis

R.I. Huckasanders RIOCsplains the Cat Sanctuary Water Crisis

06/20/2018 - 14:21

Faced with thousands of petition signatures and email complaints, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation shows all the depth and wisdom of a pack of squirrels in mating season. Perhaps that's unfair to the squirrels, which when overwhelmed with hormones still maintain their amazing dexterity. RIOC's got the flexibility of a tree sloth.

Graffiti bruises The Prow, last month...

Racism, Raw Obscenity Get A Pass On Roosevelt Island

06/19/2018 - 09:21 Updated 35 weeks ago

"We're on it," declared RIOC President/CEO last month when we asked her about the obscenity and racism laden graffiti bruising The Prow, an art installation jutting into the East River along the West Promenade, south of The Octagon. Apparently, being "on it" did not mean doing anything about it.

Cuomo/Rosenthal's RIOC Pummels Roosevelt Island - Where Are Our Electeds?

06/15/2018 - 21:07 Updated 34 weeks ago

Opinion: Cuomo Thumbs His Nose At Roosevelt Island, Installs Unqualified RIOC Leader was our headline in October, 2016. I was wrong. No, not about Cuomo. Of course he was thumbing his nose at us, as he had before and has since. Yet Susan Rosenthal may be qualified, just not for the job we expect of her. Instead, she executes the Governor's anti-democratic bidding on Roosevelt Island. But that begs the question: where are Kallos, Seawright and Serrano, the people we elected to help and protect us?

At Westview, Affordability Tips Toward Failure - Who's To Blame?

06/14/2018 - 09:39 Updated 36 weeks ago

Yes, the pending failure of the Westview affordability exit plan represents another piece of Roosevelt Island's community reduced to rubble along the trail of Susan Rosenthal's RIOC leadership, but does the primary blame really fall on her, this time? Maybe not, and in an immediate sense, certainly not. The proximate bad guys are enough to make abused residents sick.

RIOC Refuses To Answer Questions About Contaminating Our Water Supply

06/12/2018 - 17:56 Updated 36 weeks ago

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation set off alarms on Friday, releasing a statement that their practices in irrigating Southpoint contaminate the Southpoint water supply, making it unfit for drinking. The statement was more disturbing in light of their recent threat to charge the WFF Cat Sanctuary for using the same water.

I've always liked Carolyn Maloney, but...

06/11/2018 - 21:11 Updated 36 weeks ago

It's 1992. Newcomers to Roosevelt Island and New York City, my wife and I climb on board one of RIOC's fleet of creaky shuttle buses, loaded down with groceries. We're on our way to our new home in Manhattan Park, Roosevelt Island's newest complex. A woman whose appearance contrasts with the not so well-kept vehicle leans forward from the back as if she's been waiting for us. It's Carolyn Maloney. We've never met her before. She wants our vote.