A pair of significant meetings take place virtually on Zoom this evening. Both have significant impact on the community’s future.
Find details on local happenings on our Roosevelt Island Events Page.
RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee: 5:30 p.m.
While there are other topics on the agenda, this meeting’s significance orients around the controversial Helix Bike Ramp. Discussion and approval here leads to a recommendation for final, full board approval on Thursday.
This project is controversial for a couple of reasons.
First, for reasons far from clear, RIOC’s repeatedly tried ramming this through without community consent or even input. That’s aroused suspicions around a state agency frequently accused of mismanagement and and corruption, operating unhindered by legally installed firewalls on its ultra passive board and detached elected officials.
But more significantly, the proposed Helix Bike Ramp accomplishes the opposite of what it’s supposed to do. Charged with increasing bike safety, it does the opposite, forcing riders for the first time to cross lanes of traffic while simultaneously reducing clearances between cars and bikes, creating bike lanes on either side of the Roosevelt Island Bridge.
Most chilling is RIOC’s blind-eye passion for pulling this off when a more viable plan has been available for five years. The state’s flaky rationale for trashing it in favor of the high risk plan raises eyebrows and begs for an investigation.
Details on our Events Page
RIRA Common Council reviews Public Purpose Fund Grant recommendations…
In each year’s budget, RIOC sets aside funds for supporting community nonprofits. Along specific guidelines, they ask the Common Council to make community-based recommendations among approved applicants.
While the process has not been without conflict as funds are short and needs great, the Council’s committee of volunteers generally does an admirable job of working through it. And this year, it’s been harder as the time available for deliberations was shortened by winter storm cancelations.
Distribution of these grants is critical for the survival of many of the applicants.
Details on our Events Page
MTA Launches Six-Year Signal and Track Overhaul on A and C Subway Lines
The MTA launches a six-year signal and track overhaul on A and C subway lines, bringing CBTC and major infrastructure upgrades to the Fulton and Liberty Avenue corridors through 2032.
Long Island City Rent Overcharge Lawsuit Seeks $50 Million Against Developer
A Long Island City rent overcharge lawsuit seeks about $50 million from Rockrose Development, raising questions about billing practices, tenant protections, and legal oversight in NYC’s fast-changing rental market.
Astoria E-Scooter Rider Dies After Northern Boulevard Crash in Long Island City
A 22-year-old Astoria e-scooter rider died after a Northern Boulevard crash in Long Island City. Details remain under investigation, highlighting micromobility risks on busy city streets.
Hate Crime Charges Filed After Vandalism at Fresh Meadows Kosher Bagel Shop
Hate crime charges have been filed after vandalism at a kosher bagel shop in Fresh Meadows, with prosecutors alleging bias-motivated acts. Hearings are set in New York’s legal process.
The Well-Funded Vision and the Silent Landlord
RIOC’s Real Estate Development Advisory Committee met last night. The Renwick Ruin was not on the agenda. A nonprofit that has spent eight years developing detailed plans for the site, raised more than a million dollars, and assembled a board with serious finance and legal credentials continues its work.
