The small East Promenade sinkhole evolved, this week, but we’re no closer to understanding the mystery RIOC’s creating. Here’s a quick update.

By David Stone

Roosevelt Island Daily News

The small East Promenade sinkhole before.

Always tainted with a CYA strain, RIOC, in the last year, became more like a secret society of elites. Although there is no evidence, so far, of secret handshakes or magical rings, the internal code of silence prevails.

That is, we don’t know what they’re doing with the sinkhole and can only hope that they do.

And the super secret state agency shows no signs of recognizing any need to inform the public paying all the bills.

What the small East Promenade sinkhole looks like today…

The difference is dramatic, telling us there’s more to the story, but what?

All we have is a cryptic “alert” about the area being closed off for remediation. But even that was a little strange because it had already been closed off for weeks without explanation.

Cracks and nearby depressions fill the area, but RIOC’s treating the mess like some disgraceful family secret.

As we reported earlier, this sinkhole is concerning after, in her lawsuit against RIOC, former president/CEO Susan Rosenthal exposed the threat of a “catastrophic” collapse of the seawall.

The Delphic alert released by RIOC’s media-shy Communications Team was only a little more clear than a Zen koan.

Meanwhile, markings and trench drilling equipment from Roosevelt Landings north past the once small East Promenade sinkhole suggest more to come.

More late news from the Roosevelt Island Daily…

• 
  Fall Prevention for Seniors: Make Your Apartment Safer, Nov. 20
  Fall prevention for seniors: Sen. Krueger’s Nov. 20 virtual roundtable tours a typical NYC apartment, with tips on landlord changes and balance. RSVP on Zoom.
• 
  Thursday’s PSD blotter: two hospital runs, a trespass summons at 888 Main
  RIOC’s Nov. 12 PSD blotter lists 15 incidents: six medical calls, two alarms at 546 Main Street, and a late-night trespass at 888 Main Street that ended with a summons.
• 
  Queens Home Prices and Rents Rise in October 2026 as Long Island City Condos Draw Buyers
  Queens home prices and rents rose in October 2026. See StreetEasy’s housing figures and Long Island City condo contract activity at Radiant and Vesta.
• 
  Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 7: Get Answers on 2027 Changes
  Medicare open enrollment ends Dec. 7. Sen. Krueger’s Nov. 16 virtual town hall covers 2027 premium, deductible and Part D changes, with a HIICAP expert’s Q&A.
• 
  Wednesday’s PSD blotter: two medical calls, a water leak, a custody report
  RIOC’s Nov. 11 PSD blotter lists 10 incidents, all on Main Street, including two medical calls at 555 Main Street, a water leak at 560 Main and a custody or visitation report.

Three Newspapers and a Broken Water Fountain

One paper stopped arriving. Another outgrew the list that started it, then learned how to say goodbye.

Eleanor Rivers Sep 4, 2026

In 2018, Roosevelt Island had three local newspapers and no working drinking fountains. Seven years later, one paper had disappeared, one founder was leaving the country and the word “your” was about to receive a much clearer ending.

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