Places New York says they can park on Roosevelt island, but you can’t, tell you how very special state workers are. And you are not. Here’s a few we saw today, plus a contribution from the Space Cadet.
By David Stone
The Space Cadet spurred our interest in New York State’s elitist claims on free parking. For some reason, the subject pisses him off, and we can’t disagree.
Here’s what the Space Cadet saw yesterday.

The Space Cadet riled again, seeing a PSD vehicle taking yet another parking spot, this time one reserved in the New York State Shelton J. Haynes Parking Area.
“Yes, including an empty Public Safety vehicle parked in Emperor Shelton’s Parking Place for over an hour! While tax paying residents scurry for a spot…”
Haynes came to work because of a mandatory appearance at the Graduate Hotel ribbon cutting. His gas guzzler sits behind a Lexus the Space Cadet says belongs to the Queen of Mean.
Lesson to learn from legendary RIOC president/CEO Leslie Torres
Also not well-known for her work ethic, Torres was said to have ordered RIOC employees to turn her office lights on, even when she wasn’t at work. That disguised her frequent absences.
And today, while every legal parking spot in sight was filled…

More places New York says they can park, but you can’t…

Here’s a fun one. Cars squeezed in between rows of portable toilets where workers from the East Side Access Project discard litter and leave piles of trash for the local rodents.

Can you top an overflow area for when the MTA’s illegal parking lot is full? Don’t try this if you’re within walking distance of your home, that is, if you live here.

Privilege extended to Friends of RIOC and the MTA. At least there’s one thing on which they successfully coordinate: Free parking for New York State of Cuomo elites.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily
- MTA Launches Six-Year Signal and Track Overhaul on A and C Subway LinesThe 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 DeveloperA 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 CityA 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 ShopHate 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.
- Midtown Subway Shooting Leaves 26-Year-Old Dead; Queens Incidents SeparateA shooting inside a Manhattan subway station left a 26-year-old dead. Police investigate the Midtown incident and separate shootings in Queens as commuters seek safety.
The Women Who Held the Ground
The recording arrived before RIOC posted it. On this island, that usually means they’ll release it when they’re confident nobody still cares. ArchRI simply made a copy available, the way people here tend to do once they’ve stopped waiting for institutions to keep their word. It was the first meeting of what is now meant to be a monthly community advisory group (CAG).










