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
- Queens Subway and Far Rockaway Stabbings Spur Police InvestigationsQueens subway and Far Rockaway stabbings on September 30 prompted separate police investigations and community response after two fatal incidents disrupted daily routines.
- Fatal Stabbing on J Train at Woodhaven Boulevard Spurs Subway Safety Concerns in QueensA fatal stabbing on J train at Woodhaven Boulevard raises fresh subway safety concerns in Queens, as NYPD investigates and riders reflect on recent incidents.
- J and M Train Weekend Service Changes: What Riders Need to KnowJ and M train weekend service changes will impact riders for five weekends as crews replace elevated track switches. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare for modified schedules across Brooklyn and Queens.
- Coastal Flooding Disrupts Southeast Queens Streets and TransitCoastal flooding disrupted streets and transit across Southeast Queens as a fall nor’easter brought heavy rain and renewed calls for resilience and improved drainage.
- Nor’easter Brings Slow Streets and Transit Delays Across Queens and NYCAfter the nor’easter, slow streets and transit delays across Queens and NYC greeted commuters. Utility crews continued repairs as normal routines resumed Monday.
Ten Years, or Another Temporary Fix?
Roosevelt Island was built through public investment, then expected to support itself through development. The ten-year lease extension gives RIOC a rare chance to replace short-term deals with a financial system designed to outlast the people approving them.










