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
- 700,000-home housing gap mapped by neighborhoodNYC’s path forward: meeting the 700,000 home housing challenge offers a roadmap for closing the city’s housing gap, with neighborhood-level solutions and coordinated action.
- Building Queens conference on Long Island City developmentLong Island City’s rapid development is driving discussions at the Building Queens conference, where stakeholders will address construction, housing, and the changing skyline.
- NYC Small Business Grant Program Invests $8.4 Million in Local Community OrganizationsNYC launches an $8.4 million small business grant program supporting community-based organizations to empower local entrepreneurs and boost neighborhood commercial corridors.
- Hate-crime charges after Central Synagogue Shabbat disruptionA man was charged with hate crimes after disrupting a Shabbat service at Central Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan. The incident raised concerns about worshipper safety and led to increased police patrols and community care.
- Forest Hills E train threat and Jackson Heights station stabbingTwo recent assaults on Queens subway lines have led to ongoing transit investigations, prompting increased safety measures and community response across key commuting routes.
Old RIOC, New Lawyer
President Jones has become better at saying RIOC cares.










