Pictures tell the story of June 2021 on Roosevelt Island as coronavirus restrictions mostly pulled away. But in many ways, it was like other Junes, a mix of good and bad, joy and disappointment. Let’s take a look.
By David Stone
June 2021 on Roosevelt Island, In No Special Order
New York City election season brought ranked choice voting, resulting in many more candidates. Each seemed to have at least one poster somewhere on Roosevelt Island.
Few stories were brighter, post pandemic, than find living legend Roy Eaton well and back into performances.
Concerns rose over homeless people living at various levels inside and outside the subway station. But solutions are few, and RIOC apparently has no outreach plan.
The state plans spending millions on an ill-advised bike lane along the East Promenade, yet they’re unable to clean up a bench in the area, covered with years of bird droppings.
RIOC’s patroon-like management ignored notifications about this ugly, unhealthful situation. Okay with them as long as bicycles are on the other side.
Shops On Main invited kids to decorate picnic tables in use in Good Shepherd Plaza for Roosevelt Island Day.
After the last natural habitat on Roosevelt Island was destroyed in favor of a Brooklyn Bridge Park North conversion, the Canadian Goose population raised goslings in the WFF sanctuary, the last refuge left.
Without any homeless outreach plan at all, RIOC looked the other way as the victims sought safe spaces on Roosevelt Island in June 2021.
Residents were promised no disruptions during dark fiber work along the East Promenade, but were shocked awake early one morning.
Bright Signs…
One of the brightest spots for Roosevelt Island, Island OM near opening, promises new foot traffic on Main Street.
Unusually powerful hot spells hit Roosevelt Island in June 2021. Here visitors scrunched under limited shade on the Cornell Tech campus.
In June 2021, Roosevelt Island welcomed its first ever hotel. And the Graduate Hotel set a sweet tone with a violin duo while guests arrived.
Ready to go for months, the long promised FDR Hope Memorial waited for a green light from RIOC allowing removal of this construction box shielding sculptures.
Mid-month, June 2021, Roosevelt Island hosted a van offering free COVID vaccines for anyone, staying for a week at 460 Main Street.
Restrictions lifted, and we were prepared for throwing away all those face masks, but not quite.
Rebecca Seawright worked at getting an early voting site for Roosevelt Island, and Judy Berdy rounded up volunteers. But for some reason, probably the location, few used the facility.
And finally, in June 2021 on Roosevelt Island, we got a good idea about why RIOC failed to keep a bank on Main Street or attract a new one.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily
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- Northern Boulevard Safety Concerns Spark Calls for Major RedesignNorthern Boulevard safety concerns have led community members and officials in Queens to demand a comprehensive redesign, citing unsafe conditions and a need for urgent action.
- Three New Schools Open in Western Queens Amid Ongoing Classroom OvercrowdingThree new schools have opened in Western Queens, giving some relief in classroom overcrowding, but families still face capacity challenges and tough implementation issues this fall.
- Certified 9/11-Related Cancer Cases Double at Northwell HealthNorthwell Health has seen a sharp increase as certified 9/11-related cancer cases double, transforming care for survivors and responders in the New York region.
- Long-Term Health Effects Linked to 9/11: 25 Years LaterThe 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks brings renewed focus to long-term health effects linked to 9/11, with ongoing needs for survivors, first responders, and affected communities.
Free at the Door, Paid Somewhere Else
The Red Bus is one of Roosevelt Island’s most popular public services, and for good reason. For residents near the subway and Tram, it may be a convenience. For residents at Manhattan Park, the Octagon, Coler and the northern WIRE buildings, it can be the connection that makes the rest of the Island accessible.
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