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
- 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 Budget Knew Before the “Emergency”
The demolition began on paper long before the City invoked emergency authority to carry it out. In RIOC’s fiscal 2013-14 budget, the Corporation set aside $7 million for fiscal 2015 for the complete demolition and cleanup of the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant. RIOC called that figure its worst-case scenario, meaning the State corporation might be left responsible for the entire cost.
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