Resident anger burst the seams in an incident after a profound RIOC screw up denied Roosevelt Islanders access to prime fireworks viewing, this weekend. But RIOC walked tall, anyway. But in the middle of the street.
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily New
“I thought it was hilarious the way they were walking right in the middle of the road all shoulder to shoulder, taking up the whole road,” she wrote.
(Name withheld because of RIOC’s reputation for retaliating against critics.)
“Feel free to use the pic I took of (them) acting like the own the damn place.”
Resident Anger: Confronting Smug RIOC Troop Marching in the Street
The phalanx taking possession of the West Loop Road, usually reserved for cars included RIOC Community Relations Manager Erica Spencer-EL, second from the left. Along for the stroll were two uniformed officers and, behind the tree, PSD second in command, Anthony Amarosa.
Spencer-EL is widely assumed as a leading figure in RIOC’s colossal 4th of July screw up. And this follows earlier incidents at the Youth Center and with Learning Libraries, making her a focus of resident rage.
“I confronted them,” a startled resident reported.
“I just want to let you know that there are a whole bunch of us residents who are pretty upset that we couldn’t get tickets to this event,” she told them.
“We were all online at one pm on the dot and the tickets were sold out by four minutes past.
“And there wasn’t any way to screen to make sure the people registering were island residents. This really could have been handled differently.“
At this point, the RIOC gang stared at her without saying anything, but she wasn’t done.
“And there were supposed to be 400 more tickets that weren’t even distributed,” she told them.
The Roosevelt Island Daily cannot confirm any withheld tickets.
But the resident expressing her frustration got a reaction.
“Erica started gesticulating wildly to the guy beside her (Amarosa), showing her anger.
“Wow, she is really not nice!!!!”
Seeds…
As with so many frustrations, prior misconduct seeded this resident rage.
“I’m also irritated because they never responded to emails about a scouting group participating in Roosevelt Island Day… not so much as an apology or a courtesy response.”
And so goes RIOC and resident anger.
Also from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- Queens News Roundup: Public Safety, May Day, and Summer Music Reach Roosevelt IslandCatch up with our Queens news roundup, including public safety updates, labor actions, and summer music events making an impact on Roosevelt Island this week.
- How Citywide Changes Shape Daily Life on Roosevelt IslandDiscover how citywide changes shape daily life on Roosevelt Island, from policy shifts to community safety, events, and local routines.
- How Queens News Impacts Daily Life on Roosevelt IslandHow Queens news impacts daily life on Roosevelt Island, from public safety updates to neighborhood festivals and health care developments. Discover the ripple effects of our neighboring borough.
- This Week’s Roosevelt Island Community Updates Beyond the TramDiscover this week’s Roosevelt Island community updates beyond the tram, from public safety and hospital news to festival highlights and neighborly stories.
- How Queens News Impacts Roosevelt Island Routines and Community LifeExplore how queens news impacts Roosevelt Island routines and community life, from public safety updates and election changes to housing assistance and local celebrations.
Rivercross and the Quiet Green Light
Rivercross privatization was enabled in 2010. This matters now because the same governance structures that allowed Rivercross to privatize without formal conflict controls are still in place. The same public authority oversees land leases, settlements, and redevelopment decisions that affect every resident on Roosevelt Island today.
