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
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- 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 Steam Tunnel Repair That Disappeared
Capital projects change. Costs rise, engineering evolves, funding moves and questions of ownership can complicate even urgent work. But the Roosevelt Island Steam Tunnel was not a speculative improvement that simply slipped down a priority list. RIOC’s own records describe an infrastructure problem known for decades.
