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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- 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.
- NYC Yellow School Bus Shortage Disrupts Back-to-School PlansA potential NYC yellow school bus shortage could affect back-to-school transportation and schedules as classes begin. Learn how families, schools, and city officials are responding.
Still Searching: Transparency Delayed at RIOC
New York’s Freedom of Information Law rests on a basic principle: government records belong to the public unless an agency can identify a lawful reason to withhold them. For Roosevelt Island residents, that right matters because RIOC controls public land, infrastructure, transportation, contracts and development without functioning as a locally elected government.
