The Roosevelt Island Daily News

With plenty of NYPD officers on hand and a plan that avoided subway overcrowding, celebrating two birthdays was fun and pain free on Roosevelt Island. Even RIOC, after infuriating much the community, chipped in with a laughable goof.

First, unexpectedly, we celebrate a birthday of local significance. Yesterday, the Roosevelt Islander blog turned 14, a remarkable achievement of perseverance and community commitment. In perspective, the tireless blogger reminded us of his first ever post, on July 4th, 2007.

Appreciate that best by recalling that George W. Bush was president, Barrack Obama was a promising young star, Trump was just an over the top egotist and nobody’d ever heard of COVID-19.

In that article, the Roosevelt Islander promised good things to come, taking a swipe at RIOC for charging $18 a pop to view Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks from pre-Four Freedoms Southpoint.

4th of July Fireworks from Roosevelt Island

Although RIOC shenanigans made the 4th of July less pleasant for many Roosevelt Islanders, thousands scrambled for the best viewing locations they could find.

Above is RIVAA president Tad Sudol’s shot from Westview, but many more popped up on Facebook, Instagram and other online perches.

And then, RIOC chucked in one last bit of buffoonery…

“Hey, all you 4th of July revelers! While we’d love to host everyone, we’re quickly reaching capacity for the Roosevelt Island 4th of July Family Fireworks Celebration,” they wrote at a little past 8:00 p.m.

“Please be advised that, if you’re planning on making your way to the island, capacity may be reached before you get here and you may not be admitted into the event and/or able to gain access to Roosevelt Island via the Tramway.”

It looked like an attempt at due diligence, except they sent it to their limited RIOC Advisories mailing list. Who did they think they were going to reach at that late hour?

So, who were they telling not to come to the Island where they live? And what was that about the Tram? Were they looking at a shutdown. What?

“This is a joke, right?” one RIOC-weary Islander wrote. “Hey, All You… ?”

There was no follow up, although visitors continued pouring onto the Island for the next hour.

More from the Roosevelt Island Daily

• 
  Thursday’s PSD blotter: two hospital runs, a trespass summons at 888 Main
  RIOC’s Nov. 12 PSD blotter lists 15 incidents: six medical calls, two alarms at 546 Main Street, and a late-night trespass at 888 Main Street that ended with a summons.
• 
  Queens Home Prices and Rents Rise in October 2026 as Long Island City Condos Draw Buyers
  Queens home prices and rents rose in October 2026. See StreetEasy’s housing figures and Long Island City condo contract activity at Radiant and Vesta.
• 
  Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 7: Get Answers on 2027 Changes
  Medicare open enrollment ends Dec. 7. Sen. Krueger’s Nov. 16 virtual town hall covers 2027 premium, deductible and Part D changes, with a HIICAP expert’s Q&A.
• 
  Wednesday’s PSD blotter: two medical calls, a water leak, a custody report
  RIOC’s Nov. 11 PSD blotter lists 10 incidents, all on Main Street, including two medical calls at 555 Main Street, a water leak at 560 Main and a custody or visitation report.
• 
  Six-Unit Apartment Building Planned for 10th Street in Astoria
  Plans for a six-unit apartment building in Astoria call for four stories at 35-25 10th St. See proposed dimensions, apartment sizes and permit status.

Susan Rosenthal, a Sacrificial Lamb?*

The woman Albany condemned, the room she failed to read and the friends who survived by leaving her behind.

Eleanor Rivers Oct 2, 2026

After Susan Rosenthal was fired, David Kraut would talk about almost anything except Susan. This was unusual because David could discuss a subject long after everyone else had exhausted both the subject and the available oxygen. When her name entered the conversation, however, he became careful. At first I mistook that restraint for discretion; later, I began to recognize guilt.

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