About the parking craziness, one resident said, “I had never seen that plaza’s surface completely covered by parked cars.” She was talking about a small plaza tucked between buildings at Manhattan Park. Over the years, Roosevelt Island went from discouraging cars to fertilizing them.
By David Stone
RIOC, seldom an agency known for setting good examples, sometimes does worse. A few days later, they jammed the No Parking area at 591 Main Street with prohibited vehicles and an unauthorized dumpster.
“On a hot day I cannot use those benches to enjoy the shady breeze that normally flows up there,” our reader added. “And I am furious about it.”
The area features broad steps down to the promenade and the East River. Almost no one sits there anymore, and fewer children play on the Z-bricks below.
Parking Craziness, Roosevelt Island
Emerging as New York’s “City of Tomorrow,” Roosevelt Island was born resolutely anti-car. Set apart from city congestion, brick streets and restricted parking discouraged four-wheelers rumbling across the bridge from Queens.
But cars are an American Disease, displayed at its worst in New York City. An insidious strain eventually infected the narrow strip of rock in the East River.
With parking at a premium, the otherwise invisible Public Safety Department claims three prime spaces. One is reserved for the Chief’s personal car.
It may not seem like much, at first glance, but it contributes to the overall parking craziness.
Odd choice for parking when the New York State Shelton J. Haynes Parking Area, across the street, is normally half-full.
Is it fair for RIOC, a consistent violator, to ticket other offenders? In April alone, the state agency handed out 754 parking violations for other than their own cars and trucks.
How do you spell “elites?”
Roosevelt Island committed to car culture with lots of free parking, starting in the ’90s. Main Street deteriorates without plans for saving unique Z-bricks while the state converts Southpoint into Brooklyn Bridge Park North.
Because it’s now meant for tourists over residents, more cars will stream onto already overcrowded streets. But where will they park?
Related…
But the most recent contribution to parking craziness on Roosevelt Island takes the grand prize.
RIOC shoved locals aside, demanding four prime parking spots for Haynes and his “guests.” The maneuver kept the president/CEO from walking more than 100 feet in public while a second spot is set aside for him along the East Promenade.
As you can see here, the prime parking spaces are usually no more than half-full while mere residents scramble for spots wherever they can find them.
Haynes predecessors usually used mass transit or parked in Motorgate, but the president prefers his own giant gas guzzler.
Climate change increases the risk of devastating weather for Roosevelt Island, but the Island’s supposed leader fails to set a conscientious example. He chooses instead an elaborate salute to local car parking craziness.
Again.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- 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.
