Exceeding expectations is not normal with RIOC, but they pulled it off here. While the commitment to mask wearing is admirable, the WTF element carries us away. To the Midwest.
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Exceeding Expectations on the Roosevelt Island Tram
A reader emailed that she was “on the tram facing this sign.”
It looked okay at first, but on closer inspection.

“What is the language in the middle?”
It took a little doing, but I finally figured it out.
It’s Hmong, the language of an ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

While I felt proud, having found the answer, I could only guess about why it was there, below the English, flanked by Spanish and Chinese.
Did the mountainous regions of Midtown Manhattan import a cultural cluster from Asia nobody knew about? Or were they Roosevelt Islanders?
We don’t know, but a further challenge remains unsolved…
Rounding out the WTF circle…
“And why does it say Public Health Madison and Dane county?”
Above is a map of Dane County, Wisconsin. It looks like a lovely place to visit, but we still don’t what it has to do with the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Exceeding expectations, there’s always a chance RIOC will clear up the mystery, but, well, do they even know?
Also from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- Chain-Snatching Spree in Queens Prompts Precinct Coordination and Simple Safety StepsA chain-snatching spree in Queens has sparked coordinated police action and renewed conversations about neighborhood safety. Learn what steps you can take.
- 140 Rentals Proposed for Mixed-Use Building at 50-01 Queens BoulevardA 13-story mixed-use development is planned for 50-01 Queens Boulevard in Woodside, featuring ground-floor retail and 140 rental units, with a portion reserved as affordable housing. Learn about the proposal, affordable housing details, and the next steps for this evolving Queens neighborhood.
- Sgt. Angel Rampersad’s legacy and Ozone Park’s vigilSgt. Angel Rampersad’s legacy touches Ozone Park, Queens, and Roosevelt Island as neighbors reflect after the Ozone Park vigil. Community honors and conversations continue amid grief.
- Queensbridge assault, subway surfing injury, and Resorts World expansionExplore how Queens news and stories ripple to Roosevelt Island, connecting both communities through updates on events, culture, and everyday acts.
- Upper East Side Legionnaires Outbreak Expands Amid Queens AttacksHow citywide events ripple through daily life on Roosevelt Island: local news on health, transit, and education highlights the subtle connections shaping our routines.
The Women Who Held the Ground
The recording arrived before RIOC posted it. On this island, that usually means they’ll release it when they’re confident nobody still cares. ArchRI simply made a copy available, the way people here tend to do once they’ve stopped waiting for institutions to keep their word. It was the first meeting of what is now meant to be a monthly community advisory group (CAG).











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