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
- 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.
Can You Hear Us?
In earlier meetings, a bright light behind Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Vice President and General Counsel Gretchen Robinson had left her face nearly invisible. On July 2, 2020, with Susan Rosenthal gone and a new administration forming, Gretchen appeared fully lit.











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