Coronavirus infections soar, fueled by the Delta variant, but one small group has absolute immunity. Immunity from responsibility, that is, as RIOC keeps failing at enforcing mask mandates on Red Buses.
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Note: all photos submitted by readers
The only plausible excuse for RIOC’s dereliction at enforcing mandates issued by Governor Cuomo is their immunity from responsibility. Having evaded accountability for numerous recent fails, protected by a feckless board and see-no-evil electeds, the state agency apparently rolls along without guardrails.
A little over a year ago, Susan Rosenthal at the helm, RIOC lead the way in the fight against spreading the coronavirus. But now, their efforts fall near the bottom of the heap.
Coronavirus infections soar while RIOC naps
Yesterday, I took a Red Bus ride, hopeful I’d see better than what readers posted on Facebook, but I saw worse.
A woman boarded, wearing a mask, but pulled it down, in full view of the driver, as soon as she was seated. Then, a man boarded without a mask at all and rode to his stop, also in full view of the driver.
It’d be easy saying the driver did nothing, but in fact, he did less than nothing.
Steering the bus through the middle of town, he passed a PSD officer idling at the curb outside RIOC’s new offices. A quick stop could’ve resolved the problem of maskless passengers, helping the majority of passengers stay safe. As a bonus, it might serve as an example, reminding the reluctant that privileges come with responsibilities.
But, of course, the driver rolled on, clearly unaware of any focus on public safety.
Mask up or walk? Too much for RIOC as coronavirus infections soar.
When will anyone in authority ever get a handle on this indifferent public operation?
For the record, RIOC collects in excess of $20 million annually from residents. And $4 million of it goes to public safety.
For what?
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The Line That Didn’t Land
I stood in the back of Good Shepherd Chapel on the evening of April 15, 2026, at the Steam Plant Demolition Town Hall, watching people adjust scarves and jackets before the meeting began. Benjamin Jones, President and CEO of RIOC, thanked us for attending and, without a pause, said he was “pleased to host tonight’s town hall on the city’s demolition of its steam plant.” The demolition, in other words, was not up for discussion.
