Did RIOC learn anything? The question must be answered after two women, one 88 years old, were rushed to hospitals in separate incidents over the weekend. The answers are not good.
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
On what I planned as my first week off in five plus years, my gears shifted after hearing about an accident on Main Street.
Early Monday, I heard from a reader that a woman was hit by a car while crossing Main Street on Sunday. She was in the crosswalk, but the car didn’t stop.
An immediate search meant reaching out to RIOC and Public Safety. And of course, we did, but as is their ridiculous custom, neither answered. The state agency has unlearned what a public benefit corporation is, confusing it with a patronage fueled private source of excess compensation.
So, we contacted actual reliable community sources, and after a joint effort, the Roosevelt Islander came up with enough for a story. No thanks to RIOC.
And there was more to it. In fact, two women were hit, not just one.
But it was somewhat predictable as reports in this newspaper and other resources have repeatedly cited PSD’s failure at securing secure crossings on Main Street.
But did RIOC learn anything…?
By all accounts, no. Nothing. Zero. Zip.
An isolated incident? Maybe.
So, running an errand today, I kept an eye out.
And, it wasn’t long before I saw a woman drive her car straight through the same crosswalk. But this time, an officer was in a marked car right behind her, standing.
What did he do?
You guessed it.
Nothing.
My irritation rising, I asked him why as he got out of his car just long enough for crossing over to headquarters.
“Was I backing up?”
“No. You were sitting still.”
“I was parking.”
No point in arguing as neither are good excuses for ignoring similar violations after a weekend of life-threatening accidents.
“We’re keeping a close eye on the crosswalks,” he insisted, but… Well, haven’t we heard all this before?
Checking out his claim…
Did RIOC learn anything from two weekend accidents were pedestrians were hit in sidewalks?
In a walk from Public Safety’s headquarters to Westview and back, I saw three more incidents of cars or trucks rolling straight through crosswalks.
In one incident, two adults with a child were well into the crosswalk directly in front of PSD’s offices and had to pause to avoid being hit.
Clearly, local drivers are as disinterested in pedestrian safety as is RIOC and its bloated $4 million per year Public Safety Department.
More News from the Roosevelt Island Daily
- A Week Rooted in Community: Daily Life and Neighbor Connections on Roosevelt IslandThis week, daily life and neighbor connections on Roosevelt Island come into focus with stories of parks, transit, public safety, and community rhythms shaping the summer.
- NYC Health + Hospitals Data Breach Lawsuit: What Roosevelt Island Readers Should KnowA proposed class action says millions of NYC Health + Hospitals patients, staff and family members may have had deeply sensitive information exposed. Here is what Roosevelt Island readers should know.
- Queens Community News and Events: How Local Stories Echo on Roosevelt IslandQueens community news and events shape daily life on Roosevelt Island and beyond. From park reopening and fundraisers to public safety and local transit, catch up on the stories echoing across both neighborhoods.
- How Roosevelt Island Connects with Queens This Week: Community, Safety, and Neighborhood CelebrationsHow Roosevelt Island connects with Queens is clear in this week’s stories of community, public safety, celebrations, and neighborhood life in both boroughs.
- Connecting Roosevelt Island Community Life with Local Transit, Safety, and Business InitiativesConnecting Roosevelt Island community life with local transit, safety, and business initiatives, this week’s Beat explores how citywide stories shape our days and routines.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Five Amendments That Sold Out Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island did not lose control of its southern waterfront in a single deal. It happened in five quiet steps. Five amendments. Five missed chances to renegotiate.
5 COMMENTS