Way back in 1973, at the behest of the late great Bella Abzug, congress designated August 26th as Women’s Equality Day. This year, state senator José Serrano recognized the day as well as Wendy Hersh by awarding her his district’s Woman of Distinction honor.
“Each year, the New York State Senate’s Woman of Distinction award highlights outstanding women living and working in New York State whose contributions have greatly enriched the quality of life in their communities and beyond,” the announcement read.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scope of RIDA’s work increased significantly over the last several months, not only to include the disabled, but seniors and all those in need within the Roosevelt Island community.
“Under Ms. Hersh’s leadership, RIDA has addressed food insecurity, providing food and PPE for those at risk.
“As the pandemic began, Ms. Hersh and her team organized a meal delivery program for RIDA members with food provided by the New York City Department of Education. As they saw a need outside of their membership, they expanded delivery services, and within a few months, more than 180 individuals and families on Roosevelt Island were receiving meal delivery.”
Read more about this remarkable Roosevelt Islander here.
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- How Community Connections Shape Daily Life Between Roosevelt Island and QueensDiscover how community connections shape daily life between Roosevelt Island and Queens, from public safety to local events, culture, business openings, and neighborhood milestones.
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.
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