Just when hopes rose that RIOC finally accepted responsibility for protecting Tram riders from COVID-19, another fresh round of maskless riders told a different story. In the most recent incident, the selfish bastards are in clear view, just feet from an indifferent operator
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The round trip started with an encouraging sign. Boarding the Tram on Roosevelt Island, we witnessed a vigilant PSD officer making sure every passenger wore a face mask before lifting off for Second Avenue. She even ordered one mother to mask her pre-school child.
No one objected, and the officer carried a fresh supply of masks as she checked the cabin.
But returning, a different story.
Without PSD onboard, the Tram operator ignored multiple maskless passengers as the cabin headed home to Roosevelt Island. Halfway across, he suddenly awakened and told three passengers to pull up their masks. By then, of course, it was too late for a tired rider stuck between them, among others.
Only a hopeless optimist believes this is any exception as Roosevelt Island bucks the city trend, with infections rising while the rest of New York gets better.
Also from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- PS/IS 217 Enrollment Grows as NYC Schools Lose StudentsComptroller Mark Levine finds NYC schools lost 19% of K-12 students since 2013-14, while PS/IS 217 enrollment rose to 702, up 9.7% from 2019-20, DOE data show.
- Kathy Hochul Wins Reelection as New York Elects First All-Woman Gubernatorial TicketKathy Hochul wins reelection in New York’s 2026 governor’s race as Adrienne Adams makes history on the state’s first elected all-woman gubernatorial ticket.
- RIOC Governance Committee to Review Four Policies WednesdayThe RIOC Governance Committee meets Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m. at 680 Main St. to review vehicle, property disposition, Project Sunlight and records policies.
- Roosevelt Island Library Events: Jazz Night, Crochet and a Holiday FilmSee Roosevelt Island Library events through Nov. 14: a jazz listening night on Wed., Nov. 4, Crochet Club, a Thanksgiving film and a book cover workshop.
- Roosevelt Island Bridge Lane Closure Set for Wednesday, Nov. 4The next Roosevelt Island Bridge lane closure is Wednesday, Nov. 4, 10 AM to 2 PM, as NYSDOT inspects the bridge. Flaggers will direct traffic, RIOC says.
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).
