RIOC’s finally got the Blackwell Sidewalks right, months after work started on them and Blackwell Plaza. It took a while.
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Over a period of weeks, late this summer, a RIOC contractor sent pedestrians, wheelchairs and baby strollers into Main Street, forcing them away from construction. What made it worse was its location directly in front of RIOC president Shelton J. Haynes office and across the street from his dedicated four-spot parking areas.
But now, after repeated complaints, the state agency that never makes a mistake seems to have gotten the message.


Credit where credit is due, especially as it regards public safety. Here’s one of the previous dilemmas in the same ares.

Maybe they learned something, and residents as well as visitors will be safer.
This article is dedicated to David Kraut who says that Roosevelt Island media never gives RIOC credit when they get it right.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily
- 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.
The Steam Tunnel Repair That Disappeared
Capital projects change. Costs rise, engineering evolves, funding moves and questions of ownership can complicate even urgent work. But the Roosevelt Island Steam Tunnel was not a speculative improvement that simply slipped down a priority list. RIOC’s own records describe an infrastructure problem known for decades.











5 COMMENTS