Will Governor Kathy Hochul save Roosevelt Island from RIOC’s ravages? Think Andrew Cuomo in a dress. Maybe this image will help.
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The Emerging Image of Kathy Hochul in Roosevelt Island Eyes
Taking office in August, the state’s first woman governor promised a new, not-so-Cuomo administration. But she signed on with the Cuomo patronage mill poisoning the state agency, almost immediately. It’s all downhill from here.
That’s bad but maybe worse is a growing debris field of broken promises, the worse being her so far empty pledge of transparency at RIOC. In her first speech as governor, CNN reported her promise to forge a “new era of transparency” in state government. Note: she never said “different,” just new.
On Roosevelt Island, where our narrow focus assumes macro world realities, the state’s gone in the opposite direction. Not only has the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), an agency with her name at the top of the letterhead, buttressed its media blackout, it’s whisked away the larger community as well.
A recent example is what RIOC dubbed a “bank open house” that wasn’t open to anyone living here or the press. Secrecy pulled a protective shield over what, on inspection, looked foolish, if not deliberately dishonest.
The Cuomo-esque Freedom of Information Dodge Hardens
Freedom of information laws passed decades ago, intent on opening up the state’s operations to the public. The point was keeping government honest by revealing secrets. The Cuomo administration, though, was masterful at dodging release of legitimate, valid requests. Months, even years passed before partial responses tumbled out. They were often too late for making a meaningful difference.
RIOC follows that lead with enthusiasm during the current administration, and a pile up of FOIL requests stretches back six months. Hochul delivered no changes, reminding us again that people with nothing to hide don’t hide anything.
On the other hand…
Violations in Trust You Can’t See
RIOC’s Albany handlers, none of whom have the slenderest connection to the community, oversee daily operations here, including patronage hires and who gets paid for what. That’s always been true, but under Cuomo, the grip got tighter.
When Kathy Hochul became governor, we hoped for change. Really, could anyone be worse for Roosevelt Island than Andrew Cuomo? Maybe not, but just as bad ain’t such a great deal either.
Also from the Roosevelt Island Daily
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- 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.
- College Point Community Responds After Senior Dog Taken From Front LawnA College Point senior dog was taken from her front lawn, sparking a neighborhood response and NYPD investigation. Learn how the community is working together after a senior dog was taken from front lawn.
The WIRE: Two Futures, One Empty Chair
It is December 6, 2015, and David Stone is writing to Dr. Jack Resnick about a chair that will soon be empty. Dick Lutz is preparing to leave the Main Street WIRE, and Stone has been encouraged to ask whether he might replace him. Seven years of covering art, Cornell Tech and questionable practices inside Public Safety have taught Stone how the paper tells an Island story.
