As expected, Julie Menin, a Democrat, walloped Republican Mark Foley by a 3 to 1 margin. But while victory’s sweet, it’s short-lived because she gets only two years.
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Julie Menin With Two Years To Go
Because the 2020 Census requires redistricting, the 5th District, now claimed by Menin, will have new boundaries. That means, after a long haul campaign against six primary opponents and the final run against Foley, her term ends in 2023. She hasn’t got much time to win hearts and minds before gearing up for her next run.
But the new city council member representing Roosevelt Island takes office with some built in advantages. Having recently run three city agencies, Census and Consumer Affairs as well as Media and Entertainment, she comes with experience and connections.
How all that pans out for Roosevelt Island remains unknown, but the circumstances are odd.
First consideration is that, because of Roosevelt Island’s peculiar political set up, no one in city government has much automatic influence over the community. Outgoing Ben Kallos partially solved that by developing cordial, persuasive relationships with RIOC’s presidents. He was especially close with Susan Rosenthal, calling her the best ever.
But Julie Menin, who is more conservative and business oriented, may take a different approach. Her term begins January 1st, two short months away, and from there, she’s got just 22 months before the polls open again.
Finally…
While wishing our new city council member success in office, we say “Farewell and thank you” to Ben Kallos. His devotion to Roosevelt Island outweighed expectation. He’s been generous with funds and a frequent, much appreciated presence.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily
- A new RIOC appeals officer denied records on how its general counsel was hiredA different RIOC appeals officer denied records on how RIOC hired general counsel Lance Polivy. RIOC’s internal deliberations on the hire stay withheld.
- Monday’s PSD blotter: two hospital transports, two disputesRIOC’s Nov. 9 PSD blotter lists 14 incidents, including four aided calls with two hospital transports and a verbal dispute at 750 Main Street that drew FDNY.
- Flushing Spa Murder: Man Charged After Woman Found Stabbed to DeathFlushing spa murder investigation leads to a murder charge against a 54-year-old man after a woman was found fatally stabbed in a Queens storefront.
- Sunday’s blotter: four medical calls, three non-criminal investigationsRIOC’s Nov. 8 PSD blotter lists 19 incidents, including four aided calls (two hospital transports) and three Investigation Non-Criminal entries at 465, 580 and 546 Main Street.
- NYC Code Blue Homeless Outreach Gets $25 Million for WinterNYC Code Blue homeless outreach receives $25 million for winter assistance. Here’s what the city has announced and what remains unclear about the funding.
Introduce Yourself Again
On June 18, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s Real Estate Development Advisory Committee gathered to discuss ground leases, retail agreements and pieces of the west-side waterfront that had been waiting patiently for the government to remember them.
