Fifteen minutes before RIOC’s virtual Traffic Safety Town Hall was set to begin, Frank Farance emailed the state agency’s managers. “The meeting link for tonight’s town hall meeting is still not visible…” It never became visible. WTF?
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News.
The Traffic Safety Town Hall That Wasn’t
“RIOC will be hosting a Traffic Safety Town Hall and would like you to attend!” said a RIOC Advisory. It was repeated as recently as Sunday.
“Join us virtually on Wednesday, November 17th, at 6 PM, as we discuss Main Street and island promenades as it pertains to Traffic safety.
“Be a part of the conversation and click here to submit any question you may have regarding island Traffic safety. To view the meeting visit, rioc.ny.gov/336.”
But it never happened, and something else never happened. RIOC’s vaunted Communications Team never informed anyone about a cancellation. Nothing. In fact, the state agency’s Live webpage still lists the event but says it “hasn’t started yet.”
WTF?
As of this morning, there is no indication of what went off the rails or why RIOC’s well-paid, four-member Communications Team chalked up another failure. Under normal circumstances, we’d expect some word from RIOC today, but nothing about RIOC is normal. So, we’ll hang on an extended WTF for now.
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- Far Rockaway House Fire and Shooting Leaves Two DeadA Far Rockaway house fire and shooting left two dead and shocked the community as police and firefighters responded to the tragic scene. Read how the events unfolded and what comes next.
- Queens chain-snatching spree prompts multi-precinct responseA chain-snatching spree in Queens has sparked coordinated police action and renewed conversations about neighborhood safety. Learn what steps you can take.
- 140 Rentals Proposed for Mixed-Use Building at 50-01 Queens BoulevardA 13-story mixed-use development is planned for 50-01 Queens Boulevard in Woodside, featuring ground-floor retail and 140 rental units, with a portion reserved as affordable housing. Learn about the proposal, affordable housing details, and the next steps for this evolving Queens neighborhood.
- Sgt. Angel Rampersad’s legacy and Ozone Park’s vigilSgt. Angel Rampersad’s legacy touches Ozone Park, Queens, and Roosevelt Island as neighbors reflect after the Ozone Park vigil. Community honors and conversations continue amid grief.
A Different Kind of Bet
For years, Roosevelt Island did not behave like a system constrained by limits. Internally, the budget was often treated less as a boundary and more as a reservoir to be used.
