“RIOC loses respect for the American flag,” a disgusted reader wrote in his email’s subject line. And he he sent photos. “The picture says it all…” Indeed it did.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The American Flag and RIOC
As the symbol of the United States, the American flag should be displayed with respect in all cases. But RIOC, with Governor Kathy Hochul now in charge, never got that message, somehow.
The Roosevelt Island Daily thanks our reader for the tip and the photos.
The American flag is a symbol of our nation’s history, values, and unity. It represents the ideals of democracy, liberty, and justice that are central to our country’s character. The flag also represents the brave men and women who have fought for these principles throughout our history. We should never forget the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom, and we should always be proud to display the American flag.
Why has RIOC disgraced it? You can see this directly outside President/CYA Shelton J. Haynes’s office in Blackwell House.
There are rules
“The flag shall be displayed only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open,” according to New York State Law. But the American flag has flown 24-hours a day for months outside Haynes’s office. It’s at the main entrance to historic Blackwell House where visitors from all over the world arrive for tours of a carefully preserved interior.
What message is RIOC sending here? Moreover, is anyone in charge? Where is the governor whose name appears at the top of the letterhead?
“No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America…”
United States Code: Respect for the Flag
The Past Dictates the Future
In December, Debra Kustka took a position as Vice President of Operations. This falls within her domain. The American flag at Blackwell House has been ripped apart in that tree, day and night, during her entire tenure. While we always feared that President/CYA Haynes and some other six-figure earning executives were afflicted with Elbow from Ass Distinction Disorder (EADD), we hoped new blood might bring relief.
But it didn’t. Kustka seems as dimly committed to our values as Haynes and his vaunted Community Relations team. When all she had to do was send over a cherrypicker with a worker to rescue the American flag… Leaving it up 24 hours a day, ragged and stuck, was thoughtless enough, but letting it go for months on end is a public disgrace.
The condition of that flag is an insult to American values, but it’s worse, a slap in face of veterans who fought and died for the values it represents. The values, the rules are clear, but like so much else, RIOC just doesn’t give a damn.
It’s one more reason why putting an end to RIOC is the best thing that can happen for this community.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- Neighborhood Notes: Weekly Changes and Community Moments Across Roosevelt Island and BeyondNeighborhood notes on weekly changes and community moments across Roosevelt Island and neighboring areas, including emergency response, community events, new developments, and local reflections.
- Queens Neighborhood Developments Through a Roosevelt Island LensDiscover recent Queens neighborhood developments through a Roosevelt Island perspective—including local safety, rezoning, community responses, and campaign updates.
- How Community Connections Shape Daily Life Between Roosevelt Island and QueensDiscover how community connections shape daily life between Roosevelt Island and Queens, from public safety to local events, culture, business openings, and neighborhood milestones.
- June on Roosevelt Island: Crowds, Celebration, and Quiet MomentsJune on Roosevelt Island brings city crowds, neighborhood celebrations, and reflective moments that shape our community life. Discover how these rhythms impact daily life this June.
- A Week Rooted in Community: Daily Life and Neighbor Connections on Roosevelt IslandThis week, daily life and neighbor connections on Roosevelt Island come into focus with stories of parks, transit, public safety, and community rhythms shaping the summer.
Lance A. Polivy, Vice President for Legal Affairs
I do not usually write ahead of the week’s rhythm. Fridays suit an old woman. They allow time for tea, rereading, and the small mercy of correcting one’s own excessive cleverness. But this cannot wait for Friday.
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