Debra Kustka is gone, a RIOC Vice President for less than four months. There was no announcement and no explanation. Just sort of eradicated from behind the bunker.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Debra Kustka, RIOC Vice President, Operations from December, 2021, to March, 2022
Hired as Chief Operating Officer at RIOC, according to her LinkedIn profile, Kustka came to Roosevelt Island after 16 years as a Vice President at Hudson River Park. At the state agency’s December board meeting, President/CYA Shelton J. Haynes gushed over her, about how closely they’d be working together.
Then followed a RIOC winter, board meetings abruptly cancelled, inexplicable job postings for new executive positions and more. But no word from the bunkered Chief Executive or his Albany handlers under Governor Kathy Hochul.
“The Tyrant Strikes Again” Read the Subject Line in My Email
“Debra Kustka was abruptly fired last week. What’s going on here?” wrote an informant. We can’t confirm that she was fired. She may well have quit. But in either case, it’s stunning. Whether Haynes wanted her out or she tired of RIOC pretty quickly, she is gone and erased.
But history provides a record. In RIOC’s December 29th, 2021, board meeting, she made her solo appearance. You can view that video here, unless they remove it.
Possible reasons for her departure are many, but maybe she was trapped. The last occupant in that position was Haynes himself, and Kustka was far better qualified for the spot. Complicating that was that it placed her between Haynes and his longtime friend and alleged nepotism hire, Assistant Vice-President Altheria Jackson. Jackson, by any available accounts, was even less qualified than Haynes.
Editor’s Note: After it was used as a reference in an investigative article here, Haynes’s LinkedIn profile was abruptly deleted. Jackson’s barely exists. But Kustka’s is up and detailed, striking a contrast between extreme secrecy and genuine public service.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- Police Investigate Fatal Stabbing Outside Jamaica Avenue NightclubPolice investigate fatal stabbing outside Jamaica Avenue nightclub after a 29-year-old man was killed. Detectives seek tips as the community responds.
- Former NYPD Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Impersonating ICE Agent in Brooklyn Federal CourtA former NYPD sergeant pleaded guilty to impersonating an ICE agent in Brooklyn federal court, highlighting issues of authority, public trust, and the legal process ahead.
- Queens Subway and Far Rockaway Stabbings Spur Police InvestigationsQueens subway and Far Rockaway stabbings on September 30 prompted separate police investigations and community response after two fatal incidents disrupted daily routines.
- Fatal Stabbing on J Train at Woodhaven Boulevard Spurs Subway Safety Concerns in QueensA fatal stabbing on J train at Woodhaven Boulevard raises fresh subway safety concerns in Queens, as NYPD investigates and riders reflect on recent incidents.
- J and M Train Weekend Service Changes: What Riders Need to KnowJ and M train weekend service changes will impact riders for five weekends as crews replace elevated track switches. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare for modified schedules across Brooklyn and Queens.
The Budget Knew Before the “Emergency”
The demolition began on paper long before the City invoked emergency authority to carry it out. In RIOC’s fiscal 2013-14 budget, the Corporation set aside $7 million for fiscal 2015 for the complete demolition and cleanup of the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant. RIOC called that figure its worst-case scenario, meaning the State corporation might be left responsible for the entire cost.
2 COMMENTS