On Saturday, multiple sources confirmed that 15-year employee Erica Spencer-EL is no longer working for the state agency. Initial reports say she was fired, but that is not confirmed.

by David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

Erica Spencer-EL and RIOC Divorce

A prominent figure at RIOC through several administrations, Spencer-EL was instrumental in numerous public initiatives. Most recently, she led the reorganization of the Youth Center. But before that, she was engaged in art projects, including Fall for Arts and Motorgate Gallery where she teamed with RIVAA.

Spencer-EL has served as Director of Programing and Partnerships, responsible for community relations and more. She set up a diverse online presence and formulated a concept for branding and marketing the state agency.

Why?

We seldom learn why anyone leaves – or is hired by, for that matter – RIOC. But controversy has swirled in the past year as a string of high-profile departures rocked the agency. In Spencer-EL’s case, it was rumored that she, along with others, fell out of favor with President/CEO Shelton J. Haynes as he consolidated support of loyalists. The divisions and power struggles within RIOC sharpened.

In a photo taken at RIOC’s September 11th ceremony, last year, the body language told a story. Haynes arrived, walking past Spencer-EL without acknowledging her.

There is more to this story than meets the eye, but full details may never come out. We will be watching though. With RIOC in a chaotic state of change, more departures and arrivals are likely.

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Susan Rosenthal, a Sacrificial Lamb?*

The woman Albany condemned, the room she failed to read and the friends who survived by leaving her behind.

Eleanor Rivers Oct 2, 2026

After Susan Rosenthal was fired, David Kraut would talk about almost anything except Susan. This was unusual because David could discuss a subject long after everyone else had exhausted both the subject and the available oxygen. When her name entered the conversation, however, he became careful. At first I mistook that restraint for discretion; later, I began to recognize guilt.

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