After over five years and millions of dollars spent, both of the new Tram elevators were operating yesterday afternoon. As recently as Monday, neither was working and one never had been. But in spite of media reports and their own promises, RIOC has been silent.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
New Tram Elevators, Same Old RIOC
RIOC struggled with construction issues for more than five years, spending an astonishing $6.1 million, but then ignored the finished product. With the state agency under Governor Kathy Hochul operating like a leaderless assembly of independent parts, the much awaited completion limped quietly past.
Then, on Monday morning, visibility increased because, with neither elevator working, disabled, moms with strollers and others with heavy packages were left stranded. But no alert came out of RIOC.
One elevator went back in service by late afternoon, but the state agency that never gets it wrong missed that, too. And on Wednesday, with the second elevator working for the first time, they apparently didn’t know.
Is It Working?
After seeing the second elevator taking passengers up and down for the first time at around 3:00 yesterday, we checked back an hour later. It was stalled on the upper level, but there were no signs. And its call button was working.
On the Tram, we asked a RIOC Public Safety Officer if both elevators were now in service. He shrugged. He didn’t know.
So, we asked the Tram operator – not a RIOC employee and in no way responsible for the elevators. Both were working, he said.
“But the new one looks like it’s stuck on the upper level…?”
That stumped both. But don’t blame them. When there is no leadership giving directions, updating information, everyone’s freelancing, trying to do their best with what they have.
No word from Hochul’s Albany based team responsible for ordering around her twenty or so six-figure executives. The result, essentially, is that you are all on your own because nobody is in charge.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- The US Remains a Grim Leader in Preterm Births. Why? And Can We Fix It?
Tamara Etienne’s second pregnancy was freighted with risk and worry from its earliest days — exacerbated by a first pregnancy that had ended in miscarriage. A third-grade teacher at an overcrowded Miami-Dade County public school, - Common Woodworking Problems and Solutions
Professionals and hobbyists understand the woes of woodworking. Fortunately, a few woodworking problems have smart solutions you should know. - Immobilized Astor Place Cube Slated to Spin Again by Summer
The iconic Astor Place Cube, which has been immobilized for nearly a year because of structural damage, would be restored to its original free-spinning glory by July 17, under a proposal from the city Department - Adams faces campaign finance violations
(The Center Square) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing tens of thousands of dollars in fines for alleged violations of state campaign finance laws involving his 2022 inaugural fund. The New York City’s Campaign - Freedom Lover Ron DeSantis
davidstone1313 See author's posts
