Local businesses got booted aside by RIOC yesterday as the state agency that collects rents from but never promotes them gave a shout out for Cousins Maine Lobster Truck. It was another blow against the community that pays all the salaries, benefits and work of RIOC.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Roosevelt Island’s local businesses never get this…
In a RIOC Advisory, the state agency that never gets it wrong said:
“This Sunday, April 24th, enjoy what should be a beautiful day by strolling along the promenades and grabbing a bite to eat from the Cousins Maine Lobster food truck, which located at Tram Plaza (300 Main St.) from 12 PM – 8 PM!” (Somebody loan RIOC a “will be.”)
Nobody has any complaint with the Cousins Maine Lobster Truck pulling up with delicious food, but using our RIOC Tax money in promoting an out of town business is thickheaded. It’s also abusive toward the numerous local businesses from which RIOC collects monthly rents.
It’s no secret that several local businesses, stung by the pandemic, are hanging by a thread. But RIOC wants you to bypass Nisi, China One, Fuji East and Granny Annie’s on your way to the lobster truck.
It’s not a big change of form for RIOC since they’re notorious for disregarding residents too, but it’s still unacceptable.
Cousins Maine Lobster is a franchising operation headquartered in Los Angeles. The franchise serving Roosevelt Island hails from New Jersey.
An email to RIOC’s brain trust questioning this promotion did not generate any response.
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I Take the Tram Because I Have To
There are people on this Island you learn to recognize long before you ever learn their names. Like the real estate man with the blue goatee, the one whose name I keep forgetting, though I could pick him out of a lineup any time of day.
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