Markus Sztejnberg, the latest domino to fall in a row of RIOC executives, left recently after just a few months on staff. He “…is the latest RIOC executive to resign,” an informant tells The Daily. “Haynes is keeping quiet about it in his bunker. It all looks and smells bad.”
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
One More Out the Door Under Haynes and Hochul
RIOC’s latest unexplained departure, Markus Sztejnberg, hired as Deputy General Counsel just two months ago, has already fled RIOC. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation is overseen by Governor Kathy Hochul.
She inherited the job when Andrew Cuomo resigned, and although she’s had over six months to clean up the debacle in place, she has not replaced President/CEO Shelton J. Haynes nor acted at all to fill out or replace a spineless board.
Here’s the situation according to a Twitter post:
About Markus Sztejnberg
Departures started within days of Haynes’s taking over the reins at RIOC. Highly regarded Public Information Officer Terrence McCauley walked out within the first month. Long-term employees like Jessica Spencer-EL joined short-termers like Debra Kustka in short order.
Like Sztejnberg, Kustka arrived at RIOC with a solid and lengthy resume in state service but lasted less than three months under Haynes.
In neither case – or any of the others – has Haynes made any effort at explaining their sudden departures.
“Due to the unusual number of employees that resigned or were terminated recently,” our informant writes about Sztejnberg’s resignation, “just a few employees were informed and were told to ‘keep it quiet.’
“Haynes is concerned that if this information becomes public, it will show his inability to manage the agency and further damage his reputation.”
Sztejnberg first appeared at RIOC, last fall, as what General Counsel Gretchen Robinson called a “special counsel.” That role amounted to overhauling the state agency’s public purpose fund grants.
But by early 2022, he replaced Arthur Eliav, inexplicably chased out by Haynes after fifteen years of service, as Deputy General Counsel. And now, he’s already joined the chain of departures.
Maybe it’s time for Hochul to step up and explain her unrelenting support for Haynes and the shitshow plaguing RIOC.
also from the roosevelt island daily news
- Bridge and Street Safety Concerns After Roosevelt Island and Queens IncidentsBridge and street safety concerns after Roosevelt Island and Queens incidents are driving discussions on community responses, neighborhood safety, and local governance.
- Weekly News Highlights: Roosevelt Island’s Connection to Borough HeadlinesExplore weekly news highlights connecting Roosevelt Island to major borough headlines, including local safety, community response, and neighborhood updates.
- Roosevelt Island neighborhood news and community highlights this weekStay updated with Roosevelt Island neighborhood news and community highlights this week, including safety updates, local events, transit changes, and business recognition.
- Neighborhood Forums in Ridgewood: Community Voices and PrioritiesA closer look at neighborhood forums in Ridgewood reveals how community gatherings reflect shared priorities in Queens and Roosevelt Island. Explore the issues residents discussed, from housing affordability to local safety, and see how these conversations connect neighborhoods.
- A Week of Shifts: News, Weather, and Community Reminders for Roosevelt IslandA week of shifts in news, weather, and community reminders for Roosevelt Island, from Memorial Day weather to local stories and citywide headlines.
The Five Amendments That Sold Out Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island did not lose control of its southern waterfront in a single deal. It happened in five quiet steps. Five amendments. Five missed chances to renegotiate.
2 COMMENTS