Our sources tell us that Jessica Cerone, long a pillar in RIOC’s Communications Team, quietly stopped coming to work in late April. Paired with also disappeared Erica Spencer-EL, who held multiple management positions, Cerone played a critical role in successes like FIGMENT and The Girl Puzzle Opening.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News

The passive exit of Cerone adds to a long list of RIOC managers leaving under President/CEO Shelton Haynes’s watch.
The unsettling trend started almost immediately when well-respected Public Information Officer Terrence McCauley lasted only a month with Haynes. It continued with established managers like Spencer-EL disappearing without a word and with new executives like Debra Kustka leaving after less than three months.
Cerone had been with RIOC for nearly 7 years, and her most recent position was Manager, Community Affairs, according to LinkedIn.
Note: Although both Cerone and Spencer-EL have left RIOC, the secrecy-shrouded state agency still lists them a primary media contacts on its website.
Help The Daily continue as your source for accurate local information.
also from the roosevelt island daily news
- How Queens News Impacts Roosevelt Island Routines and Community LifeExplore how queens news impacts Roosevelt Island routines and community life, from public safety updates and election changes to housing assistance and local celebrations.
- What’s New Across Western Queens: Safety, Community, and Spring at Our DoorstepExplore what’s new across Western Queens this week, including safety updates, casino developments, real estate, and local dining—news that shapes Roosevelt Island life.
- A Full Week Across the River: How Roosevelt Island and Queens Lives IntersectA full week across the river shows how life on Roosevelt Island connects with Queens—covering public safety, legal updates, G train disruptions, and neighborhood events.
- Roosevelt Island Weekly Recap: Community Life, Local News, and Everyday ConnectionsOur Roosevelt Island weekly recap covers local news, community events, and the threads of daily life connecting neighbors on and off the island.
- Queens News Highlights and Roosevelt Island Community ConnectionsExplore the week’s Queens news highlights and Roosevelt Island community connections, from public safety to housing, historic places, and local events.
AVAC: Where the Pipe Curves
This is the final installment in my notes from the December 2nd, Operations Advisory Committee meeting, following “An Emergency, Apparently” and “Rust Is Funny Until It Isn’t”.











1 COMMENTS