It’s a Friday morning rush, and a resident reports, “3 separate maskless riders on the 9:15 (non-express) and one of them is actively coughing.” But he has seen, photographed and reported similar before. And after all these months of COVID cases, RIOC has not changed. Well, really, it has. It got worse.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Even after the Tram tightened up COVID precautions, arming operators with face masks, making clear announcements and enforcing rules, RIOC’s hapless on-Island team doesn’t get it. Or doesn’t care. (The Tram is not operated by RIOC)

COVID infections are on the rise across the U.S. and one county – Alameda in California – restarted its mask mandate. There’s a simple way of preventing that here: Follow the guidance concerning face masks and social distancing.
But some people won’t without encouragement or even enforcement, when necessary. RIOC doesn’t get that, and Roosevelt Islanders, including infants, get exposed every day, just by using needed public transit.

How do face masks help prevent the spreading of COVID infections?
Face masks are meant to protect other people in case the mask wearer is infected with COVID-19. The CDC says a face mask “covers your nose and mouth to help prevent the spread of germs.”
“Masks are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings,” the CDC adds. “Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress and control COVID-19 in public settings, especially where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.”

The bottom line is that wearing a face mask helps protect other people, and it’s something we should all be doing whenever we’re in public.
But here on Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island, layered in direct taxes at four levels, may be the highest taxed community in America. But your taxes, including around $30 million annually paying for RIOC, are probably the worst investment you will ever make.
“For some reason,” our reader wrote, “the Express bus hasn’t arrived and this bus has been sitting here since before the departure time of 9:08……so it seems they have a shortage of buses or drivers today also.”
That also earned them extra exposure from a collection of five maskless passengers undisturbed by drivers or PSD.
A few bucks helps pay our publishing expenses…
more from the roosevelt island daily news
- Ivory Needs a Loving Home. Here’s Her Story. By Lylia Saurel Special to The Roosevelt Island Daily News A report from Shelter Animal Count shows that shelters have observed an overall increase in population nationwide by 9.5% over the first quarter of 2022,
- FDR Four Freedoms State Park, Cool Green Oasis in a Hot CityThe long, hot days of summer can be a brutal experience in the city. The concrete and asphalt reflect the heat back up at you, and the dry air seems to suck all the moisture
- THE GREAT MIGRATION FAILED TO BRIDGE THE RACIAL WEALTH DIVIDE. WHAT’S NEXT?Real and lasting economic opportunities for Black families will come only through a serious national reckoning on race. By Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Briana Shelton | August 3, 2022 Republished with Permission: The Roosevelt Island Daily News During the early
- Judge Could Allow NYC Council to Revote on Education BudgetNew York City did not follow the proper procedure when approving the roughly $31 billion budget for the education department, a Manhattan judge said Thursday, potentially setting up the City Council to revote on funding
- After Alice Childress Library Rejected Racism ChargedAn Alice Childress Library? That was the dream of Michael Rogers, who Childress mentored into a successful career on stage, as well as others. It made sense for Roosevelt Island, but it was dismissed out