By Friday, June 3rd, Matthew Waldman had had enough. He wrote a thoughtful email to RIOC about the poorly managed permitting system for the Octagon Tennis Courts. His email went to Wanda Coleman, who manages permits, President/CEO Shelton J. Haynes and the board. None responded. It wasn’t the first time.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
UPDATE, June 7th, 2022: At the end of Monday, after giving RIOC two full days to respond in a respectful way, I checked back in with Matthew.
Did he hear from RIOC? “No,” but he did hear from the tennis player who got double-bookings.
“The courts made a mistake and approved both courts. I originally booked 5:30, then canceled it. Then booked 5. However, octagon approved both instead of processing the cancellation.”
In short, RIOC’s reservation system screwed up. They took no responsibility and let The Octagon take the blame. This is what we get for our money from New York State, these days.
“I have been a Roosevelt Island resident for over a year and have been very disappointed with how this process works and how it is maintained,” Waldman wrote.
“This process is very chaotic and unorganized. There have been rules distributed on how the reservation process works. These are clearly not followed.”
What are rules there for…?
RIOC Tennis Court Rules: “Reservations required in advance. Only one reservation, per player, per day.”
But here’s the online reality from Facebook…
Rules are in place for dealing immediately with issues. According to RIOC’s regulations…
- All players should arrive five (5) minutes before their reserved time. Players must check in at the court gate waiting area at least five (5) minutes before the reserved hour begins.
- If all players have not checked-in at least five (5) minutes prior to the hour, players will lose their reservation.
“Are these rules being followed?” The Daily asked.
“People may arrive early but there is no ‘check in’ process or any staff on site,” Waldman says. “The only staff are PSD to open the gates at 7:00 a.m. and lock them after 8:30 p.m.”
“It is not possible to make reservations for a specific time in a court if someone has previously submitted a request for this time, even if it is not approved or does not follow the guidelines provided by RIOC,” Waldman adds.
“For example, ALL time slots for Sunday, June 5th were unavailable at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, June 3rd (the “start” time when requests can be made according to RIOC). This is a regular occurrence. This makes it nearly impossible to make a reservation.”
Waldman’s frustration is shared by many Roosevelt Island residents. The online permitting system is chaotic and unorganized, with little to no accountability.
This is just one example of the many issues Roosevelt Island residents have with RIOC. And the state agency’s unwillingness to respond.
Abusing a system…
In addition, many individuals abuse this system by:
- Groups of 2-4 will make multiple reservations back to back to back on the same court, making it hard for others to use the court. The same people can be seen on the courts for multiple hours during times when all courts are “reserved”
- Multiple people are “coaching” others for hours
- Given that all reservations can only be 1 hour. People will purposely make reservations on the half-hour so they can have additional time on the court and others can not make a reservation for those 30 minutes prior or at the end of their permit time
- There is no one here at any time to enforce this permit system at the tennis courts
- Many people who do not live on Roosevelt Island are coming to use these courts and abusing these rules, leaving island residents unable to utilize these courts.
“I hope this can be addressed so Roosevelt Island residents can better utilize these courts and the reservation process can be addressed. This has been a problem for many Roosevelt Island residents.”
As of this writing, RIOC has not responded. It’s not an exception amid the chaotic turmoil that’s reality with the agency and, ultimately, in its relations with residents.
Chip in, help pay for our expenses…
more from the roosevelt island daily news
- Queens Subway and Far Rockaway Stabbings Spur Police InvestigationsQueens subway and Far Rockaway stabbings on September 30 prompted separate police investigations and community response after two fatal incidents disrupted daily routines.
- Fatal Stabbing on J Train at Woodhaven Boulevard Spurs Subway Safety Concerns in QueensA fatal stabbing on J train at Woodhaven Boulevard raises fresh subway safety concerns in Queens, as NYPD investigates and riders reflect on recent incidents.
- J and M Train Weekend Service Changes: What Riders Need to KnowJ and M train weekend service changes will impact riders for five weekends as crews replace elevated track switches. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare for modified schedules across Brooklyn and Queens.
- Coastal Flooding Disrupts Southeast Queens Streets and TransitCoastal flooding disrupted streets and transit across Southeast Queens as a fall nor’easter brought heavy rain and renewed calls for resilience and improved drainage.
- Nor’easter Brings Slow Streets and Transit Delays Across Queens and NYCAfter the nor’easter, slow streets and transit delays across Queens and NYC greeted commuters. Utility crews continued repairs as normal routines resumed Monday.
Still Searching: Transparency Delayed at RIOC
New York’s Freedom of Information Law rests on a basic principle: government records belong to the public unless an agency can identify a lawful reason to withhold them. For Roosevelt Island residents, that right matters because RIOC controls public land, infrastructure, transportation, contracts and development without functioning as a locally elected government.
1 COMMENTS