RIOC illiteracy is so commonplace, these days, it’s hardly worth noticing, and they’re so bunkered, not much squeezes out anyway. But today, we took notice. A RIOC advisory was so inept, it had us dreaming of getting the dreaded Communications Team back. No, really.

by David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

Due to tram maintenance the south roadway is currently closed till further notice. No RIOC Red Bus or MTA Q102 bus headed south bound.

RIOC Advisories, 10:30 a.m., June 7th, 2022.

This advisory is so flabbergastingly bad, it’s hard to know where to begin. But let’s start with the “south roadway.”

Roosevelt Island does not have a “south roadway.” There is a South Loop Road, but that’s way down by Southpoint, football fields away from the Tram (which should be capitalized.) What the hell?

Distilled, this advisory exposes again how detached from the Island it allegedly serves the flakey, bunkered state agency is.

Going on…

One irritated resident complained, “No prior notice last night or earlier this morning of any kind… (of Tram maintenance.)”

That’s right. This was the first notice about any Tram maintenance for the day.

And “No RIOC Red Bus or MTA Q102 bus headed south bound.” From where to where, if you don’t mind?

And isn’t “south bound” one word, like “southbound?”

Finally…

RIOC’s once vaunted Communications Team is gone but not forgotten or replaced. They made their share of loopy mistakes, but we’re now on the other side of awful, in a land where no description exist.

The problem is, Roosevelt Islanders are assessed tens of millions of dollars in funding this mess. How much longer will Governor Hochul force it on us?

Also from the roosevelt island daily

• 
  Six-Unit Apartment Building Planned for 10th Street in AstoriaNovember 12, 2026
  Plans for a six-unit apartment building in Astoria call for four stories at 35-25 10th St. See proposed dimensions, apartment sizes and permit status.
• 
  Tuesday’s PSD blotter: noise calls, a harassment reportNovember 11, 2026
  RIOC’s Nov. 10 PSD blotter lists 15 incidents, all on Main Street, including four noise complaints, a harassment report and one hospital transport.
• 
  Queens Public Library Ransomware Attack: Digital Services Still DisruptedNovember 11, 2026
  The Queens Public Library ransomware attack continues to disrupt public computers, digital books and online services, with no confirmed restoration date.
• 
  A new RIOC appeals officer denied records on how its general counsel was hiredNovember 10, 2026
  A different RIOC appeals officer denied records on how RIOC hired general counsel Lance Polivy. RIOC’s internal deliberations on the hire stay withheld.
• 
  Monday’s PSD blotter: two hospital transports, two disputesNovember 10, 2026
  RIOC’s Nov. 9 PSD blotter lists 14 incidents, including four aided calls with two hospital transports and a verbal dispute at 750 Main Street that drew FDNY.

“Yes. I’m Present.”

On October 20, 2022, RIOC approved a tower, guarded its confusion and learned to mistake presence for consent.

Eleanor Rivers Sep 18, 2026

It is October 20, 2022, and the Cultural Center Theater at 548 Main Street has again been made to serve as a boardroom, its folding tables carrying the temporary authority of the state. The folding tables are perfect for RIOC. They support anything, question nothing and collapse under pressure. At 5:45 p.m., Chair Designee Alex Valella calls the meeting to order.

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