The New York City budget for 2022-23 was both earlier and more contentious than usual, but Roosevelt Island came out ahead. According to City Council Member Julie Menin, a couple of capital projects will directly benefit the community.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Roosevelt Island in the City Budget
“I am ecstatic that this year’s budget brings back over $21 million in funding for our district to support parks, schools, libraries, hospitals, community centers, public housing, and safer and cleaner streets,” Menin said in a press release.
Among the benefits is money for public schools.
“Each public school in the district received at least $50,000 towards critical technology, auditorium or infrastructure upgrades,” she said.
But education funding, reduced in this year’s budget, remains a cause of concern for many, especially progressives.
For Coler Specialty Hospital
For the city hospital that weathered the worst of the COVID crisis, Menin found money for a critical need: $300,000 to replace Roosevelt Island’s Coler Hospital fire alarm system which is beyond its usable life cycle.
The facility, which gets too little notice in the community, plays a vital role in healthcare, spawning activist groups like the Reality Poets who’ve offered inspiring performances locally in recent years.
Help for Our Library
In addition, the budget made real money Menin set aside for technology upgrades at the NYPL Roosevelt Island branch.
“The New York Public Library is grateful to the community for selecting our branches – Roosevelt Island, Webster and 67th Street libraries – to be the recipients of $250,000 for technology improvements,” added Sumie Ota, The New York Public Library’s Associate Director for the East Manhattan Library Network.
Summing up, Menin said, “I am proud to bring back the necessary and requested resources to the East Side of Manhattan that will improve the quality of life in our community.”
More from the Roosevelt island daily news
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- 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.
- Nor’easter Brings Flooding and Disruption Across New York CityA powerful nor’easter brings flooding and disruption across New York City, with heavy rain, gusty winds, and coastal flooding impacting neighborhoods through the weekend.
- Fatal Shooting Outside Astoria Gentlemen’s Club During Robbery AttemptA man was fatally shot outside an Astoria gentlemen’s club during a robbery attempt early Thursday. NYPD investigators are seeking witnesses and reviewing video footage as the homicide investigation continues.
The WIRE: Two Futures, One Empty Chair
It is December 6, 2015, and David Stone is writing to Dr. Jack Resnick about a chair that will soon be empty. Dick Lutz is preparing to leave the Main Street WIRE, and Stone has been encouraged to ask whether he might replace him. Seven years of covering art, Cornell Tech and questionable practices inside Public Safety have taught Stone how the paper tells an Island story.
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