The Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards were recently presented by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, but RIOC’s CEO No Show Haynes was absent. After falsely claiming credit for restoring the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse, his absence from the event did not go unnoticed. “As usual,” an observer noted, “Shelton was a ghost.”
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Haynes, who pulls down a hefty $226,000 per year for what appears to be part-time work, was ultra-present last month in screaming headlines his staff generated…
PRESIDENT & CEO SHELTON J. HAYNES ANNOUNCES NEW YORK LANDMARKS CONSERVANCY LUCY G. MOSES 2022 PRESERVATION PROJECT AWARD FOR ROOSEVELT ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE RESTORATION PROJECT – Global Newswire Press Release
(Note: It was one of twelve.)
“I sincerely thank the Conservancy’s committee for choosing the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse for this award,” No Show Haynes said at the time.
“The award symbolizes the collective efforts and countless hours spent by our dedicated team at Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation – so to my dedicated team, I say thank you.”
But his “dedicated team” had little or nothing to do with it. As we reported this week, architect Thomas Fenniman was the real hero, dedicating expert guidance and advice from start to finish.
Historian Judith Berdy was a driving force behind restoring the historic tower, and Haynes’s popular predecessor, Susan Rosenthal, dedicated the money. Managing the physical site work were former CFO John O’Reilly and Owner’s Representative LiRo.
The Daily salutes each of these contributors by name because neither RIOC nor his amateurish team ever did. Ego clouds reality.
But the Last Laugh is on No Show Show Haynes
While RIOC’s seldom-seen CEO got nothing more than an empty chair matching his suit, Thomas Fenniman got more:
This photo used in the words is credited to Thomas Fenniman. The Roosevelt Island community owes him, Judith Berdy, Susan Rosenthal, John O’Reilly and LiRo a hearty thank you.
As long as No Show Haynes parks his alleged authority in a Blackwell House bunker, they will never get one from RIOC.
You Can’t Be All Three
April 9, 2026, during the full board meeting of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, Fay Christian said something that should have landed harder than it did. She wished RIOC were not responsible for the tram. Then she asked what it would look like if it were given to the MTA. That was not a passing comment.
