With such a success story, however delayed, you ask yourself, “Who wins?” Tennis players who finally have portable toilets at the Octagon Courts? Janet Falk who waged a two year war for them? Or RIOC which finally scored a win in helping residents as requested? Here at The Daily, we’re happy to call it a tie.
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Two years ago, Janet Falk began her push against RIOC, as we reported. But she wasn’t the first since tennis coach Joyce Short started the campaign even before that. Falk, though, was the one who persisted until she broke through.
Her first step was a mistake, but understandable. She asked big on talk, but low on delivery President/CYA Shelton Haynes. He mulled the request for two years until Falk accosted President Assistant Vice President Akeem Jamal.
Refusing to give up after following Jamal’s instructions about going through RIOC’s new Constituent Services Department and carrying on when the email address was bad, she finally got an appointment with Bryant Daniels and Amanda Dominguez.
After making her case, she was promised an answer in a week.
Who Wins? Everyone.
As of Friday, two portable toilets appeared at the pathway between the Octagon tennis courts and Pony Field, set up directly behind the baseball backstop.
There is no downside to this, and while we’re impressed with Falk’s persistent, RIOC can chalk up a win too. Responsiveness is rare enough from RIOC, and there’s hope that RIOC can and will change similarly across the board, showing respect for Roosevelt Islanders and their legitimate needs.
The Other End of the Leash
The first thing winter reveals when it loosens its grip is not green grass. It is honesty.
