Whether RIOC Board Member Ben Fhala is a game changer for Roosevelt Island or not is still unknown, but the stage is set. After standing tall against winds of resistance, Fhala has opened a campaign, joined by at least two other Board Members, aimed at getting RIOC right. It’s a bold step, one that should’ve been taken before the current mess congealed around lawsuits and recriminations.

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

In an important step, Fhala reached out to the community’s media – The Daily as well as The Roosevelt Islander – hoping to open up channels for discussion. He asks that reporting includes his message in full, and we will do that, followed by our response.

This is a first step and a consequential one. It holds great promise for bettering the Roosevelt Island community.

Ben Fhala’s Message

Dear Roosevelt Island Media,

I trust you had a wonderful New Year. As part of my New Year’s resolution, I am committed to fostering more extensive discussions on operational and governance topics, particularly with you. My intention is to engage in ongoing dialogues until I am satisfied with the performance of the communications team, executive leadership, and board oversight concerning our fiduciary duties to RIOC and responsibilities to the community.

These communications do not represent official RIOC or full board responses; rather, they reflect my role as an appointed resident board member. My communications often receive approval from multiple board members and, over time, hopefully from the administration. It is imperative that these communications are published in their entirety to avoid any misinterpretation due to the sensitive nature of the topics discussed.

Feel free to respond or challenge any of these communications as you deem appropriate. If you agree, I am willing to address a list of your questions in a structured interview. Should these terms be acceptable to you, I am open to sharing my perspectives on oversight, myself, and general topics of interest.

I look forward to your response. Please understand that, given the significance of these matters, it may take a few days for me to reply. If you decide to publish my communications, kindly ensure they are presented in full to maintain context and prevent any misconceptions.

Thanks,

Ben Fhala*
Resident Board Member

*Disclaimer: All statements made by Ben Fhala are made in his capacity as a RIOC Resident Board member. He does not represent the entirety of RIOC nor the full board but serves as a Resident Board member, offering information to the community and its stakeholders.

The Roosevelt Islander responded and published it here.

Responding: The Roosevelt Island Daily News

I am happy to applaud your efforts. If any of the other board members ever made similar efforts during the Haynes era, the situation would be better than it is now.

Extraordinary communications efforts are called for from RIOC’s team because they are never subject to the democratic test of standing for a vote. Further, residents are never asked about consent or approval of activities they ultimately pay for. Things are so unpleasant now, folks are inclined to forget that it wasn’t always like this. It’s hard to think of a time when it was worse. Steven Shane openly invited me to knock on his door if I had any questions, no appointment needed. No matter how ofter we locked horns on issues, Susan Rosenthal and I chatted openly when we met on the street. It just doesn’t have to be this way.

Transparency and accountability are demanded. And it’s simply startling that RIOC fiercely resists all that. As a single, significant example, multiple RIOC staffers have reported that Haynes warned them that, if they so much as spoke with me about anything, they would be fired immediately. Reinforcing that, he has bragged to staff members about all the people he has fired without consequences. His longtime friend and previous COO, Altheria Jackson, assured others that it was true. However true or untrue that boost is, he has left a trail of ex-employees in his wake, several of whom are suing him, RIOC and his executive team, and he’s lashed out at the community as being led by racists. Hardly without consequences.

This is unprecedented anywhere, and it’s simply astonishing that the board as well as Hochul’s team from Albany on down have not taken any steps to rein him in. The results are the lawsuit/investigation-strewn environment we see now, paralysis when concerted action is badly needed..

This increases the need for media scrutiny because the intended guardrails – the board, the governor – failed. Local media are smoke detectors responsible for sounding alarms when apparent misconduct or mismanagement happens. Obviously, shutting us out hasn’t helped while opening up could have done on many occasions. Yet, although I’ve made the case to Shelton personally, one on one, that bunkering’s most obvious effect is assuring that his and/or RIOC’s side of any story never gets told, he hasn’t changed.

This makes no sense for RIOC or the community. I hope you can make a difference and that other board members will do their jobs in representing the community or respectfully resign in favor of others more responsive to community needs and values.

Thank you.

David Stone, Editor & Publisher
Roosevelt Island Daily

• Haynes and Robinson Expand Their Lawsuit with One Big Surprise
• Some Change and More of the Same at RIOC’s Board
• RIOC’s December Board Meeting, the 3 Stinkers and Now 1 More
• Raw, Ugly, Divisive-RIOC Scores Worst-Ever Board Meeting, September 2023
• Will The Girl Puzzle be last call for Ben Kallos?

Finally…

We will follow up with Fhala and any board members and RIOC executives who wish to open the gates. And we will keep you posted.

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