Residents wondered if change was possible at RIOC, starting with an Operations Committee meeting last night. Committee chair Fay Christian proved it might not be while she and fellow dinosaur, David Kraut, disgraced the board as never before. Newly appointed – temporary leadership – sat by in silence.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Warning: this report includes profane, publicly spoken – shouted really – obscenities by a RIOC official.
Dinosaurs still roam Roosevelt Island and can trample community relations with rigid rules of the road and elitist privilege. In fact, if these leftovers from the Mesozoic era plotted to bring further disgrace to RIOC‘s standing in the community, the results were convincing.
Fay Christian Walks In, Sits Down, Slams the Door on Residents
The chair got off to a blazing start.
“The committee will only respond to questions of members present,” adding “I don’t choose to answer public questions.”
When objections arose, she declared it “my prerogative,” and promised to “end the meeting,” if anyone interfered.
That’s RIOCspeak for Roosevelt Islanders need not apply. The result was the dreaded Death by Powerpoint, but before we get to that, take a bow, David Kraut.
A contingent of interested residents first sat silent for ten minutes while technicians figured out how to hook up committee member David Kraut’s remote connection.
His first utterance: “What the fuck?”
His second: “What the fuck’s the matter with you people?”
Startlingly, Christian who’d go on to stifle any comments from residents did not rebuke Kraut for his profane outburst. The meeting was broadcast via Zoom into the homes and offices of anyone who clicked in. Children could easily be listening.
Sadly, no one in RIOC’s new, temporary leadership said a word, not even an apology. This was the privilege of dinosaurs holding power and authority over everything RIOC does or hopes for.
Death by Powerpoint
This was a first, RIOC’s one and only public meeting leaving nothing to report.
After fending off challenges to her rigid rules for the meeting, the chair introduced three managers who used unreadable PowerPoint presentations, regurgitating information best left to departmental meetings and press releases.
She deftly ruled out discussions of one main interest of residents: The Tram and all its problems.
You might as well have slept through it were it not for the abuses of Christian and Kraut.
Just a resident…
Christian expanded on her restrictions when board member Ben Fhala asked a simple question about electric buses. She not only refused to allow the question, but she also denied Transportation Manager Cy Opperman permission to answer.
But here’s where Kraut raged in at his obscenity-laden worst.
“Shut the fuck up,” he screamed at Fhala. “You’re acting like a six-year-old,” he shouted, apparently unaware of the irony.
The meeting ended with scant information shared and mounds of questions left unanswered.
But you had to wonder how much lower the dinosaurs could drag RIOC?
Of greater concern and with his appointment long expired, why is David Kraut’s insufferable misconduct condoned when he should have been ejected years ago? Kraut has not been a Roosevelt Island resident for over a year.
A Different Kind of Bet
For years, Roosevelt Island did not behave like a system constrained by limits. Internally, the budget was often treated less as a boundary and more as a reservoir to be used.
3 COMMENTS
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After Faye closed the meeting most of us stayed at the table, members, residents and RIOC staff. We had a comprehensive meeting that should have been part of the Operations meeting. It was friendly, orderly and questions were answered and
responses will be sent to some inquiries. For and administration that has been in office for only a few days Ellis and staff are making great strides to work with the community.
Unfortuneately it was not recorded.
Ms Christian will have to join the movement and days of dictatorial leadership are over. She should work with her fellow board members.
Judy, I couldn’t agree with you more. I have Ben’s notes from the meeting and will do a separate report because it deserves to stand out on its own. Thanks.
Thank you Judith. At least there were some adults in the room.