RIOC’s TIKKIT system can fry eggs for you, make sure your tie is straight and brew a cappuccino while you do other stuff. That’s a lie of course, but not one as big as you might think. The little known repair request kit gets raves from those who use it. You’re about to become one of them. Read on.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Full disclosure: Until recently, I was one of those who knew something about the TIKKIT system but didn’t know how to use it. My friend Judith Berdy set me straight with a screenshot.
“I have used it successfully many times, including repairing rotting wood around Blackwell House. Alex, one of the staff, sends photos of completed work.”
But I couldn’t see it because, on my 13″ Mac Air, I’d have to scroll down. Which until Judy woke me up, I didn’t do.
Then, Bryant Daniels, RIOC’s Communications and Community Relations Director, took it a little further. He parked a hot link under the Community tab on RIOC’s homepage. Now, even I can get it.
But Seriously, Folks: About the TIKKIT System
If something’s broke, fix it – lights, sidewalks, trash. Here’s how that works.
In the most recent Operations Committee meeting, Acting Chief Operating Officer Mary Cunneen said that the system originated with RIOC in 2019.
A printed presentation explained it as, “the central repository system for work orders. The system allows internal RIOC departments to organize, assign, provide status updates and document progress photos for work orders.”
But there’s more, and this is where Roosevelt Islanders come in.
“Tikkit provides a public facing component allowing community members to input questions or concerns which are directed to the department responsible. This streamlined process allows for increased communication with community members and two-way communications.”
It works…
Cunneen provided a chart showing TIKKIT system progress. In 2020, it’s first full year in operation, it handled 1899 requests for service. But that was the big COVID shutdown year; so, maybe 2021 makes a better baseline.
That year, the system fielded 3,052 requests and scored a 92% close rate. By 2023, those figures jumped to 5,000* requests with a 99.8 close rate.
*Because round numbers are always suspect, Cunneen assured everyone at the table that they counted twice because it made them skeptical too. For once, the round number was right.
The vast majority of requests have been consistently internal requests, suggesting – as we suspect – that Roosevelt Islanders are not activating the system as much as possible. Hence, our aim here to get the word out and take advantage of a RIOC program that really works.
How-to…
Access TIKKIT by going to https://rioc.ny.gov/ and clicking the community tab. A list of options rolls down. Click “Report a Problem,” then fill in your email address to access the system. Then, tell RIOC about a needed repair or clean up. They have staff on hand, ready to go.
A tip from Judith Berdy: “Include a picture. It helps them identify what your request is about.”
Because prior administrations were information-disadvantaged, Roosevelt Islanders were often kept out of even valuable, effective services like this.
But things have changed. Share your complaint on social media. That’s a valuable community thing to do, but then, click into TIKKIT and give them a chance.
A Job With a Predictable Ending
The role looks stable from the outside. A President and CEO is appointed. A contract is approved. A salary is set.
1 COMMENTS