As many Roosevelt Islanders have noticed, RIOC is trying to get better. In that vein, six weeks ago, we suggested three easy fixes that it could make and win community support. It failed on all three. Totally. It also gets a bonus for this one…
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Three Easy Fixes
Baffled by RIOC‘s failure to respond, we didn’t know where to start with this report. Worst first? Or easiest but still ignored? We picked the easiest but still ignored.
1) The Promenade Motorized Vehicle Ban
We aren’t suggesting that cars, trucks and bikes get unrestricted use of the promenades, but a universal, no-exceptions ban makes no sense. RIOC doesn’t even honor it.
Waving the rules for itself while enforcing them for others is the kind of elitism that’s turned off Roosevelt Islanders for decades.
Here again, is RIOC sensibly ignoring the rules thoughtlessly set:
Easy? The state agency that never gets it wrong could lift the ban and set up reasonable exceptions. This would require about a half-hour’s effort, but it hasn’t been there yet.
2) Main Street Signage
Honestly, this one’s tied for easiest but needs time for development. Two weeks, maybe, but RIOC could not get it done in six.
After Island Discount finally put up identifying signage this month, this leaves RIOC as the single outlier.
How hard is it putting up a sign that not only identifies your operations but also shows pride and respect for your neighbors… from whom you collect rent?
Pretty hard, it seems, if you’re a state agency that never admits a mistake.
The nose-thumbing at your neighbors is repeated a couple doors down at RIOC’s Youth Center, also completely unidentified.
Nothing could be easier or set a better example for Main Street commerce, but RIOC just won’t do it.
3) The Chief Kevin Brown Fire Hydrant Blockade
Chief Brown and RIOC’s haplessly compliant executives get double credits here. Not only is this metal barricade an atrocious hit on Main Street’s appearance, but it also poses an inexplicable safety hazard.
We are not aware of any reasoning that justifies this startling piece of bad judgment, but nothing justifies an attack on public safety.
As far as we are aware, neither RIOC nor its Public Safety Department has ever issued an official statement on this spit in the public eye, but Chief Brown has mumbled about an okay from FDNY.
Interestingly, when challenged, RIOC has not come up with any written approval from FDNY or anyone else. And even more interestingly, we checked it out. This violation does not fit in the Fire Department’s domain. It belongs to the Department of Transportation.
Poof goes that excuse.
So should this awful, years-long mistake. Make it quietly go away, just like the ridiculous speed bumps RIOC spent thousands buying and installing after Brown also said they were perfectly legal.
They weren’t, and neither is this.
Finally…
These three easy fixes remain available to RIOC if it’s willing to do the right things. Bigger issues involving the Tram, finances and leadership decisions – not to mention all those lawsuits – loom large.
So, why let the little things fester? Take the easy fixes and win some support while the chances are right in front of you.
The Line That Didn’t Land
I stood in the back of Good Shepherd Chapel on the evening of April 15, 2026, at the Steam Plant Demolition Town Hall, watching people adjust scarves and jackets before the meeting began. Benjamin Jones, President and CEO of RIOC, thanked us for attending and, without a pause, said he was “pleased to host tonight’s town hall on the city’s demolition of its steam plant.” The demolition, in other words, was not up for discussion.
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