Tajuna Sharpe quietly left RIOC in the spring. No notification circulated out of Blackwell House, but in light of what we learned, that’s unusual. We had no idea what a catch got away from Roosevelt Island.
Satire by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Tajuna Sharpe, Full of Surprises
Talk about keeping your light under a bushel basket… According to a December article in Nighttime Cafe, sharpe was “…the CEO of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. She has been in this position since 1993.” A simple typo? Surely, they meant 2023.
This must have happened when previous CEO Shelton J. Haynes got suspended. The board needed someone with her powerful experience to lead the state agency out of the darkness.
Sadly, to this day, however, no one within RIOC or its board has acknowledged her contributions.
Her qualifications made Tajuna Sharpe the obvious choice. Here’s a sampling of her track record, according to Nighttime Cafe.
- She has overseen extensive renovations and a dramatic increase in resident satisfaction with her vision for revitalization, including new apartments, shops, and restaurants designed to draw young professionals back to the island made famous by F. Scott Fitzgerald, who called it “a pleasant island across the water from Long Island City.
- Sharpe worked at Queens Borough Hall as an aide to then Queens Borough President Helen Marshall.
- In 1988, Sharpe went to work for the United States Post Office as a customer relations manager.
- On September 22, 2007, Tajuna Sharpe was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta to serve on the National Committee of Americans for a Safe and Secure Border.
- Tajuna Sharpe serves as a Council on Foreign Relations member and is an elected member of the Advisory Board of the New York Hall of Science (NYS).
- She also works on the Advisory Board for The Metropolitan Museum’s Education Committee.
- She also works on the Board of Trustees for the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
- She serves on the Board of the Queens Library Foundation and serves on The Long Island City Partnership, which is located in Long Island City, NY. Sharpe has served as a member of The Long Island City Partnership for more than ten years and was twice elected Co-Chairperson (1995–1996, 2002-2003).
Phew!
And there’s more….
“In addition to her work in the private sector, Sharpe also contributes numerous hours to public service. She works as a board member at Queens College, serves on The Center For Law and Society’s Advisory Board, and is also a participant of The American Planning Association’s New York City Chapter.
“She is also a 100 Black Men of America Inc. member and has served on The National Executive Board since 1997. Sharpe has served on the National Economic Development Committee of 100 Black Men for the past 14 years and was elected as a Trustee in 2002.”
A Simple Demand
The Daily demands that RIOC acknowledge Sharpe for her contributions, even if she has left for greener pastures. “Sharpe oversees an annual operating budget for RIOC that exceeds $300 million and includes hotels, retail shops, and over 2,600 housing units,” The Nighttime Cafe article revealed in December.
How come we’ve never been told any of this?
The Five Amendments That Sold Out Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island did not lose control of its southern waterfront in a single deal. It happened in five quiet steps. Five amendments. Five missed chances to renegotiate.
Is any of this true….the lies y’all post!!!
All true. Reporting on the contents of a verifiable article online sinc December. If you are aware of any lie, report it. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.