RIRA President Frank Farance is looking for nominations for individuals who would like to represent our community as its public voice. You don’t have to be a citizen to serve. You only need to be a resident of Roosevelt Island. Following are details provided by Farance.
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) is a 501(c)(4) not-for-profit Island-wide organization that was formed in 1977 to exclusively represent the interests of Residents to New York State – back then Urban Development Corporation, since 1984 Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), because Roosevelt Island is leased from the City to New York State, and there are many things particularly to our community that are not directly addressed by our Community Board, our City Councilmember, our State Senator, our State Assemblymember. Examples include:
- Early on it was Garbage collection – we have the AVAC (still a brilliant idea for our community), yet as NYC residents, we are entitled to garbage collection. Our garbage departs in containers, not garbage trucks. Regularly (up until about 10 years ago), RIRA has had to advocate for AVAC pickup in the City’s budget.
- For the first two decades, it was the State Legislature that needed to approve our RIOC budget (we went to Albany to advocate).
- The Tram – our icon – is unique and has required RIRA’s advocacy to avoid tram shutdown and reduced schedules – things we presently advocate for now.
- RIRA has fought for (and litigated) our open spaces (parks, etc.), which is why there won’t be any more residential buildings on the Island – unlike Manhattan where even nook and cranny is filled with sliver buildings.
- RIRA has fought for Resident Represenation (a majority) on the RIOC Board, which helps inform RIOC’s decision-making and operation.
- After the brutal treatment by PSD in 2013, we fought for community policing and reinvented PSD with the leadership of Jack McManus – thanks to PSD, our community is the safest in NYC.
- Over decades, we have fought for the improvement of air quality in our community.
- We discovered the carcinogens in RIOC’s public water fountatins and had them shut down immediately.
- We fought for the protection of our wildlife.
- We fought for improvements to the 911 system to provide better emergency response to Roosevelt Island.
- We made recommendations and gave advice to RIOC on public purpose funding.
- We advised on bike/traffic/roadway/promenade safety (like those new blinking stop signs).
- We were able to get COVID tests for the community during COVID pandemic.
- We have supported and provided monthly emergency presentations since COVID.
- We supported efforts, including Eastwood/Roosevelt Landings, on improper submetering.
- We supported efforts on fair pricing for Manhattan Park pool.
- We supported affordable housing in its many forms.
- For decades, we provide the community breakfast on Roosevelt Island Day.
- We advocated for cleanup and better organization of the merchant waste, especially in Southtown.
- We advocated for better parking and better administration of Motorgate (the waitlist has gone down).
- And there are hundreds to smaller topics that RIRA has advocated for over the decades.
These are all major accomplishments you can see and feel – directly in our community. Although every resident is a member of RIRA, we would love for you to come join RIRA Common Counil. If you are unable to join now, but discover you want to participate later, there is a process to become new member (with the recommendation and support of an existing Common Council member) during the 2-year term.
Every two years, the even years, we hold an election for our Common Council, which is our Board of Directors. To assure geographic diversity, approximately each building complex is one district, and there is representation at the district level, but your work, your opinions, and your efforts are all Island-wide. The President and Vice-President positions are elected and Island-wide. We were unable to hold elections in 2020 due to COVID, and in 2022 due to a lack of personnel.
We are holding elections this year. The first step is to nominate yourself, the nominations forms are at https://tinyurl.com/RIRA2024NOMFORM and please complete the form and drop it off at the Island House Doorstation at 555 Main St (RIRA Nominations Envelope) no later than Noon October 24, 2024. You will be called to confirm we have received your nomination, so please include your phone number. If you have any questions, please contact frank@farance.com for information and pur RIRA in the Subject line.
Elections: After receiving the nominations, we will hold elections on Elections Day at PS/IS 217 (paper ballots), and we will have early drop off at places around Roosevelt Island (places/times to be announced).
IMPORTANT: You don’t have to be a US citizen to vote in the RIRA election, and you don’t have to be a US citizen to run for a RIRA elected office, you just need to be a Resident of Roosevelt Island.
The Other End of the Leash
The first thing winter reveals when it loosens its grip is not green grass. It is honesty.
