Senator Liz Krueger supports priority boarding for Tram passengers from Roosevelt Island, criticizing RIOC’s lack of community engagement and urging bureaucratic change for resolution implementation.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Krueger, Tram Priority Boarding Plus
Today, in a statement released by her office, Senator Liz Krueger got on board. She joined Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and Community Board 8.
“I support the resolution passed by Community Board 8 requesting NYC residents be given priority boarding on the Tram.”
It was straightforward, but there was something subtle in the message. She stepped outside the box.
In RIOC’s firm resistance to improving Tram access, it sent a message of its own. Without saying it outright, RIOC consistently emphasizes an “us against them” polarity.
Where RIOC could play a helpful role as a community partner, they hold back. The don’t join hands with Roosevelt Islanders to get things done.
The Way It Used To Be
When I was a kid – long, long ago – a driver angered by a ticket might fume at a cop: “You know, I pay your salary!” The angered driver was sorta right as one of many taxpayers.
But his truth is even more true on Roosevelt Island. Residents and businesses really do pay for everything RIOC does. But the state agency stands apart and does not respect that fact. And it’s a bit worse. The angered driver got to vote his anger or his appreciation.
Roosevelt Islanders get nothing expect stony-faced silence where explanations are called for. RIOC’s stubborn insistence that common carrier law bans priority boarding is simply wrong. Paragraph Two clearly allows for it as long as it’s not unreasonable or undue.
A civically responsive team of bureaucrats would devote their efforts to finding a way to work it out.
What Krueger Said About Priority Boarding
“I urge RIOC to explore workable options for implementing the resolution and present their findings to the community.”
But that would be a break in traditions. Two years back, RIOC board chair RuthAnne Visnauskas sat before AM Seawright in budget hearings. Seawright went after her about RIOC’s detachment from the Roosevelt Island community.
Visnauskas acknowledged having already heard about it with Senator Krueger. She promised to increase engagement. In reality, that rapidly devolved into Public Safety monthly engagements that attract a dozen residents on a good night.
The problems with detachment and non-engagement rest with Visnauskas who rarely appears at board meetings. Instead, she sends an angry subordinate primed for resistance to change.
Finally…
RIOC will not change until the bureaucrats managing it change. Visnauskas reports directly to Governor Kathy Hochul. She has shown her indifference to appeals from Krueger and Seawright. Can the electeds rattle Hochul’s cage enough to get off the election showboat long enough to change directions here?
That’s what we’re facing. Seawright and Krueger are strong, effective public officials. They need to go beyond urging RIOC. They must move Visnauskas to change or step up to Hochul. Given history, neither possiblity stirs optimism, but both are worth a try.
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.
