This afternoon, the New York State Inspector General released a damning report confirming what many Roosevelt Island residents have suspected—and feared—for years: RIOC has not just lost its way, it has actively buried the compass. The findings in the Inspector General Report RIOC are startling.
According to the Inspector General’s 40-page investigation, RIOC leadership under Shelton J. Haynes fostered a hostile workplace, manipulated public funds, and handed out contracts like party favors—with no regard for state procurement law, ethical boundaries, or basic transparency. The report confirms a systemic failure to heed whistleblowers, punish misconduct, or protect the public’s interest.
OIG Report on RIOC Uncovers Retaliation, Procurement Abuses, and Widespread Mismanagement Under Shelton Haynes
Among the most egregious findings mentioned in the Inspector General Report on RIOC:
- Blatant disregard for competitive bidding processes, with preferred vendors benefiting from murky, undocumented deals.
- Retaliation against internal dissent, creating a culture of fear within RIOC’s ranks.
- Misuse of discretionary funds, with large sums funneled toward PR firms and consultants without sufficient justification.
- Complete breakdown in accountability, including ignoring complaints and burying oversight mechanisms.
- A deliberate pattern of silence and obfuscation, especially toward Roosevelt Island’s residents and stakeholders.
Former Board Member Contacted for Insight on OIG Report Findings
We reached out to RIOC for comment, as we always do, but we’re not expecting much due to their history of minimal engagement regarding critical issues. We also contacted former board member Ben Fhala, who stepped off the board in part because of RIOC’s failure to act on these findings and other serious issues, which called into question the organization’s commitment to accountability and transparency. His insights would be invaluable, considering his firsthand experience with the board’s decision-making processes. We’ll let you know if we hear back from either of them, as their responses could shed light on the ongoing situation. The findings of the Inspector General Report RIOC raise significant concerns about the operational integrity and governance practices, prompting urgent discussions within the community about necessary reforms and the path forward toward improved oversight.
For those who wish to read the full findings, the complete Inspector General report on RIOC is available on the official OIG website.
We encourage residents, advocates, and stakeholders to review the report in its entirety.
Since January 14th, RIOC has had nothing to say. We’re still listening.
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Theo Gobblevelt
The Roosevelt Island Lighthouse
Rivercross and the Quiet Green Light
Rivercross privatization was enabled in 2010. This matters now because the same governance structures that allowed Rivercross to privatize without formal conflict controls are still in place. The same public authority oversees land leases, settlements, and redevelopment decisions that affect every resident on Roosevelt Island today.
