RI Daily

Ben Fhala

Reporting from Roosevelt Island and beyond.

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Cracks in the Island: Public Purpose Funds

Jul 7, 2025 Theo Gobblevelt

The resignation of RIOC board member Ben Fhala spotlighted transparency issues surrounding public purpose funds on Roosevelt Island. Investigative articles revealed favoritism in fund distribution, a lack of accountability, and the troubling influence of groups like…

Apr 3, 2025 BREAKING: Inspector General Report Confirms Deep Misconduct at RIOC A newly released report by the New York State Inspector General confirms long-standing concerns about RIOC’s leadership under Shelton Haynes, detailing retaliation,…

Sep 25, 2024 Sport of the Month at RIOC: Punching Ben Fhala Washout alert: RIOC's board has devolved into a dysfunctional punchline after ousting Ben Fhala, the only member with guts to challenge their…

Sep 22, 2024 Ben Fhala Resigns from RIOC Board, Big Win for Entrenched Hard Right Majority Ben Fhala's abrupt resignation from RIOC exposes the hard right's tight grip on power and their aversion to change. Despite his efforts…

Jul 24, 2024 Roosevelt Island Board Tensions: A Healthy Proxy Fight for Island Governance Roosevelt Island's RIOC board grapples with tensions over The Landings Residents Association, reflecting healthy growth. A proxy battle emerges between progressive and…

Jul 23, 2024 RIOC’s Recurring Abuse of WFF: Can It Be Stopped Now? RIOC's relentless abuse of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation and its founder, Rossana Ceruzzi, is a heartbreaking saga of survival against all odds.…

Jul 17, 2024 Joyce Short and The Landings: Fighting for Resident Rights The once closely-knit Eastwood complex has been torn apart by L&M Development Partner's actions, leaving residents to fight for survival against greedy…

Jul 11, 2024 RIOC Governance Committee Meeting: A Landmark Moment for Change Roosevelt Island's Governance Committee meeting signaled a fierce challenge to state authority, led by chair Lydia Tang. A pivotal focus was the…

Mar 24, 2024 Ben Fhala Ideas: Revitalizing Tram Operations and Revenue Generation Since joining RIOC’s board last year, Ben Fhala has resisted a status quo that many agree isn’t working. The following are his…

Feb 13, 2024 UPDATE: Roosevelt Island’s Future – Viewed From the Big Island Across the River For a larger audience, Roosevelt Island’s future will be the topic of discussion when CB8 Zooms on Friday, February 16th. Journalist and…

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